The most obvious difference between Bermuda grass and tall fescue? One is a warm-season grass while the other is a cool-season grass. However, both of these grasses do very well in the transition zone or in other types of special circumstances. Tall fescue and Bermuda have a similar appearance as well. The similarities stop there.
Comparing Tall Fescue vs. Bermuda
The main point to pay attention to when you’re comparing Bermuda vs tall fescue is climate. This includes everything from temperature range to soil type and expected rainfall. Bermudagrass and tall fescue couldn’t be more different when it comes to how these factors affect them.
For example, if you have a hot, dry, sunny lawn? Bermuda is the clear winner as tall fescue will find it hard to thrive in these conditions. Have a lawn with mixed sun and shade, compacted clay soil, and heavy rain expected each spring? Tall fescue will do very well in these conditions while Bermuda would thin and flounder. However, most lawns fall somewhere in between these extremes. To get a better picture of what you can expect, you can find everything you need to know about comparing Bermuda and tall fescue below.
Appearance of Tall Fescue and Bermudagrass
Appearance is not one of the main differences between Bermuda grass and tall fescue. Both types of grass have broad, dark green blades and send out stolons or tillers to reproduce. The primary difference in appearance you’ll see is that Bermudagrass has small, fine hairs around the leaf sheath aka the base of each blade of grass. This can make it appear “fuzzy”, even at a distance.
Best Uses for Tall Fescue vs Best Uses for Bermuda
This is the section for a quick answer to which grass type, Bermuda or tall fescue, is going to be better for your situation. For example, the best use for Bermudagrass is a hot, sunny, sandy area that gets average to low traffic.
In contrast, tall fescue does very well as a high-traffic-safe cover for athletic fields, medians, walkways, and even cover on hills. It handles dappled shade and even full shade well without dying. It may grow slightly thinner in deep shade, though this isn’t unusual for even the most shade-hardy grasses. If you have low-maintenance lawn dreams, a yard with mixed sun types, and soil prone to compaction, tall fescue could be the ideal lawn type for your situation.
Soil Types and pH Needs of Tall Fescue vs. Needs of Bermudagrass
The ideal pH for a tall fescue lawn is 5.5 to 7.5, a broader range than most turf types will tolerate. While it can work in most soil types, including dry, poor, and sandy soil, tall fescue prefers rich, clay soil with frequent rain. It works very well in parts of the yard that might seem to never dry out and has little trouble staying in place, even on damp, clay slopes.
In contrast, Bermuda grass prefers dry and sandy soils. If you have clay soil or one of those seemingly-permanent wet spots you may not get the most out of Bermuda as it needs good drainage. Bermudagrass can tolerate a pH as low as 5.5 but a range of 6 to 7 is ideal and will provide better outcomes. A pH higher than 7 may slow growth without actively harming the appearance of Bermuda, but keeping your pH there may mean extra work that cancels out the benefits.
Water Needs for Tall Fescue Lawns vs. Water Needs for Bermuda Lawns
Both tall fescue and Bermuda lawns need 1” of water per week. Bermuda will do better in a drought during high heat conditions (temperatures above 90F) than tall fescue and will stay green longer if water is withheld under average weather conditions. However, tall fescue can handle weeks of drought without going dormant (or going brown) as long as temperatures cap at about 85F.
On the flip side, tall fescue is the choice for any area with heavy rainfall or soils that retain water for long periods. If 2” of rain is expected during a given week, you may want to hold off watering a Bermuda lawn to help prevent water-related diseases from setting in. Tall fescue requires no such attention and is far less likely to be harmed by standing water, as long as the water drains or evaporates within a week.
Sun, Shade, and Temperature Requirements for Tall Fescue vs Bermuda
If you have any shade over your yard, tall fescue can thrive in those shady spots. Like all grass, it may shy away from permanent, deep shade but any dappled shade spots or part-sun zones can fill in just as thickly with tall fescue as a patch in full sun will. The weakness of tall fescue is high heat and full sun. If temperatures are above 90F, tall fescue grass can develop burnt or “rusted” tips. This won’t kill the grass, but it does take away from its appearance. It’s possible to combat this by watering more frequently and allowing your grass to grow up to an extra inch before and during hot spells.
Bermuda turf, unlike tall fescue, finds full sun and as little shade as possible to be ideal. Any spot that’s in deep shade will result in the certain doom of Bermuda while zones that get more than 4 hours a day of dappled or partial sun will likely have a thinner appearance than the full sun areas of your yard.
Tall fescue is a good all-purpose grass but is classed as a cool-season grass. It grows best in cool weather and will go dormant below 50F and above 90F. Tall fescue can survive a hard frost and brief, mild, freezing winters. This makes it ideal for transition zones but anything above zone 5b could be problematic. Above 90F, you may also notice browning to the tips of your tall fescue if steps, such as increased watering or longer growth allowances, are not taken.
Bermuda is a warm-season grass. It likes hot temperatures and sun, though not as much as other warm-season grasses like Zoysia or Bahia. Bermuda will not withstand a freeze like tall fescue can. Any sort of frost will cause damage. Even so, Bermuda will go dormant below 55F and will retain its color until temperatures are consistently around or below 45F.
