Top 5 Sod For Florida

Right sod installation is the key to having an attractive green lawn increasing the value of your property. Before grass installation, it is important to consider where and how it is to be used. Choosing the right variant will give you the best lawn.

Here are the top 5 sod types of Florida that you need to know:

1. St Augustine Grass

It is by far the most popular variant of grass in Florida and is found in abundance in residential and commercial properties. It is adapted to the warm and humid climatic conditions and just perfect for Florida. It grows in a variety of soil types with a thick lush green look.

Types of St. Augustine grass –

• Floratam: Has a vigorous growth in spring and summer followed by slowed growth and dormancy from late fall till winter. Ideal for lawns that receive full sun.
• Del-Mar: It is the best shade tolerating grass among the St. Augustine varieties and attains good growth in the full sun bringing out its dark green color.
• Palmetto: Densely spreading short-leave blades with a rich green color, does well both in the sun and partial shade. Has good tolerance of the winter months.
• Seville: Fine-leaved and semi-dwarfed, it has a less dense growth with an emerald green color. Easy to grow, it spreads fast doing well in the sun and the shade.

2. Bahia Grass

Bahia Grass is drought tolerant, does not need much fertilization and is very well-suited to Florida climate. Not suited for too much of footfall and shade. Weed control on this grass has to be carried out with a lot of care.

Types –

• Argentine: Thick and dark green is the best choice for all types of home lawn.
• Paraguay: Tough, short and hairy leaves with a grayish tint, it does not tolerate cold very well.
• Pensacola: Tolerant to both hot and cold weather, it has narrow leaf blades and an abundance of seed heads. Best suited for roadside plantings and not for home lawns.
• Common: Course textured and light colored, has a sparse growth and susceptible to cold weathers. Used for roadside planting by agencies and not recommended for home lawns.

3. Zoysia Grass

Zoysia grass stands up to different soil types and scorching sun while having high shade tolerance too. It needs frequent fertilization and has a low drought tolerance and is prone to Nematodes and other diseases. Zoysia makes excellent turf in residential lawns but will need maintenance by lawn care companies.

Types :-

• Meyer: It is commonly used for home and commercial property lawns with deep green color and medium-sized leaf. Cold tolerant, makes good turf.
• Empire: Has aggressive growth on clay and sandy soil with broad leaves and popular home lawn choice.
• El Toro: Resembles Meyer but grows faster and has more shade tolerance greening up in early spring.
• Empire: Dark green, wide leaf blade and aggressive growth make it a great choice for home lawns.
• Empress: Fine-blade texture, nice green color and tight growth make it capable of handling heavy foot-traffic. Used for athletic fields and golf courses.

4. Bermuda Grass

Bermuda Grass is suited for Florida soil, handles wear conditions and does well in full and partial sun.

Types :-

• Common Bermuda Grass: Corse-leaved and light green, it is not suitable for turfgrass.
• Improved Bermuda Grass: Fine-textured and requires high maintenance.

5. Centipede Grass

Centipede Grass is used in homes of Northern Florida and incurs low maintenance with light green color.