One of the most common calls we get from Lakeway-area homeowners sounds something like this:
“My St. Augustine lawn is being taken over by another grass, and I want it gone.”
That was exactly the issue behind a recent sod repair project in The Hills, the gated community just off Lakeway. The homeowner had an otherwise healthy St. Augustine lawn, but Bermuda grass had started creeping in and spreading through several areas.
To restore the lawn’s clean, uniform look, our Grass Works team removed the affected sections and patched them back in with matching St. Augustine sod. In total, we installed about 490 square feet of new sod, helping the yard read as one consistent surface again instead of a patchwork of competing grasses.
The Sod Repair Project in The Hills
This residential property had an established St. Augustine lawn, but Bermuda grass had invaded in patches. Because Bermuda has a different color, texture, and growth habit than St. Augustine, the lawn was starting to look uneven and blotchy.
Our approach was straightforward: remove the Bermuda-infested areas and replace them with the same variety of St. Augustine already growing in the yard.
The goal was not just to cover bare soil. The goal was to make the repair blend naturally into the existing lawn.
For this project, we:
- Cut out the sections where Bermuda had taken hold
- Removed the old turf using shovels and wheelbarrows
- Hauled away the invaded material
- Prepped the soil so the new sod would sit flush with the surrounding lawn
- Installed matching St. Augustine sod
- Used a sod roller to press the new pieces firmly into the soil
Once complete, the yard had a continuous St. Augustine surface again without the two-toned, patchy appearance that Bermuda often creates.
Why Bermuda Invades St. Augustine Lawns in Central Texas
Bermuda invading St. Augustine is one of the most common turf problems we see around Austin, Lakeway, Bee Cave, and the surrounding Central Texas area.
The reason comes down to how the two grasses grow.
St. Augustine is a popular warm-season grass for Central Texas lawns because it handles heat well and performs better in partial shade than many other turfgrasses. Bermuda, however, is extremely aggressive in sunny areas. It spreads through above-ground runners called stolons, underground stems called rhizomes, and seed that can blow in from nearby lawns, alleys, fields, and open areas.
When St. Augustine is thick and healthy, it can help shade the soil and crowd out competition. But once it starts thinning, Bermuda sees an opportunity.
Common trouble spots include:
- Hot, south-facing edges
- High-traffic areas
- Thin or stressed patches
- Areas mowed too short
- Sunny borders near driveways, sidewalks, or neighboring lawns
Once Bermuda gets established inside a St. Augustine lawn, it can be difficult to ignore. The two grasses do not match, so the lawn starts to look uneven, patchy, and inconsistent.
Why You Usually Cannot Just Spray Bermuda Out of St. Augustine
Homeowners often ask whether Bermuda can simply be sprayed and killed without replacing the sod.
Unfortunately, it is not usually that simple.
Bermuda and St. Augustine are both grasses, which means there is no dependable selective herbicide that will kill Bermuda without also risking damage to the St. Augustine. For a contained Bermuda invasion, the more reliable fix is mechanical removal.
That means physically cutting out the Bermuda-infested turf, including as many roots, runners, and underground stems as possible, and replacing the area with clean St. Augustine sod.
Because Bermuda spreads underground, it is important to cut slightly beyond the visible edge of the invasion. If rhizomes are left behind, Bermuda can resprout and start spreading again.
How We Do St. Augustine Sod Patchwork the Right Way
Good sod patchwork takes more than placing squares of grass on dirt.
For the repair to blend properly, the old turf has to be removed cleanly, the soil has to be prepared, and the new sod needs to sit at the same grade as the surrounding lawn. If the soil is too high or too low, the repair can leave behind uneven seams or lumpy spots.
Matching the sod variety also matters. Using the same type of St. Augustine already present in the yard helps the new patch blend in over time instead of standing out as a different shade or texture.
After installation, we roll the sod to remove air pockets and improve soil-to-root contact. That firm contact is what helps the new sod root quickly and establish into the surrounding lawn.
How to Care for New St. Augustine Sod in Central Texas
New St. Augustine sod needs consistent moisture while it roots into the soil.
During the heat of a Central Texas summer, that usually means frequent, light watering early on to keep the sod damp. After the first couple of weeks, watering can typically be tapered toward deeper, less frequent watering as the sod begins to knit into the soil.
Always follow your local watering restrictions and watering-day rules.
A good general approach is:
- Keep the new sod consistently damp during the early rooting period
- Avoid letting edges dry out
- Reduce watering frequency once the sod begins rooting
- Shift toward deeper watering as the lawn establishes
- Avoid heavy foot traffic while the sod is still rooting
With proper watering and warm growing conditions, St. Augustine sod typically begins rooting within a few weeks.
How to Help Keep Bermuda from Coming Back
The best long-term defense against Bermuda is a thick, healthy St. Augustine lawn.
Bermuda thrives where St. Augustine is thin, short, stressed, or exposed to too much direct sunlight at the soil level. The denser your St. Augustine becomes, the harder it is for Bermuda to regain a foothold.
To help prevent future Bermuda invasion:
- Mow St. Augustine on the taller side
- Avoid scalping the lawn
- Water deeply and less frequently once established
- Fertilize appropriately during the growing season
- Repair thin areas before Bermuda moves in
- Watch sunny edges and high-traffic zones closely
A tall, dense St. Augustine lawn shades the soil and limits the sunlight Bermuda needs to spread. The shorter and thinner St. Augustine gets, the easier it becomes for Bermuda to move back in.
Need Bermuda Removed from a St. Augustine Lawn in The Hills or Lakeway?
If you are in The Hills, Lakeway, Bee Cave, or anywhere around Austin and you are seeing a different grass take over your St. Augustine lawn, it is best to deal with it before it spreads further.
The smaller the Bermuda invasion, the smaller the repair usually needs to be.
Reach out to Ferris MyCue and the Grass Works Lawn Care team, and we will help get your lawn back to one clean, uniform surface.
FAQ: Bermuda Grass in St. Augustine Lawns
Can you kill Bermuda grass in a St. Augustine lawn without replacing the sod?
Not reliably. Bermuda and St. Augustine are both grasses, so there is no dependable selective spray that removes Bermuda without risking damage to the St. Augustine. For a contained invasion, physically removing the Bermuda-infested turf and patching in matching St. Augustine sod is usually the most reliable fix.
How long does new St. Augustine sod take to establish in Austin?
With consistent watering and warm growing conditions, St. Augustine sod typically begins rooting within two to three weeks. Keeping the sod damp early, then tapering to deeper and less frequent watering, helps it knit into the surrounding lawn.
Why does Bermuda keep coming back in my yard?
Bermuda spreads through above-ground runners, underground stems, and seed. It often returns where St. Augustine is thin, stressed, or mowed too short. Keeping St. Augustine tall, dense, properly watered, and well-fed is the best long-term defense.