Difference Between Bermuda Grass and Fescue Grass

Every homeowner who has a lawn desires to have smooth and thick grass cover over his piece of land. It not only looks beautiful, it also gives him a sense of being closer to nature. There are many grasses to choose from, and in this article we will confine ourselves to two varieties of grass, that is Bermuda grass and Fescue grass that look equally nice if properly tended to. There are differences in these two types of grass that will be harped upon in this article.

One thing that goes in favor of Bermuda and Fescue grass is that they grow easily. However, both have different characteristics and suited for different types of climates. Whereas Bermuda is more suited to warm climates, Fescue is better suited to cold climates. Thus Bermuda is preferred in southern states where temperatures are high whereas Fescue is better for northern states that have cold weather. Bermuda is an all season grass and dark green in color. It grows to a maximum of two inches. On the other hand, Fescue, which is also dark green in color, can grow up to a height of 3-4 feet if not cut or left to grow unattended.

Fescue grows through seed whereas Bermuda can be grown by placing stolons and rhizomes. Fescue comes in two varieties, fine fescue and tall fescue. Tall fescue is known for its ability to survive hot climates and even droughts. It’s blades are thicker than most other grass varieties. If your neighbor has a lawn made up with Bermuda, all your efforts to grow Tall fescue will go in vain as Bermuda will take over your growth and most of the time you will find yourself trying to get rid of Bermuda grass. There is also fine fescue that requires cooler climates and grows best under shade. But it does not compare with tall fescue when it comes to withstanding people walking over it. On the other hand, Bermuda requires full sunlight and does not grow well in shady conditions.

In brief:

Bermuda vs Fescue grass

• If you are looking for a variety of grass for your lawn, you can choose between Bermuda and Fescue depending upon weather conditions.

• If you live in a state with high temperatures and long summers, you should go with Bermuda while for colder climates, Fescue is a better choice

• Fescue needs frequent cutting as it can grow to a height of 3-4 feet on its own whereas Bermuda requires less tending as it never grows past 2 inches.

• Fescue seeds can be sown but you need stolons or rhizomes for Bermuda to propagate.