There are many types of grass that you can plant in your yard. One of the most popular is crabgrass, which has a brownish color and grows quickly. It will need to be cut at least once per week in order for it not to grow out of control.
Another type is Bermuda grass, which is more expensive but also easier to maintain because it doesn’t grow as fast or high when compared with crabgrass. Both of these grass types are considered warm-season grasses, so they will die during the winter months.
However, Bermudagrass can come back again in the springtime with enough water. This article explains the differences between crabgrass and Bermudagrass, as well as their advantages and disadvantages both to your lawn and to your pocketbook.
Differences Between Crab Grass Vs Bermuda Grass
There are several differences between these two types of grass. In terms of the positives, Bermudagrass has a softer feel to it when you’re walking on it because it’s more plush and spongy.
Crabgrass, on the other hand, is mostly used for sports fields or for areas that get heavy foot traffic because it can withstand a lot of pressure without breaking.
Bermuda grass has a thicker blade which makes it more resistant to weed killer, whereas crabgrass will absorb weed killer more readily. The following are some of the most important differences
The Uses of The Landscape
There is a big difference between the use of the landscape by crabgrass and Bermudagrass. They commonly used crabgrass for sporting fields or areas with heavy foot traffic like sidewalks because it stands up well to pressure without breaking.
Bermuda grass has a thicker blade making it more resistant to weed killer; whereas crabgrass will absorb weed killer more readily.
Appearance And Texture
Crabgrass has a uniform texture with fine blades. It is dark green which gives a uniform appearance to lawns. Bermuda grass is soft because of its wide flat blades.
The color varies from light green to brown depending on the time of growth. The best thing about Bermudagrass is that it remains green even during the winter seasons.
Water Requirement
Crabgrass requires moderate watering because its roots are near the topsoil which makes them dry quickly. However, Bermudagrass requires more water than crabgrass to grow faster and deeper roots.
Growth Habits
Bermuda grass grows well in clumps and requires less mowing than crabgrass. It has blades that are wider than crabgrass, which makes it green even during winter seasons.
Crabgrass grows faster than Bermuda grass. It is dark green and can withstand heavy foot traffic because its roots are near the topsoil making them dry quickly. It requires moderate watering and mowing at least once a week to maintain it properly.
Mowing And Maintenance Experience
Crabgrass grows faster and needs to be mowed at least once a week to maintain it properly. It also requires more fertilizers as compared to Bermuda grass which is slow-growing and requires less fertilization.
Fertilizer Requirement
Bermuda grass has wide blades that absorb less fertilizer as compared to crabgrass. It can absorb fertilizer easily. Crabgrass has fine blades which require more fertilizer for healthy growth.
Weed Resistance
Bermuda grass is resistant to weeds mainly because of its wide blades. It does not allow other plants’ seeds to grow in the surrounding soil. Crabgrass has fine blades which are tender and absorb weed killer easily.
Pet’s Friendliness
Bermuda grass is considered friendlier to pets as it has wider blades than crabgrass which can harm the pet. However, crabgrass does not provide a comfortable environment for pets also because they have sharp edges that cut the paws of dogs and cats.
Grooming Requirements
Crabgrass needs less grooming as compared to Bermuda grass because it grows in clumps that can be mowed together with the lawn. But Bermuda grass blades are wide and tough hence it becomes necessary to groom them every week if you want them to look good.
Shade Tolerance
Bermuda grass doesn’t tolerate shade whereas crabgrass requires high amounts of direct sunlight to grow efficiently. This is because its roots are near the surface making them dry out quickly.
If you want to have a healthy lawn where both Bermudagrass and crabgrass can grow, then keep your soil moist enough for those two types of grasses to enjoy good health and aesthetics.
Advantages of Each Type of Grass
- If they bore you of mowing your lawn each week, then Bermudagrass is the best option for you. It requires less mowing as compared to crabgrass and can even stand up to heavy foot traffic.
- However, if you want a green lawn throughout the year, then crabgrass is the best choice for you because it does not allow other types of plants’ seeds to grow in its surrounding soil. Hence it will keep your turf safe from weed infestation.
- Bermuda grass has broad blades which make it suitable for pets who walk on them like cats or dogs. It provides an environment that is more pet-friendly than that provided by crabgrass with its sharp blades that harm small animals.
- If you want to have a healthy lawn in terms of appearance and aesthetics, then Bermuda grass is the best choice for you. It has wide blades that make it look better than crabgrass. Crabgrass is dark green and doesn’t provide an aesthetically pleasing environment for your home.
- Bermuda grass requires moderate watering, whereas crabgrass needs high amounts of water so it can grow efficiently.
Disadvantages of Each Type of Grass
- Bermuda grass needs more frequent mowing than crabgrass. It is slow-growing and requires regular fertilization if you want it to look good because it has wide blades.
- Crabgrass grows faster than Bermuda grass, but it requires more water and chemicals for its growth as compared to Bermuda because it has fine blades which absorb weed killer easily.
- Crabgrass can cause harm to pets because it is difficult for them to walk on its blades, whereas Bermuda grass provides an environment that is more pet-friendly.
- Bermuda grass doesn’t tolerate shade making it require an exorbitant amount of direct sunlight to grow efficiently whereas crabgrass does not need much direct sunlight to grow well.
Bermuda Grass Or Crabgrass?
This entirely depends on what you want. If you like to mow your lawn frequently, then choose Bermudagrass over crabgrass because it takes less time to grow and requires less frequent mowing as compared to crabgrass.
However, if you are not that concerned about the aesthetic value of your lawn and would like it to be full of greenery throughout the year, and then choose crabgrass over Bermudagrass because it prevents weed infestation and can absorb chemicals for growth.
Bermuda grass provides an environment that is more pet-friendly than that provided by crabgrass as it has wide blades that do not harm pets as much as small animals.
Final Thought
Crabgrass and Bermuda grass are two different types of grass that have their own advantages and disadvantages. While it may be difficult to choose which one is best for you, we hope this information has helped give you a better idea about what type of lawn will work the best for your needs. If not, let us know, our team of experts would love to help!
