It is important to note that there are a few key differences between cool season varieties and warm season varieties when making an educated and informed decision. When it comes to choosing the type of grass for your home, which is a larger investment, budget and physical appeal are important factors to consider, as well as the amount of maintenance required for the grass in the climate where you are located. There are a few things to consider when choosing the type of grass for your residential lawn, including the amount of maintenance involved, the type of grass available, and the battle between two grass varieties, bermuda and zoysia, which is the focus of our Turf Wars series. The previous installment ended with bermuda grass taking the trophy in the battle against St. Augustine grass, resulting in a tie between the two grasses.
Today, we will focus on the generic differences between bermudagrass and zoysia grass, comparing certain characteristics for each category. There are many types of bermudagrass and zoysia grass available to homeowners, such as Bermudagrass 36 Latitude®, Bermudagrass Celebration®, Geo® Zoysia, Innovation® Zoysia, and Zoysia EMPIRE®. However, it is important to note that the characteristics of these grasses may vary depending on the selected cultivar for sod installation.
Color
Some popular types of grass, such as Zoysia and Bermuda, are visually represented below in the images. The results depend on what you are looking for because there is a clear distinction in color between the two grasses. When it comes to the battle of grass color, Zoysia Palisades has a much lighter green color, while Zoysia EMPIRE has a darker green color. On the other hand, Bermuda grass 36 Latitude has a darker green color, while Bermuda grass Celebration has a deep green-blue color. There are no two Bermuda grass cultivars that have the exact same color. Bermuda grass and Zoysia grass cultivars are bred with the goal of having different and appealing colors.
Winner: Tie.
Zoysia Colors:.
Shown above from left to right: EMPIRE, Innovation, Geo, and Zeon Zoysia.
Shown above from left to right: Zorro, El Toro, Palisades, and Meyer Zoysia.
Bermuda Grass Shades:
Shown above from left to right: Celebration Bermudagrass, Latitude 36 Bermudagrass, NorthBridge Bermudagrass, and Tifway 419 Bermudagrass.
Blade Width and Texture:
Bermuda turf exhibits a remarkably smooth consistency with exceedingly delicate, hair-like grass blades, yet their usage is gaining popularity in residential lawns and parks. Bermuda grass is commonly found on numerous sports fields and golf courses. Certain varieties such as Innovation and Geo Zoysia were specifically cultivated to possess narrower blade widths, which enhances their ability to tolerate shade. However, many zoysia grasses have wider blade widths. In fact, this is generally the simplest method to differentiate between bermuda grass and zoysia grass. Zoysia grasses and bermuda grasses diverge significantly in terms of blade width.
In terms of blade width and texture, the decision is a draw as it ultimately depends on personal preference. Homeowners who prefer bermuda grass over other types of grass usually desire a look that resembles a golf course or sports field. Bermuda grass blades have widths ranging from approximately 1.5-1.7 mm. Matrella, a breed of zoysia grass, has very fine grass blades with a width of around 2 mm, making it one of the finer-bladed zoysias. On the other hand, zoysia grass blades typically range from 5-7 mm in width.
Winner: Tie.
Shown above from left to right: EMPIRE Zoysia and Latitude 36 Bermudagrass.
Shade Tolerance
Celebration is the most shade resistant bermuda grass available. However, Bermuda grass is not a very shade tolerant grass in comparison to St. Augustine or even zoysia. The narrower-bladed varieties come second to the broader-bladed zoysias in terms of shade tolerance, but they are still highly shade resistant. Innovation and Geo Zoysia are the most narrower-bladed zoysias that are highly shade resistant. Zoysia, especially the narrower-bladed cultivars, comes second to St. Augustine in the battle for shade tolerance. St. Augustine is, for the most part, unbeatable in shade tolerance. Read Growing Grass in Shaded Landscapes to gain more knowledge.
Winner: Zoysia.
Mowing Heights and Growth Habits
This is not always the case, as different varieties of grass grow at different speeds. How frequently homeowners need to mow usually depends on the heights that dictate how they want their lawn to look. Zoysias, which have finer-bladed grass, are typically kept between 0.5-1.5 inches, while wider-bladed zoysias are usually kept between 1-2 inches. Bermuda grass, on the other hand, is kept at a height of 0.5-1.5 inches. These heights will also vary throughout the different seasons of the year, so it is important to look at our Homeowner Guides for Zoysia and Bermudagrass Maintenance for more information. Additionally, the differences in grass variety require different mowing heights in order to perform at their best, and these differences can also impact the color of the grass.
Rhizomes and stolons are utilized by all bermuda grasses and zoysia grasses for growth and propagation. The surface of the soil typically lies just beneath the horizontal underground rhizome. Rhizomes penetrate the soil, establishing new roots, while stems extend upwards. At the tip, a clone of the original plant develops as a stolon, an above-ground stem that creeps along the soil’s surface. Consequently, they are likely highly efficient at suppressing the growth of unwanted plants. Nevertheless, bermuda grass exhibits an exceedingly aggressive spreading rate. In fact, it is not uncommon to witness bermuda grass entirely overpowering a centipede lawn or even encroaching upon asphalt roads and concrete sidewalks.
Bermuda grasses are commonly found in golf courses, where they can be seen in the fairways and collars, providing a textured look. They are also found on sports fields due to their high tolerance for drought, recovery from injury, and wear. This is why they are often preferred over other grasses.
