If you are a professional gardener, you may want to know which grass you have to use for a precise application. There are two great options: Bermuda grass or tall fescue. You should have enough knowledge of when and why to use these grasses. Now, you may want to know their differences.
For a precise turfgrass application, both Bermuda grass and tall fescue can be the greatest options. In appearance, although there is no difference between the two varieties, they are quite different from each other. For proper management of your yard, you should have a clear understanding of between two species.
So, today, we will talk about the distinction between the two types of grass. We have enough perception about the fact, so we come here to discover the truth. If you want further information, would you mind reading the article about Bermuda grass VS tall fescue?
Table of Contents
Bermuda Grass VS Tall Fescue
Growing Seasons:
Being a warm-season turfgrass, Bermuda maintains C4 plant metabolism. March to September is the peak growing season of Bermuda grasses. The optimum temperature for the growth of Bermuda grass is between 75-95°F. When the temperature drops down, the growth starts stalling. Consequently, in the winter months, the grasses become stagnant.
On the other hand, tall fescue is known as a cool-season turfgrass that follows a C3 plant metabolism. Tall fescue grows best in the temperature between 55-75°F. They can’t tolerate high temperatures. So, in the summer months, the growth starts dropping. In the warm season, the turf becomes prone to possible damages and diseases.
Fertilizer:
Any plant needs to fertilize to ensure proper growth. Both Bermuda grass and tall fescue prefer nitrogen fertilizer each season and approximately the same amounts. But the fertilizing season varies from grass to grass. Experts recommend applying fertilizer during the active growth of turfgrasses.
Late spring is preferable to Bermuda grass for applying fertilizer. Late spring is the peak time for these grasses as they flourish in the summer seasons. Avoid using fertilizers in other seasons, you won’t get optimum outcomes.
The ideal time to use fertilizer to tall fescue in the late spring. Never apply fertilizer to fescue in the summer. Don’t forget tall fescue is a cool-seasoned plant. In the hottest season, they become susceptible to damage. You can apply an application of chelated iron with nitrogen fertilizer if you prefer a dark green color of your turf grasses.
Professional Uses:
The varieties of Bermuda grass are being widely available for various professional uses. It can be a great choice for any application from roadside schemes to professional sports such as golf courses, football fields, and lawns. This top-notch grass is highly recommended for professional uses.
On the contrary, being a cool-season turfgrass, tall fescue is being used in the southern transition zone like shady locations. Because warm-season grasses can’t perform well in shady areas. Therefore, in the transition zone and north, people used to utilize tall fescue in yards or sports fields. The application of tall fescue can also be utilized in rough areas.
Characteristics:
Bermuda grasses are a plant of dark green color that can be 2 inches in height. But the height may differ relying on the location where the length becomes 4-12 inches. The species is common in Africa and distinct parts of Asia. Its other name is Cynodon dactylon. It has a coarse texture with ground roots named stolons. They produce collar-region hair tufts that are not seen in most turf grasses. Typically, Bermuda grasses are denser than other warm-season grasses.
The plant has a stem that carries flowers on the tip. The stem also produces purple branches where the blooms remain attached. The bloom stalks bear egg-shaped spiky seeds. The grass has fibrous roots and thorough rhizomes. The root colors vary when the grass gets matured. The roots of the new Bermuda grass are white while mature grasses have brownish-yellow roots. The plant becomes dormant during cold seasons as they aren’t cold tolerant. You can identify Bermuda grass by keeping a closer eye on the leaflets. The leaflets are hairy.
In terms of color, the tall fescue is also dark green. As its name implies, the turf can be 3-4 feet tall. The youngest tall fescue leaves are arranged in rolled vernation. The tall fescue has no auricles or slender collar extensions. It features short, membrane-filled ligules that are hairless. There is a panicle-style seed head of this turfgrass. This is one of the easiest pointers to identify tall fescue. This is because most turf grasses have spike-type or racemes seed heads.
The growth pattern of tall fescue is Bunch-type that grows through rhizomes and tillers. The common difference between Bermuda grasses and tall fescue is that tall fescue has a wide leaf-blade structure that contains equal-sized veins. But there is no midrib or prominent central vein. The underside of the leaf blade is sluggish and the top of the leaves are edged. Tall fescue is a drought-hardy species that grows best in cold seasons.
Benefits:
The benefits of Bermuda grass are-
- Widely used
- Susceptible to a large variety of thriving sites
- Contentious growth
- Heat and drought tolerant
- Very few insect issues
- High-quality turfgrass that works very competently
- Moderate level of supervision to attain best outcomes
The benefits of tall fescue are-
- Thrives well in darkened areas
- Quick establishment
- Heat, drought, and shade resistant
- Deeper grounded, that’s why it is more drought tolerant than other cool-season turfgrasses
- Resilient to wear and tear
- Bunch-forming grass
These are all the disparities between the two common turf types of grass Bermuda and tall fescue. Know fescue VS Bermuda hay from this article.
Final Summary:
If you want a concise application, you have to consider numerous factors when choosing a turfgrass variety. Despite some similarities between the fescue and Bermuda mix, both two variables are quite different. You need to know the distinctions.
Being an experienced gardener, you may want to acquire enough knowledge about Bermuda grass vs Tall fescue, Georgia. Keep a closer look at this guide for a better understanding.
