Is It St. Augustine or Bermuda? How to Tell Your Grass Type
How to tell St. Augustine from Bermuda and zoysia by blade shape, runners, and growth habit, and why knowing your grass changes how you mow, feed, and weed.
The short version
- St. Augustine: wide, flat blades with rounded tips and thick above-ground runners.
- Bermuda: fine, narrow, pointed blades that spread above and below ground.
- Your grass type changes the mowing height, fertilizer, and weed killers that are safe to use.
Side by side
| St. Augustine | Bermuda | Zoysia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blades | Wide, flat, rounded tips | Fine, narrow, pointed | Medium-fine, stiff, pointed |
| How it spreads | Thick above-ground runners (stolons) | Runners above and below ground (rhizomes) | Runners above and below ground |
| Feel underfoot | Coarse, spongy | Soft, fine, carpet-like | Dense, stiff |
| Shade | Handles moderate shade | Needs full sun | Some shade |
| Mowing height | Tall: 3½–4 in. | Short: about 1–2 in. | Medium |
| From seed? | No, plugs or sod | Yes, or sod | Mostly sod or plugs |
The quick test
Pull up a runner at the edge of a bed. St. Augustine's is thick, almost like a pencil lead or wider, with blades coming off in pairs at each node and folded around the runner. Bermuda's runners are thin and wiry, and you'll often find white underground stems if you dig a little.
Get reminded when it's time
A short email before each key St. Augustine task, plus the printable lawn calendar.
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Why it matters
- Mowing: cutting St. Augustine at Bermuda height scalps it. See how tall to mow St. Augustine.
- Weed killers: several products that are fine on Bermuda can damage St. Augustine. See safe weed killers.
- Repairs: you can't seed St. Augustine. See how to plug bare spots.
- Which St. Augustine? See varieties compared.
- Both in one lawn? That's a common problem. See Bermuda invading St. Augustine.
Still not sure? Send a close-up photo of a few blades and a runner to hello@turfmethod.com.
Everything in my St. Augustine program
The fertilizers, weed killers, fungicides, and tools I actually use on my own lawn, with links to buy.