Is St. Augustine Grass the Right Sod for My Orlando, FL Lawn?

Posted by Joe Mouad on Mar 3, 2020 7:54:18 AM

Quick answer to this big question: Probably. 

St. Augustine grass is one of the most popular lawn grasses in Florida, for lots of reasons.

  • It tolerates our heat and humidity.
  • Its attractive blue-green blades form a dense turf that establishes quickly and easily.
  • It thrives in a variety of soil and light conditions.
  • Some varieties do well in shade. 

You get the idea. St. Augustine sod is pretty great.

We recommend three different varieties, for different conditions: Classic, Floratam, and Seville. 

Let’s take a closer look at St. Augustine turf.

Classic St. Augustine Grass 

If your property is a mix of sun and shade — and many are —St. Augustine Classic is a great choice.

A Dive Into the Details

Appearance:  Wide blades and a beautiful, rich green color.

Classic St. AugustineSunlight Requirements:  Direct sun or partial shade.

Maintenance Needs:  Best maintained with a standard rotary mower, cutting no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade off per cut. It needs mowing approximately 46 times each calendar year. Water 2- 3 times per week during the warm, dry season.

Pests and Disease:  It has better disease and insect resistance than other St. Augustine varieties.

Drawbacks:  Not drought tolerant. Not traffic tolerant. Not low maintenance.

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Floratam St. Augustine Grass

This is the most common type of sod today for homes and businesses in the Central Florida area.

A Dive Into the Details

Appearance:  Thick, deep-rooted.

Floratam St. Augustine

Sunlight Requirements:  Needs plenty of direct sunlight, a minimum of six hours or more per day.

Maintenance Needs:  Best maintained with a standard rotary mower, cutting no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade off per cut. Grass should be maintained at 4 to 4.5 inches high. It requires mowing approximately 46 times each calendar year. Water 2-3 times per week during the warm, dry season. 

Pests and Disease:  Watch closely for sod webworms and chinch bugs. Look for signs of fungus.

Drawbacks:  Not drought tolerant. Not traffic tolerant. Not low maintenance.

Seville St. Augustine Grass 

Seville has been around since 1980, so it has a proven track record. Its big claim to fame: it thrives in shade. 

A Dive Into the Details

Appearance:  Blue-green in color, and considered a dwarf St. Augustine grass, which is popular with many Florida homeowners.

Seville St. Augustine

Sunlight Requirements:  Seville needs a minimum of just two hours of sunlight per day, making it a perfect grass for shaded areas where other grass struggles. 

If you have less than two hours of sunlight a day, then grass isn’t your best option. Better to opt for a shade-loving ground cover, like Asiatic Jasmine, ivy, Mondo grass, or liriope.

We’ve found from experience and over time that Seville tends to develop thatch after several years when installed in direct sunlight. So keep this variety of St. Augustine turf in mind only for shaded or partially shaded areas.

Maintenance Needs:  It can be cut as low as 3 inches and as high as 3.5 inches to achieve maximum health. Drought tolerant, it doesn’t need as frequent watering as the other varieties of St. Augustine grass. 

Pests and Disease:  Fungus can be a major concern in very wet areas.

Drawbacks:  Not traffic tolerant. Not low maintenance.

Trust Your St. Augustine Sod Lawn to Ground Source

Think St. Augustine grass might be for you? Let us help you figure it out.

We’re sod experts, but our skills don’t stop there. We’re with you every step of the way as you plan your perfect outdoor space.

Sod, irrigation, landscape design: Let us transform your yard from an embarrassing eyesore to a place you spend every spare minute.

Are you ready to enjoy the vibrant, impressive yard you've always wanted? Request a quote today! We’ll help you review your options and then transform your property.

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