What is the Difference Between Bermuda Grass & Crab Grass?

Crabgrass gets its name from its low, sprawling growth habit.

Crabgrass is an invasive plant that can take over lawns, while Bermuda grass is a warm-season variety used in high-traffic areas such as golf courses and playing fields. In short, crabgrass is a weed, and Bermuda grass is not.

Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass is a widely used choice for lawns, as it quickly establishes from both seeds and sprigs. The seed heads the grass produces pose a drawback, but you can eliminate these with regular mowing. Bermuda grass is favored in the South, as it tolerates drought and stays green year-round.

Crabgrass

Crabgrass spreads from seed and by its leaf nodes, which root where they connect with the soil. Smooth crabgrass grows to 6 inches and dies with the first frost. Large crabgrass is also a low-grower; left unmowed, it can grow to 2 feet.

Considerations

Crabgrass and Bermuda grass are similar in appearance, but unlike crabgrass, Bermuda grass spreads underground by rhizomes and above ground with stolons. You can manage crabgrass in lawns through frequent mowing and overseeding the area to keep the grass thick. Hybrid Bermuda grass varieties can be very competitive to weeds, but only if they get enough sunlight.

References

• American-Lawns.com: Bermuda Grass
• University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Crabgrass