Few types of grass can stand the southern US heat or coastal conditions in the way these two turfs can. Even though there are just a few options it can still be difficult to narrow down your choices. When you need a warm-season, drought, and heat-tolerant plant that can thrive in sandy soils it comes down to two: Bahia grass vs. St. Augustine.
Comparing Bahia grass vs. St. Augustine Grass
There are an overwhelming number of factors that come into play when comparing two types of turfs. A few key ones I like to look at are what it looks like, what it needs to thrive, and how much effort is needed to keep it under control. In the case of two such similar grasses as St. Augustine and Bahia, we will need to look closely to figure out which one is indeed best.
Based on the exact climate, soil type, water conditions, and pest and weed threats, we can determine between the two types of turf which one is ideal for you. Before making a final decision it is also important to look at the cost of seeds and fertilizers needed. Only then can we know which turf is best between St. Augustine vs. Bahia grass.
Appearance of Bahia Grass and St. Augustine Grass
Bahia grass is a medium green pasture grass that is best identified by its v-shaped seed heads. It grows in a uniform color and height and once established, it holds its color through drought-ridden summers and into late fall weather.
St. Augustine is a dense medium to dark-hued grass. You can tell St. Augustine apart from other turf grasses because of its wide, round leaves positioned on thick stolons. These grasses can be easily identified based on their color and growth habits.
Best Uses for Bahia Grass vs Best Uses for St. Augustine Grass
Grown primarily as a pasture grass in the southern part of the US, Bahia grass has many uses that make it an excellent turf. It is common to see Bahia grass used for hay production due to its tall, sprawling growth pattern. Its ability to thrive in sandy, infertile soil allows it to be planted densely on slopes for erosion control.
St. Augustine grass provides an ideal lawn that stays green through drought, heat, and salty coastal winds. Few grass types can handle salt as well as St. Augustine. It can handle mild traffic so is best utilized as a lawn for beach houses in hot coastal areas. The differences between Bahia and St. Augustine grass use depend on where in the south you live, coastal or inland.
Soil Types and pH Needs of Bahia grass vs Needs of St. Augustine Grass
Bahia grass can grow in conditions that are typically less than favorable for a plains grass. Preferring soil pH of 5.0 to 6.5, and sandy, well-draining, infertile soil, Bahia grass grows where few other grasses dare to go. It is a deep-rooted perennial, warm-season grass and can handle harsh soil conditions.
St. Augustine grass also grows best in well-drained sandy soils. Here the similarities between Bahia grass vs St. Augustine end. St. Augustine needs fertile soil and a higher pH. A range of 6 to 8 is better than highly acidic soil. Compacted clay soil is the worst soil for either of these turf types.
Water Needs for Bahia Grass Lawns vs Water Needs for St. Augustine Grass Lawns
Both of these turf types need little water and given a tendency to be in coastal and mountainous regions, often get all the water they need from rainfall. However, there are some differences in the amount of water needed for each type of grass, as well as their watering schedule.
Bahia grass needs between 1 inch and 1 ¼” of water a week to remain green and prevent dormancy. When watering Bahia grass, it is best to water deeply once a week so that the water soaks into the first 7” of soil where most of the roots are.
St. Augustine Grass uses a similar amount of water, about 1 inch a week. However, it is best to space out the watering for St. Augustine to accommodate its shallow roots and dislike of waterlogging. Water St. Augustine twice a week at ½” each time during droughts and times of high heat to keep it green and healthy.
Sun, Shade, and Temperature Requirements for Bahia Grass vs St. Augustine Grass
Warm-season grasses love the sun and most cannot deal with being away from it. Shade is a quick way to stunt a fast-growing turf and create problems. Some grass types deal with a few hours out of the sun much better than others.
Bahia grass prefers full sun and will suffer if it gets less than 7 hours a day. While some shade is tolerable, prolonged periods of shade or permanent shading structures will damage Bahia grass and prevent lush lawns.
St. Augustine can handle shade better than most warm-season grasses. Some varieties of St. Augustine can thrive with only 4 hours of full sun. Most strains need between 6 and 8 hours to grow well, but that is still far less than other warm-season grasses.
Durability of St. Augustine Grass vs Bahia Grass Lawns
When it comes to choosing the best turf it is important to consider what it will be used for. Some lawns are meant to be seen and not touched while others can take a beating.
St. Augustine is a turf that can handle slight foot traffic and occasional wear. If an area of lawn receives constant traffic, like a path for a person or animal, the blades will be unable to sustain growth and become damaged. St. Augustine doesn’t repair fast enough to handle more than light foot traffic.
Bahia grass can tolerate much more traffic. It is a good grass to use in hot climates where summer lawn use is the norm. It can handle traffic from daily use and the occasional get-together assuming proper drainage in the soil is preserved and extra water is added to aid in lawn healing.
