Sure, sod is still king of the yard in Central Florida, but it doesn’t have to rule your outdoor kingdom.
Perhaps you’re tired of mowing, have a lot of shade, or want to be kinder to the environment.
Jump to Section
- Why Consider Alternatives to Sod?
- Before Replacing Sod, Know What You’re Getting Into
- What Is the Best Groundcover in Florida?
- Replace Sod with Plants and Go Big with Beds
- Is Xeriscaping a Good Sod Alternative?
- Alternatives to Sod: Avoid Artificial Turf
- HOAs May Not Allow Lawn Replacements
- Are You Sure You Don’t Want Sod?
- Using a Landscape Designer
What is the best grass alternative in Florida? Mondo Grass or Asiatic Jasmine offers an attractive groundcover. Lush, layered planting beds provide loads of intriguing curb appeal. Alternatively, sod might work for you after all if you ensure you choose the right variety for your yard’s conditions.
Ground Source landscape designer Eric Frisch offers some wise advice before you do anything drastic.
Why Consider Alternatives to Sod?
There are a few reasons homeowners consider Florida-friendly sod alternatives:
Some Sod Alternatives Use Less Water
Sod lawns really soak up the water, especially during hot, dry spells.
Alternatives like groundcovers or ornamental grasses, often native to our region, are more drought-tolerant, needing less irrigation.
Want Less Maintenance?
Sod lawns need frequent mowing, trimming, fertilizing, and pesticides.
Many low-maintenance alternatives to turf need less or no mowing, and don’t need chemicals to thrive.
Sod Alternatives Are Often Better for the Environment
Sod lawns can contribute to water pollution through fertilizer and pesticide runoff.
Alternatives to turf like native plants and groundcovers support local ecosystems, attract pollinators, and reduce the need for harmful chemicals.
Solving Specific Problems
Maybe you have a shady area where grass won’t grow, or a steep slope.
Sod alternatives can thrive where sod struggles.
Before Replacing Sod, Know What You’re Getting Into
If you search “Florida alternatives to grass,” you’ll get a few suggestions, everything from Perennial Peanut to Clover, Moss or Stonecrop.
Do some research, Frisch suggests, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
What will these options actually look like? How much space will they cover? Will they look good year-round? Can you walk on them? Best to know before you plant.
“Are they seasonally dormant or dead-looking?” Frisch asks. “In which case, why would anyone want something ugly in their yards?”
Do Clover lawns do well in Florida? Clover needs less water than sod, doesn’t need mowing as often, and is helpful to pollinators. Plus, it offers pretty white flowers.
But take a deeper dive, and you discover that Clover may struggle to thrive in Florida's sun and heat, may not wear evenly under heavy foot traffic and is a short-lived perennial, so it may need to be replanted every few years.
What Is the Best Groundcover in Florida?
Frisch’s top picks are Mondo Grass or Asiatic Jasmine as a good substitute for sod.
A great Florida-friendly grass alternative that never needs mowing, Mondo Grass grows well in almost any soil and light conditions.
It’s not actually grass, but its grass-like strappy foliage forms dense tufts that slowly spread over time.
Once established, you can pretty much forget about it.
Asiatic Jasmine is a stunner. The variegated variety sprouts new leaves that emerge pink then turn variegated white and emerald green. Its fragrant, tubular, creamy yellow flowers bloom prolifically in the Florida heat.
Compared to grass, Asiatic Jasmine is more drought-tolerant, thrives in the shade or sun and is generally pest- and disease-resistant.
But again, know what you’re getting before you tackle sod replacement in Central Florida.
“Jasmine is six to nine inches tall when mature, so it's not like you can walk on it,” Frisch says. “You're just using it to expand beds and reduce the amount of lawn to mow. But the maintenance still requires string trimming and shaping to keep it looking good. It’s not a low-maintenance option at all.”
Replace Sod with Plants and Go Big with Beds
Large-scale planting beds don’t just take up space where grass used to be — they offer spectacular color, texture and interest to your landscaping.
Plant the stuff pollinators love, and you’re doing them a favor, too.
Planting in Central Florida means we have many amazing plant choices, from flowering shrubs to graceful grasses to knock-out tropicals. Try a mix of perennials, native plants, shrubs and ornamental grasses.
But you can’t just go crazy at the garden center and start packing your beds with plants. A few tips will make sure it all makes sense, looks great and thrives:
Plant in Layers
The best garden bed designs include plants arranged in three layers: the largest plants in the back, the medium in the middle and shorter plants or ground covers in front.
Start with the big plants, find a good location for them, and then work around them with the shorter plants and ground covers.
What are the best plants for replacing grass in Orlando? Think variety — a mix of plants with different shapes and textures. And when you’re choosing plants, plan for staggered bloom times, so your landscape will always look great, with plants blooming year-round.
