From St. Augustine to Zoysia: Types of Grass for Texas
When it comes to creating a picturesque lawn, the type of grass you choose matters. Each grass type has its own benefits and drawbacks, and we’re sharing everything you need to know to choose the right type for your Texas lawn.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine grass has broad, coarse blades and a vibrant green color that results in a beautiful lawn. It’s ideal for areas that experience 5 to 7 hours of sun. It thrives in environments with high heat and humidity, and it is highly drought-tolerant. St. Augustine creates a deep, dense, carpet-like lawn and it grows horizontally at a quick rate, which means it fills in yards fast and doesn’t require much mowing. The downsides of St. Augustine are that it has a low tolerance for cold weather, and it is more susceptible to disease and pests than bermudagrass or Zoysia.
Bermuda
Bermudagrass thrives in full sun and warmer climates. It has slightly thinner blades than St. Augustine, but they are similarly compact, creating a dense lawn. Bermudagrass’s greatest advantage is that it can handle heavy foot traffic — this makes it an ideal choice for yards where kids and pets will play. While bermudagrass’s heat tolerance is a plus, the downside is that it requires 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight and will thin out or die in shaded areas. Some varieties of bermudagrass are very cost-effective, as it is very popular and readily available.
Zoysia
Zoysiagrass, with its many varieties, is known for its deep green color, lush growth habit, and its resiliency. Zoysia stays green most of the year, and it thrives in full sunlight. One thing that gives Zoysia a competitive advantage is that some varieties can handle more shade than bermudagrass. Zoysia can also withstand foot traffic — though not quite as well as bermudagrass — and it is very easy to maintain, often requiring less fertilizer and herbicide than others. Zoysia is also very drought tolerant and is the most resilient to disease and pests when compared to other warm-season turf. In our opinion, this is the best all-around warm-season turf on the market!
The main cons of Zoysia are that it grows slowly and it is the last to come out of winter dormancy. While this does mean less mowing, it also means that it can take a few months for it to fill out your yard.
Choosing the Best Type of Grass For You
The easiest way to find the right grass for your lawn is to consult an expert! At Spur Landscape Development, we can assess your yard — including how much shade it gets, the soil type, draining quality, and any unique conditions — and determine the right type of grass for you. We can provide St. Augustine, bermudagrass, or Zoysia sod, and all of our sod installation services include full installations and repairs. The lawn of your dreams is only a few clicks away — contact us today!
