Bermuda Grass vs Centipede Grass
High-performance turf versus low-maintenance simplicity. Understanding the difference prevents costly mistakes.
Overview
What This Comparison Covers
Bermuda and centipede represent opposite ends of the lawn care spectrum. Bermuda is a high-input, high-performance grass that rewards aggressive maintenance with a thick, resilient turf. Centipede is a low-input grass that thrives on neglect — but punishes you for trying too hard. The most common mistakes homeowners make in Middle Georgia come from treating one like the other. This comparison breaks down the critical differences so you can care for whichever grass you have correctly.
Head to head
Side-by-Side Comparison
Bermuda Grass
Pros
Extremely heat and drought tolerant — built for Middle Georgia summers
Fast recovery from damage, foot traffic, and heavy use
Tolerates aggressive herbicide and fertilizer applications
Dense growth that crowds out weeds when properly maintained
Responds well to dethatching, aeration, and heavy renovation
Cons
- Cannot grow in shade — needs 6+ hours of direct sun
- Goes fully brown during winter dormancy
- Heavy nitrogen feeder — 4-5 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft per year
- Requires frequent mowing during active growth
- Invasive — spreads into beds, walks, and neighboring yards
Best for:
Full-sun yards where you want maximum durability and are willing to invest in regular maintenance and higher fertilizer inputs.
Centipede Grass
Pros
Very low maintenance — needs less fertilizer than any warm-season grass
Naturally prefers acidic soil, which matches Middle Georgia conditions
Low mowing frequency and slower growth habit
Good pest resistance compared to other grass types
Lower water needs than bermuda
Cons
- Very sensitive to over-fertilization — too much nitrogen causes iron chlorosis
- Poor traffic tolerance — thin, delicate blades do not hold up to heavy use
- Slow to recover from any damage (divots, pet spots, disease)
- Sensitive to many herbicides that bermuda tolerates without issue
- Slow to green up in spring and first to go dormant in fall
Best for:
Low-traffic yards where you want a lawn that looks good with minimal input. Ideal for homeowners who prefer less mowing, less fertilizing, and a hands-off approach.
Factor by factor
Detailed Comparison
Factor
Bermuda Grass
Centipede Grass
Nitrogen Needs
Bermuda Grass
Heavy (4-5 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft/year)
Centipede Grass
Light (1-2 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft/year)
Nitrogen Needs
Heavy (4-5 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft/year)
Light (1-2 lbs N per 1,000 sq ft/year)
Herbicide Tolerance
Bermuda Grass
Tolerates most selective herbicides
Centipede Grass
Sensitive — many common products cause damage
Herbicide Tolerance
Tolerates most selective herbicides
Sensitive — many common products cause damage
Mowing Height
Bermuda Grass
1-2 inches
Centipede Grass
1.5-2.5 inches
Mowing Height
1-2 inches
1.5-2.5 inches
Traffic Tolerance
Bermuda Grass
Excellent — handles kids, pets, heavy use
Centipede Grass
Poor — best for light-use or display lawns
Traffic Tolerance
Excellent — handles kids, pets, heavy use
Poor — best for light-use or display lawns
Recovery Speed
Bermuda Grass
Fast — fills in bare spots within weeks
Centipede Grass
Very slow — damage can last an entire season
Recovery Speed
Fast — fills in bare spots within weeks
Very slow — damage can last an entire season
Sun Requirement
Bermuda Grass
Full sun (6+ hours)
Centipede Grass
Full sun to light shade
Sun Requirement
Full sun (6+ hours)
Full sun to light shade
Soil pH Preference
Bermuda Grass
Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0)
Centipede Grass
Acidic (5.0-6.0) — matches Middle Georgia natively
Soil pH Preference
Slightly acidic to neutral (6.0-7.0)
Acidic (5.0-6.0) — matches Middle Georgia natively
Overall Maintenance Level
Bermuda Grass
High — rewards the effort with thick turf
Centipede Grass
Low — thrives on minimal intervention
Overall Maintenance Level
High — rewards the effort with thick turf
Low — thrives on minimal intervention
The verdict
Bottom Line Verdict
Bermuda and centipede require fundamentally different care programs. The biggest mistake is treating centipede like bermuda — dumping heavy nitrogen on centipede causes iron chlorosis (yellowing) and thins the lawn instead of thickening it. Similarly, neglecting bermuda the way you can neglect centipede leads to thin, weedy turf. Know which grass you have, and feed it accordingly. If you are not sure what is in your yard, have a professional identify it before starting any treatment program.
Why Attaboy
What Attaboy Does Differently
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bermuda and centipede grow in the same yard?
They can and often do, especially in Middle Georgia. But managing them together is challenging because they have opposite fertilizer needs. Heavy nitrogen that bermuda wants will damage centipede. The typical approach is to treat for the dominant species and accept that the minority grass may not get optimal care.
Why does my centipede grass turn yellow after fertilizing?
This is iron chlorosis caused by too much nitrogen. Centipede needs only 1-2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year. Anything more disrupts its ability to absorb iron, causing yellowing. If this has happened, stop nitrogen applications and apply chelated iron to correct the color. A soil test will tell you exactly where your nutrient levels stand.
Which grass is cheaper to maintain?
Centipede is significantly cheaper to maintain. It needs less fertilizer, less mowing, and less water than bermuda. However, centipede is more expensive to repair if it gets damaged because of its slow recovery. Bermuda has higher ongoing costs but lower repair costs because it bounces back quickly.
Can I use the same weed killer on bermuda and centipede?
Not always. Bermuda tolerates most selective herbicides, including aggressive formulations containing 2,4-D, dicamba, and MCPP at standard rates. Centipede is sensitive to many of these same products. Always check the label for centipede-specific restrictions, or better yet, have a professional select the right products for your grass type.
Which grass handles Middle Georgia clay soil better?
Both grow in clay soil, but centipede has a slight advantage because it naturally prefers the acidic pH (5.0-6.0) common in Middle Georgia. Bermuda prefers a slightly higher pH (6.0-7.0) and may benefit from lime applications to raise soil pH. A soil test reveals your exact pH and guides the correct amendments.
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