And don’t assume everything has to flower. Some plants, like Goldmound Duranta or Copperleaf, offer such striking foliage that they impress all on their own.
Get the Spacing Right
Don’t crowd your plants — they need room to breathe.
Lots of homeowners tend to crowd plants too close together, Frisch says.
Leave enough room for each plant’s size at maturity.
Choose Plants That Love Your Yard
Just because you love a plant doesn't mean it’s meant for your yard. Take stock of your light conditions and soil type, and be honest about how much maintenance time you want to spend before planting in Central Florida.
Looking for low maintenance? Frisch will steer you to Foxtail Fern, Flax Lily, Schilling Holly, Boxwood, Dwarf Walter’s Viburnum, Liriope and Roebelenii Date Palm.
Want a frilly, flowery hedge? Chinese Fringe Flower offers delicate clusters of lightly scented blooms, plus colorful foliage that looks great year-round.
Feeling fancy? The Sylvester Date Palm has a distinctive diamond-cut trunk that makes a real luxury statement.
Want a knock-out beauty that also smells great? Gardenias are famous for their beautiful, fragrant blooms, and their lush green foliage adds texture and interest to your large-scale bed.
You get the idea — plenty of plants are perfect for planting in Central Florida.
Don’t Forget the Mulch
If your sod alternative is an expansive garden bed, mulch is a must.
A nice layer of rich bark mulch looks great, but it also helps your soil retain moisture, so you won’t have to water as much.
Mulch also prevents weeds and keeps rainwater from washing away your garden soil.
What About Xeriscaping as a Sod Alternative?
Xeriscaping uses drought-tolerant plants and decorative landscaping rocks as a water-saving turf alternative.
Some homeowners choose it to reduce or eliminate large grass areas to eliminate mowing and watering chores.
Does it make sense as a sod replacement in Central Florida?
Frisch doesn’t think so. For one thing, there’s plenty of rain here. He says it doesn’t make much sense in this tropical climate.
“Rock gardens seem strange to me in Florida,” he says. “We aren't a desert here; rock materials are more expensive. And they create more heat in the sun.”
Alternatives to Sod: Avoid Artificial Turf
Artificial turf has been the king of grass replacement around here for a long time.
However, more and more municipalities are banning or considering banning this always-green turf because it harms the environment.
There’s increasing concern that the runoff from artificial grass is toxic, containing chemicals and heavy metals that can contaminate waterways, soil and air. The pushback from environmentalists and community residents is growing.
HOAs May Not Allow Lawn Replacements
Suppose you live in an HOA, as many Central Florida residents do. In that case, Frisch says you should check the rules before you make any drastic decisions about sod alternatives, including replacing it with clover, perennial peanut or other turf alternatives.
“Most neighborhoods are in HOAs and they won’t allow these as sod alternatives,” Frisch says.
“HOAs require sod, not weeds, and some of that stuff looks like weeds,” he says. “Most require either St. Augustine or Zoysia.”
Are You Sure You Don’t Want Sod?
“Sod is still the lowest-maintenance option compared to anything you do in a planting bed,” Frisch says.
Any planting bed needs weeding, mulching, and trimming, he notes. Add the time to remove trash and lawn debris, and you might be spending more time than you did mowing.
If you’ve struggled with sod, you might have the wrong variety.
If you pick the wrong sod for your site, you’ll have a constant battle to keep it healthy and looking great.
Luckily, there are several to choose from when planting in Central Florida, each designed for certain conditions.
The best sod for Orlando is typically a variety of St. Augustine or Zoysia, with a couple of exceptions for certain situations.
Is your yard sunny? St. Augustine Floratam is a winner and the most common type of sod installation in Central Florida.
Celebration Bermuda has great wear tolerance, which makes it good for yards busy with sports and pets.
St. Augustine Citra Blue needs just two hours or more of sun daily, so it’s likely the most shade-tolerant turf.
The Ground Source website walks you through all this, helping you determine the cost of sod installation and narrow down the right variety.
Then, you can order that specific variety and schedule your direct sod delivery.
Use a Landscape Designer
The more options you have for sod alternatives, the more you can benefit from a creative landscape designer's expertise.
A great landscape designer will keep you from making costly mistakes.
They’ll suggest the perfect plants to thrive in your large-scale bed; help you choose the right groundcover; or offer great advice if you want to try sod after all.
Need Alternatives to Sod in Central Florida? Trust Ground Source
Do you need a sod alternative? Or just a different variety of sod? Will a large-scale planting bed suit you? If so, what should you plant? Will Mondo Grass solve your landscaping problems?
Let us help you figure it all out. We’re landscaping experts and with you every step of the way as you plan your perfect outdoor space.
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.
