St. Augustine: the Florida standard
St. Augustine is the most common lawn grass in Central Florida neighborhoods. It has wide, coarse blades, a deep green color and grows into a thick carpet in our heat.
It handles shade better than Bahia, though how well depends on the cultivar. It needs regular irrigation and fertilizer to look its best, and chinch bugs are its main pest.
Mow it at 3 to 4 inches, with some dwarf cultivars handling about 2.5. It is established with sod or plugs, not seed.
Zoysia: fine, dense and tough underfoot
Zoysia has a finer texture and a dense, manicured look. It handles foot traffic well and forms a tight surface that holds up to kids and pets.
It is mowed lower, around 1.5 to 2.5 inches, and looks best with sharp blades and a regular schedule. It grows slowly, which means it is slow to recover from damage and can build up thatch over time.
Large patch disease in the cooler, wet months is a common issue to manage.
Bahia: low input, rougher look
Bahia is a tough, deep-rooted grass that handles Florida sand and dry spells with less water and fertilizer than the others. It is common on larger lots and roadsides.
The trade-off is appearance. It has a more open texture and sends up tall seed heads in summer, which means more frequent mowing to keep it tidy. It does poorly in shade.
Mow at 3 to 4 inches. Bahia can be grown from seed or sod.
How to choose for your yard
Start with sun and shade. Heavy shade narrows your options, and none of these grasses grows well in dense shade. In those spots, a planted bed may be the better answer.
Then think about use and upkeep. A front yard in an HOA usually calls for St. Augustine or Zoysia. A large back lot where low water and low cost matter more can be a good fit for Bahia.
Your irrigation matters too. If watering is limited or the system is unreliable, the drought tolerance of Bahia counts for more.
Not sure which turf fits
Corso installs and maintains all three. We look at sun, shade, soil, irrigation and how the yard is used, then recommend the grass that fits.
Tell us about your property through the quote form at /#quote.
