Bermuda Grass or St Augustine (rent, new home, landscaping)

[Pinktomboy]

I'm building a new home and close in about 2 weeks. The builder puts Bermuda in the front and charges about $1100 to sod the back but only with Bermuda grass otherwise leave it with topsoil.

The remarks I have read about Bermuda are 50/50.

My last house, which I sold in June, had beautiful plush green St Augustine - yes, even during the water restrictions because I invested a lot of time hand watering. When the new folks moved in the front and backyard were dead within 2 weeks. SO SAD

I need 7 pallets of grass for my new backyard. St A is $125 a pallet, $85 for delivery. Then I will need someone to install and roll it. I can rent the equipment but doubt I could push it let alone load it. I was told an installer will charge at least $100/pallet.

So in the end, the St Augustine will cost a lot more than the Bermuda.
I have been doing tons of research and even read if my neighbors have St A it can take over my yard if I don't put some sort of rock landscaping against the fence.

I really don't know what to do.

Also, my backyard will be getting full sun as all the trees were supposedly dead and chopped down. I am going to plant 2 tress back there but it will be awhile before they mature.

I would love some feedback.

thanks

[goodmanm]

I personally love the look of St Augustine but my backyard gets full afternoon sun. I dont have an auto sprinkler system and wasn't able to keep up with watering it by hand.

You might want to take a look at Jamur Zoysia, it's thicker and greener than Bermuda and more drought tolerant than St A.

[johnts71]

El Toro Zoysia...you can get it at Milburgers. Greens up in February but goes dormant faster than the grasses mentioned.

[SsnTktHldr]

In my experience, talk to the people at Millburgers and explain what your situation is and what you're looking for. Those people are top notch and will give you all your options with no BS. I love the look of St.A as well but it just wouldn't work in my location. If you can go with St.A it's gorgeous but Zoysia grows well here, just has a different look.

[Chaka]

Full sun, Texas, NO to St Augustine. Hand watering means still using a lot of water to keep it green. Get something more suitable to this environment. I'm not a huge fan of bermuda, but it works well in full sun. Consider what you'll be using the space for. If you need open/green space for kids playing, then turf is useful. If it's not going to be walked on, consider some drought tolerant landscaping. This doesn't mean desert, there are many gorgeous flowering plants that work great in this environment.

My experience with zoysia is that it doesn't tolerate full sun well. It may be the variety though. I think I have El Toro but can't remember now. It's great in shade, but my patches that are in full sun have not fared as well.

[TexasRedneck]

Have bermuda now, going back to St Augustine. Time has shown that their overall watering requirements are about the same, yet the SA is a LOT better grass IMO - an' I'm sayin' that with a half-acre yard to resod!

[Chaka]

[
Yes, bermuda requires watering to *stay* green, but without water, it goes dormant. It doesn't die (usually, there is a limit). It comes back when it rains. St A will die in prolonged droughts.

Even with hand watering, water is still used. We live in Texas, NOT Ireland.

[Pinktomboy]

Thank you for the responses. I do have a 6 yr old who likes to play outside. In the summer running through the sprinkler is a favorite activity . The StA at our old house was plush but not fun to lay on. It was kind of sharp and prickly.
I'm going to contact Milbergers and Dels and a few landscape companies.
I've got to decide.soon.
Thanks again.

[pobre]

Originally Posted by Pinktomboy

So in the end, the St Augustine will cost a lot more than the Bermuda.
I have been doing tons of research and even read if my neighbors have St A it can take over my yard if I don't put some sort of rock landscaping against the fence.

This.

We installed All Bermuda 12 years ago. Neighbors had St. A. Full Sun (western) in back. Even with edging in between, those St A runners take over FAST. I gave up on the front yard about 5 years ago. ANd, our planting in the back have rendered what was once 100% sun to 50% plus shade. Even Bermuda will not survive in total shade. See if you can get a different grass or a newer St A (The common-cheapest is Raleigh).

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by goodmanm

I personally love the look of St Augustine but my backyard gets full afternoon sun. I dont have an auto sprinkler system and wasn't able to keep up with watering it by hand.

You might want to take a look at Jamur Zoysia, it's thicker and greener than Bermuda and more drought tolerant than St A.

I have a neighbor that put zoysia in--not sure what kind, but oh my gosh, her grass is beautiful!