Durability of Tall Fescue vs Bermudagrass Lawns
The winner between Bermuda grass vs tall fescue in the durability category? Tall fescue. This is one of the toughest grass types you can get. Not only is it low-maintenance and able to survive complete neglect if planted in a compatible climate, but it can also withstand heavy traffic and will repair the damage quickly and efficiently, even in low-nutrient conditions.
Bermudagrass isn’t too bad for durability, in the right conditions it can handle average lawn traffic or light sports activities. However, it cannot do so when the lawn is wet. Any amount of water or mud drastically reduces the durability of Bermuda grass. While wet, avoid walking, running, or placing heavy objects on this lawn type.
Common Pests and Diseases for Tall Fescue or Bermudagrass
Both tall fescue and Bermuda are susceptible to the usual bugs and insects including aphids and webworms. However, due to its slower recovery rate, Bermuda is also more susceptible to digging animals.
Water is another enemy of Bermuda turf that can result in mildew, mold, and root rot. Root rot is much more likely to occur with Bermudagrass than with almost any other grass. Tall fescue also has its specific issues in the form of crown rust, a condition that is likely to occur in hot (greater than 90F), humid climates.
Mowing Needs of Tall Fescue vs. Mowing Needs of Bermuda
Bermuda is ideal for a shorter lawn as its average, ideal mowing height is 2”, with 1.5” to 2.5” being an acceptable range. It does not tend to do much better if left longer, even in hot weather, due to the slant of its growth in most conditions. During its ideal growing season (summer), Bermuda grass may need to be mown once a week or even more often, depending on how close you want to keep it to its ideal height.
Tall fescue is a little longer with an average of 3” and an ideal range of 2” to 3.5”. In hot weather it is a good idea to allow this grass to grow long as this helps it to retain moisture and keep its roots cool, preventing damage. During the ideal growing periods for tall fescue, late spring and early fall, it will need to be mown once a week but no more often.
Are There Better Strains of Tall Fescue or Bermuda?
Bermuda grass has hundreds of strains available. That shows just how popular it is and how much room for improvement there was over the original. Which strains will be available to you depend on cost, how well the crops of certain varieties had done that year, your willingness to wait in line for a pre-order or seed, sod, or plugs, and where you live. It seems like there is a new and improved cultivar or five out every year. For Bermuda, you’ll want to talk to a local grass seed or sod supplier before deciding what works best in your area. There are specific strains for shade tolerance, root-rot resistance, and even greater tolerance of the cold.
Tall fescue has few available strains and is often sold as just “tall fescue” with no strain, variety, or brand mentioned. However, there are other fescues with many similar characteristics. These include fine fescue (of which many strains are available) as well as creeping, hard, and red fescue. Not all of these make a good lawn or pasture grass.
Cost of Tall Fescue vs. Bermuda
Tall fescue, given its prevalence as a pasture grass and the lack of improved strains, will be less expensive to plant than Bermuda. Both Bermuda and tall fescue grow well from seed making them both less expensive than grass types that must be planted from sod or plugs, such as zoysia. The cost of tall fescue and Bermuda grass seed will depend on what is available locally but at the time of this writing the cost of basic, common strains of either should run about $8 to $14 a pound.
Can You Mix Bermuda and Tall Fescue?
No, you should not mix Bermuda and tall fescue. In general, mixing grasses is discouraged as it often results in both kinds of grass competing against each other and neither grass doing well. Specifically, Bermuda and tall fescue are too different to do well in the same conditions. One will out-compete the other within 2 years and the struggle may leave your lawn looking patchy.
The Best-Case Scenario for a Tall Fescue or Bermuda Lawn
Tall fescue is a variety that’s going to need little care, an average amount of water, and should be left a little long for most of the growing season. It wants soil with clay in it that retains water well and can even be compacted. Sloping lawns and dappled shade are perfect for tall fescue.
Bermuda grass couldn’t ask for a more different place to grow. This grass likes heat, sun, and rich soil. It also prefers flat terrain and low to average traffic. This is best for home lawns without pets and households without hobbies that may tear up the grass.
I’ve organized the main points of comparison between Tall Fescue and Bermuda grass in the table below.
| Grass Type | Tall Fescue | Bermuda Grass |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark Green with Coarse, Broad Blades | Dark Green with a Coarse Texture – Small Hairs on Leaf Sheath - Stolons |
| Popular Uses | High Traffic Areas and Yards with Mostly Shade | Warm to Hot Climate with Average Traffic |
| Ideal Soil Type and pH | Rich and Clay Soil is Ideal - 5.5 to 7.5 Ideal pH | Well-Drained and Rich Soil is Ideal - 6 to 7 Ideal pH |
| Water Requirements | 1” of Water Per Week – Average Overall Water Consumption | 1” to 1.5” of Water Per Week – Average Overall Water Consumption |
| Sun/Shade/Temperature Needs | Shade Preferred/Dormant at 50F and Above 90F | Full Sun Required – True Dormancy at 32F – Stopped Growth Below 55F |
| Durability | High Durability, Fast Recovery | Average Durability and Recovery Rate |
| Pests and Diseases | Fungus, Leaf Rust – Webworms, Thrips, Ants, Grubs | Mold, Mildew, Moss, and Algae if Too Moist – Webworms, Thrips, Grubs – Digging Animals |
| Mowing Needs | Should Be Mown to 2” Height or 3”+ If Sunny and Hot – Grows Best in Cool Weather | Should Be Mown to 1.5” to 2.5” On Average – Grows Best in Warm to Hot Weather |
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