Bermudagrass NorthBridge® and Zoysia Innovation, like finer-bladed zoysias, were bred for superior cold tolerance, allowing them to thrive in the transition zone and withstand colder temperatures. In comparison, Zoysia grasses generally require less water and have fewer pest concerns.
Shown above: Developing maps for Innovation Zoysia, Latitude 36, and NorthBridge Bermudagrass–all of which showcase outstanding performance in the transition area.
Checking our lawn mowing guide will help you learn more about the habits, growth, and preferred mowing heights of Zoysia grass, which tends to outcompete other grasses in the battle for supremacy. Unlike Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass requires a little more maintenance, including regular edging and mowing.
Winner: Zoysia.
Wear Tolerance
The EMPIRE variety of grass has better wear tolerance than most other zoysia grasses, although zoysia grasses are generally considered to have “high” recovery injury and wear tolerance. The reason why bermuda grasses can be found in sports fields and golf courses instead of zoysia grasses is because bermuda grasses can withstand heavy foot traffic and are generally more durable. Bermuda grasses typically rank higher than zoysia grasses in terms of recovery injury and wear tolerance.
Champion: Bermuda Grass.
Drought Tolerance vs. Drought Resistance
Generally, zoysia exhibits a strong ability to withstand drought and a moderate ability to resist drought. Both bermuda grass and zoysia grass necessitate approximately one inch of water per week, encompassing rainfall, as part of regular upkeep. The grass cannot endure without water until a certain threshold where the capacity to maintain an attractive appearance during a drought becomes crucial for survival. Drought tolerance refers to the ability to survive a drought, whereas drought resistance pertains to the ability to maintain an appealing appearance during a drought, relative to drought tolerance. Drought tolerance and drought resistance are distinct phenomena.
Bermudagrass Celebration was developed and bred in Australia, where it is accustomed to resistance and tolerance to drought. This is why it can perform well in hot and dry climates, as it tends to better withstand both drought resistance and tolerance.
Champion: Bermuda Grass.
Soil Preferences and Salt Tolerance
Our Soil Management for Lawns and Gardens blog delves into the discussion of soils, their pH ranges, and how these factors impact the performance and health of your grass. We explore a range of soil types, including sandy soils, clay soils, and loamy soils, and highlight the specific soil types in which each grass variety thrives.
Along coastal landscapes, zoysias can still be observed thriving, but only possess a moderate tolerance to salt in comparison. It is more common to encounter bermuda grasses along the coasts or in areas with high salt content, as bermuda grass also tends to exhibit a greater tolerance to salt than zoysias. While it can flourish in clay soils, it prefers other types of soil. Both zoysia grass and bermuda grass have the capability to grow in a diverse range of soil types; however, zoysia truly flourishes in sandy or loamy soils.
Winner: Tie.
Fertility and pH
Both zoysia and bermuda grass require a certain amount of sulfur, manganese, iron, potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and micronutrients as well as macronutrients. This is because they need sunlight and water, just like any living organism. It doesn’t matter which type of turfgrass variety you choose for installation.
In soils with a pH ranging from 5.8 to 7.0, Zoysias typically exhibit optimal performance. When the pH level falls within the range of 6.5 to 8.0, Bermuda grass, similar to St. Augustine, has the ability to thrive in various soil types, but excels in its growth.
Lastly, make sure to take a look at Lawnifi, a fertilizer program that meets the main requirements for both zoysia and bermuda grasses. While the nutritional needs of these grasses may vary slightly, Lawnifi is the perfect fertilizer program for both. Make sure to submit and collect analysis soil by using Lawnifi and also check out related blogs at University Sod for more information.
Winner: Zoysia.
Main Pests
Before applying any insecticides, it is important to thoroughly label each product to ensure proper use. Take a look at some of the most popular insecticides below for effective control of these pests. Armyworms, fall webworms, sod worms, grub billbugs, and grass mites are the most common insects that invade Bermuda grass. It is a good idea to apply a systemic insecticide that is labeled for treating these insects before they become a problem. Learn more about these insects in our article on insect identification. Below are a few insect control products for controlling this variety of pests. Additionally, Zoysia Innovation has developed billbug-resistant properties in their bluegrass, making Zoysia EMPIRE and St. Augustines grasses more commonly found in bugs chinch. However, both grass and Zoysia are prone to a wide variety of pests and insects that can plague them.
Winner: Tie.
Main Diseases
Read our Lawn Diseases Control blog for more information on identifying and controlling common diseases in lawns. Make sure to thoroughly label each product with instructions for treating certain turfgrass diseases. Take a look at some of our top recommended products for these lawn diseases. Although different types of grasses can encounter many outbreaks of fungus, the most frequently encountered ones for zoysias are pythium and brown spot, leaf spot, and rust. Knowing which types of diseases these two grasses are more susceptible to will really help in preventing any future outbreaks. Similarly, both bermuda grass and zoysia grass are more prone to insects and other types of grasses are more prone to other diseases or fungus outbreaks.
Winner: Tie.
In our third installment of the Turf Wars series, zoysia grass emerges victorious in the battle of turfs, securing a commendable score of 8/10, including the ties, while bermuda trails closely behind with an overall score of 7/10. Each variant of zoysia and bermuda exhibits distinct performances, owing to their different breeding periods and diverse objectives. As mentioned earlier, this blog aims to provide a general perspective on the comparisons between zoysia and bermuda grass. While zoysia surpasses bermuda grass in certain aspects, the latter also possesses superior qualities in specific areas.