Best Grass for South Florida
If you have children or pets in your home, the importance of grass in your landscaping will increase. However, despite how helpful grass may seem, maintaining its health is not always easy and especially if you have invasive grass in your lawn. You should opt for grass types that flourish in the heat, humidity, and sun if you’re having trouble keeping up a well-kept lawn in South Florida.
Your lawn can look its best all season long if you use the correct grass and practice professional lawn care. Read on which kinds of grass work best in South Florida’s climate.
Best Type of Grass in South Florida and Florida
1. Bermuda grass
Dog’s tooth grass, Bahama grass, devil’s grass, couch grass, Indian doab, arugampul, grama, wiregrass, and scutch grass are other names for the grass that originated in Africa, which is known as Bermuda Grass. It is a common species in Bermuda, even though it is not native to the island.
Its common name derives from the fact that it is thought to have come to North America from Bermuda. Bermuda grass is well-liked and ideal for high-use lawns and sports fields because it grows quickly and is robust, and will swiftly repair any damage it sustains.
Bermuda grass performs well in the sun but poorly in the shadow. Because they have both above- and below-ground runners, Bermuda grasses spread so quickly compared to centipede, crabgrass, and zoysia grass. They demand frequent mowing even when properly fertilized. The Bermuda grasses can endure various soil pH levels and are adapted to Broward County.
2. St. Augustine Grass
St. Augustine grass is a warm-season lawn grass that is well-liked for cultivation in tropical and subtropical areas, making it a popular option for lawns in Broward County. It is a medium- to high-maintenance grass that grows into a thick, carpet-like sod that frequently pushes out most weeds and other grasses.
If you’re speaking to an Australian, you could occasionally hear St. Augustine referred to as “buffalo turf. “St. Augustine grass has broad, flat blades and a dark green color. It spreads by above-ground stolons, also called “runners” or horizontal plant connections, and develops a thick layer.
In pastures and on ranches, St. Augustine grass is frequently used. The beauty of its rich, green to blue-green turf is one of St. Augustinegrass’ advantages.
3. Buffalo Grass
Buffalo Grass, sometimes known as buffalo grass, is a prairie grass native to North America, with habitats extending from Canada and the United States to Mexico. It is a shortgrass mostly found in the High Plains and co-dominates with Blue Grama across most shortgrass prairies.
It should be noted that North American buffalo grass is not the same kind of grass frequently called “buffalo” in Australia. Buffalograss is a warm-season perennial shortgrass. It resists heat, cold, and drought. Although it can grow up to a foot tall in the southern Great Plains, foliage is typically between 2.0 and 5.1 inches (5 and 13 cm) high (30 cm).
Buffalo grass is often dioecious, meaning that there are separate male and female plants, although it can also be monoecious or have perfect blooms.
4. Bahiagrass
Bahia grass is distinguished by its distinctive V-shaped blades, a tropical to subtropical perennial grass with the popular names of bahia grass and Pensacola Bahia. With stolons and thick, scaly rhizomes, this grass creeps along the ground and grows slowly. Stolons are firmly pressed to the ground and root freely to create a thick sod.
Typically hairless, the flat, stiff leaves have a rough feel. Although native to Mexico and South America, bahia grass has naturalized in other parts of North America and other continents.
It likes sandy soils and may tolerate some shade. Additionally, it is fairly tough, enduring both drought and salinity. This grass is valuable as a soil stabilizer and erosion-controlling feed for grazing livestock. In Florida, Bahia can be seen growing alongside st. agustine grass on pastures, roadside ditches, and commercial-style lawn situations.
5. Centipede Grass
Centipedegrass is the best grass for those who desire a beautiful lawn that requires minimal care. Centipedegrass is warm-season lawn grass. It is a dense, sod-forming grass with a medium to light green tint that spreads via stolons.
It has a rough texture and short, upright seedhead stems that reach a height of around 3 to 5 inches. Southern China is the original home of centipedegrass, which was brought to the US in 1916.
Monitoring soil moisture during the summer is necessary. Centipede grass should only be watered when the soil can hold four to six inches of water. Centipede is susceptible to problems that can be readily avoided with regular lawn care. This includes taking precautions to avoid overfertilizing, avoiding the buildup of thatch, and mowing at the height of 1 to 1 1/2 inches.
6. Zoysia Grass
The creeping grass genus Zoysia, sometimes known as zoysia or zoysiagrass, is native to Japan and Korea and can be found in grasslands or coastal locations.
Even though zoysia is common throughout much of Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands, South Florida and Broward County also favor it because of its similar topography and climate. Karl von Zois, a Slovenian botanist, is honored by the name of this plant.
In some places, certain varieties of zoysia are sold as sod. The zoysia grass grows throughout the warm, wet summer.
It becomes dormant during the drier, colder winter months in typical savanna climates with warm, wet, and dry seasons, such as Broward County. They are well-liked due of their delicate texture, plush feeling, and slow rate of growth.
7. Seashore Grass
A kind of grass called Seashore Paspalum is sometimes referred to as biscuit grass, saltwater couch, silt grass, and swamp couch. It is a species brought to other tropical regions but is native to the Americas. It is also grown as a turf grass in numerous locations, including South Florida and Broward County.
In tough situations like damp soils, little light, and low nitrogen soil, it produces a higher quality turf than other grasses. This grass’s high salt tolerance is likely its best quality. Outstanding turf quality, a vivid green hue, and a lovely, uniform appearance are all features of Seashore Paspalum.
The Seashore Paspalum is best suited for moderate or hot, humid coastal conditions and has great drought and shadow tolerance.
8. Blue Grama Grass
The long-lived, warm-season perennial grass known as Blue Grama is indigenous to North America. It is most frequently found from Alberta, Canada, east to Manitoba, south over the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and states in the American Midwest, and then onto the northern Mexican Plateau in Mexico.
Its preference for warm climates can also be found in many lawns around Florida, south Florida, and Broward County. Blue Grama is primarily responsible for agricultural productivity in the central and southern Great Plains’ shortgrass grassland. It is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant grass that grows in green or greyish green color.
9. Carpet Grass
The grass family has a genus of plants called carpet grass. They are indigenous to the Americas’ tropical and subtropical climates, with one species being found in tropical Africa and one on Easter Island. A creeping, coarse-leaved perennial grass that thrives in Broward County is carpetgrass.
It tolerates shade less well than other grasses of a similar species and grows better on low, damp soils than other grasses. Both seeds and sprigs can be used to plant carpetgrass.
It does well in Broward County despite not being winter-hardy. Only lawns in Broward County with moist, low fertility, acidic, sandy soils, where ease of establishment and care is more important than quality, are advised to use carpet grass.
10. Floratam and Palmetto Grass
Floratam is the type of St. Augustine grass utilized in most lawns in both residential and commercial settings. It does not grow in shadow and needs direct sunlight for the best appearance. Palmetto is a fast-growing, luscious green grass that can withstand freezing temperatures and grows aggressively in full sun or partial shade.
Conclusion
I hope you understand the best type of grass in South Florida and Florida. If you live in the colder region you should look for cold season grass like tall fescue and kentucky grass for your lawn. In this article, we’ve briefly discussed all the grasses that would be suitable for your lawn or yard or any turf. If you have any queries regarding types of grass in south florida feel free to ask in the comment section.