Common Pests and Diseases for Bahia Grass or St. Augustine Grass
When it comes to pests there are a few that bother summer lawns. Bahia grass is susceptible to several that can cause some real issues. They are Bahia grass billbugs, Fall armyworms, and mole crickets. Most of these pests can be easily identified and destroyed but a neglected lawn could become quite infested in a few short years. Ergot is a common disease that affects the seed heads of Bahia grass.
St. Augustine also has its enemies. These critters thrive in the hot sandy soil and love to make a meal of this luscious turf. St. Augustine pests are billbugs, earthworms, fiery skipper, masked chafers, and the southern chinch bug. Make sure to look at the best ways to remove these pests or you could be dealing with dead grass before you know it. Common diseases for St. Augustine grass are gray leaf spot disease, pythium root rot, and take-all root rot.
Mowing Needs of Bahia Grass vs Mowing Needs of St. Augustine Grass
Bahia grass grows quickly and will have ample growth throughout the year. This turf grass stays active most of the year and will require mowing from spring to fall. Most lawnowners in warm climates need to mow Bahia grass once every week or two. The recommended height is between 3 and 4 inches.
St. Augustine grass is also a grass that prefers higher blade height and less frequent mowing. Due to its more ornamental and less functional attributes, St. Augustine can be left to grow longer to help develop a deeper root system. Mowing once every two weeks to a height of 4 inches is recommended for this grass.
Are There Better Strains of Bahia grass or St. Augustine Grass?
There are two main cultivators of Bahia grass that are commercially available in the US. These are typically used for lawns, plains, and prairie control. If you are looking for a strain that can handle high heat and cold better and is more resistant to traffic, shade, and pests, you will want Pensacola Bahia grass. If you prefer a darker, richer, fuller lawn, that may require a bit more water and maintenance but is unparalleled in color, Argentina is the variety for you.
As far as varieties for St. Augustine, there are several strains you can choose from. Some particularly useful types are Palmetto and CitraBlue. Both of these varieties help St. Augustine be even more shade tolerant allowing for full, deep growth with as little as 4 hours of full sunlight a day.
Cost of Bahia Grass vs. St. Augustine Grass
When it comes to Bahia vs. St. Augustine cost the difference is very little but still favors one turf over the other. Based on the cost of sod and seed in Florida, Bahia comes out as the cheaper choice.
Bahia grass costs around 85 cents per sqft for sod. It is common to see prices for Bahia seed at around $60 for 5lbs. Prices vary depending on location and bulk purchased.
St. Augustine costs a little more to purchase in the same state at $1.05 per sqft. St. Augustine cannot be established by planting seeds and so can be a costly operation with only sod and plug options available.
Can You Mix St. Augustine Grass and Bahia Grass?
Since both of these grasses have advantages and disadvantages, you might wonder if you can mix Bahia and St. Augustine grass. The short answer is probably not. The issue with growing these two grasses together is that the maintenance needed to help one will kill the other.
The herbicides needed to treat weeds that Bahia is susceptible to will directly target St. Augustine and kill it. Likewise, the reverse is true and treatments used to help St. Augustine will harm Bahia. These grasses prefer different fertilization levels and varying watering schedules making them incompatible as co-turfs.
The Best-Case Scenario for a Bahia Grass vs St. Augustine Grass
The best lawn conditions for Bahia grass would be high-heat, long summers, full sun, and enough moisture to stay green. The deep roots allow for this grass to be sown broadly allowing for growth on hills, open plains, and sandy soils. This grass can grow where other lawns cannot so the best terrain is one other grasses don’t want.
St. Augustine grass’ ideal lawn would be one along a hot coastal area. Here the high humidity, sandy soil, and adequate moisture would allow for lush lawns of St. Augustine. Additional fertilizer and proper lawn maintenance would be all that is needed for this turf to thrive.
Here’s a table to help you choose the best turf for you!
| Characteristic | Bahia grass | St. Augustine grass |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Medium-green color and tall thin blades | Dark green dense and coarse Thin blades and clustered growth |
| Popular Uses | Plain planting and erosion control | Coastal lawns and areas with high salt content |
| Idea Soil Type and pH | Well-Drained Sandy soil with 5 to 6.5 pH | Adequate fertility, well-draining, and sandy soil with 6 to 7 pH |
| Water Requirements | 1 to 1 ¼” water weekly, single deep watering | 1” of water per week split into two waterings of ½” each |
| Sun/Shade/Temp. Needs | Full sun/no shade/high temperatures can handle some cold | Full some/some shade/high humid temperatures. Cannot handle cold |
| Durability | Handles moderate traffic | Handles light foot traffic only |
| Pests and Diseases | Pests- Bahia grass billbugs, Fall armyworms, mole crickets Disease - Ergot | Pests- billbugs, earthworms, fiery skipper, masked chafers, and southern chinch bug Disease- gray leaf spot disease, pythium root rot, and take-all root rot |
| Mowing Needs | 3-4 inches high, once every 1 or 2 weeks. | 4 inches high, once every two weeks |
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