Bermuda Grass in the Philippines, and What It Asks of You
Straight away: we do not stock Bermuda grass. We carry Carabao, Frog and Blue. So take what follows knowing we have a horse in this race.
That said, most people who ask us for Bermuda are describing a look, not a species. They want the fine, dense, golf-course finish. The catch is what Bermuda needs in return, and in a Metro Manila garden with a wall on one side and a tree on the other, that is usually the part that decides it.
The one thing that decides it: sunlight
Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon, needs six or more hours of direct sun a day. Give it an open lot and it produces the tight, fine turf you see on golf courses. Put it anywhere shaded and it thins, goes patchy, and weeds move into the gaps. It does not adapt. It simply declines.
Carabao grass, Paspalum conjugatum, is the opposite. It keeps going under a mango tree, along a shaded side passage, beside a two-storey wall that takes the afternoon sun away. That tolerance is the reason it is the default lawn grass in this country, not the look.
Before anything else, watch your space for a day. If any part of it is shaded for more than a couple of hours, Bermuda will fail there no matter who supplies it or how well it goes down. That is worth knowing before you spend anything.
Bermuda compared with what we carry
Frog Grass is the closest match if it is the fine blade you are after.
| Bermuda | Carabao | Blue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Cynodon dactylon | Paspalum conjugatum | Axonopus compressus |
| Blade | Fine and dense | Broad and soft | Fine, blue-green |
| Sunlight | Full sun, 6+ hours | Sun or partial shade | Full sun to light shade |
| Under trees | Thins out and dies | Grows happily | Struggles |
| Mowing in monsoon | Weekly | Every 5 to 10 days | Every 1 to 2 weeks |
| Look | Golf course | Relaxed, natural | Neat with colour contrast |
| Kids and pets | Recovers, needs upkeep | Very forgiving | Moderate |
| We stock it | No | Yes | Yes |
Frog Grass sits between Bermuda and Carabao: the finer blade, without the strict sun requirement. See Frog Grass.
If you still want Bermuda
Fair enough, and there are cases where it is the right answer: an open, unshaded lot, a putting green, a sports area, or simply a finish you are willing to mow weekly through the rainy season to keep.
We cannot supply it, so we will not pretend otherwise. Golf course suppliers and turf specialists carry it, and some sell seed. What we would ask is that you check the sunlight first, because that is where most Bermuda lawns in Metro Manila go wrong, and it is a costly thing to learn afterwards.
The grass
What we supply and lay
We are not only installers. The lawn grass comes from our own depot, so supply and labour are the same job with one point of contact.
Carabao Grass
In stockThe default choice for Philippine lawns. Broad soft blade, handles heat and heavy rain, forgiving if watering slips.
See Carabao Grass →Frog Grass
In stockFiner blade and a tighter mat than Carabao. Popular where a neater, more manicured look is wanted.
See Frog Grass →Blue Grass
In stockBlue-green tone that holds colour well. A good contrast against paving and stone.
See Blue Grass →Bermuda Grass
Not stocked right nowNot stocked at the moment. Tell us if you want Bermuda and we will point you to the closest match we carry, usually Frog Grass for a fine blade.
Ask what we can substitute →
Freshly cut grass delivered to site from our 664 Commonwealth Avenue, Novaliches depot.
Buying the grass turf only and laying it yourself? All three in-stock types are on the grass shop pages, same ₱199 per sqm, same 10 sqm minimum.
Questions people ask us
No. We carry Carabao, Frog and Blue grass. If Bermuda is genuinely what your site needs we will say so rather than talk you into something else, but for most Metro Manila gardens one of the three we stock is the better fit.
Frog Grass. It has the fine blade and tight mat that draws people to Bermuda, without the strict full-sun requirement. If your lawn gets shade for part of the day, Frog will hold where Bermuda thins.
Almost always shade. Bermuda needs six or more hours of direct sun. Under a mango tree, beside a two-storey wall, or on the shaded side of a house it thins, goes patchy and gets taken over by weeds. Carabao grass grows in those same spots without complaint.
In the rainy season, yes. Bermuda wants mowing about weekly to keep the clean look people buy it for. Carabao is cut every five to ten days but forgives you if you skip one. The bigger difference is sunlight, not mowing.
Open lot, full sun all day, and you want a manicured finish you are willing to maintain: Bermuda suits that. Any shade at all, children or pets, a large area, or a budget to respect: Carabao, every time.
All three varieties are ₱199 per square metre with a 10 sqm minimum. Order before 6:00 PM and it is cut overnight and delivered the next morning anywhere in Metro Manila.
Not sure which one suits your space?
Tell us how much sun the area gets and how it will be used, and we will tell you which of the three to lay. From ₱199 per square metre, 10 sqm minimum, anywhere in Metro Manila.
Or call +63 919 090 9380