Best Lawn Grass for Gainesville

The best grasses for your Gainesville lawn include St. Augustinegrass, bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, bahiagrass, and centipedegrass. Each has different aesthetics and maintenance needs and responds differently to conditions like shade, moisture, and foot traffic, but they all thrive in our hot, humid climate. 

So your grass choice is largely going to depend on your preferences. Picking the right grass type will help you establish a lawn that you love to look at but don’t find a nuisance to take care of. 

Key Takeaways

The best Gainesville grasses: The best Gainesville grasses are St. Augustinegrass, bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, bahiagrass, and centipedegrass, but their best features are quite different.

How to choose a grass: Some varieties do better in shade, some require less water, and some withstand foot traffic.

Seed, sod, or plugs? Seed is cheaper but requires more time and care to grow, while sod is expensive but creates an instant lawn.

St. Augustinegrass: The Best Grass for Shade and Weed-Resistance

St. Augustinegrass is a common Florida grass that tolerates more shade than other warm-season grasses. It also resists weeds. St. Augustinegrass’s CitraBlue cultivar is especially good at resisting these unwanted intruders.

However, St. Augustinegrass is a bit more fragile than some other types and requires a fair amount of care, like supplemental irrigation during the summer (see all its needs in our St. Augustinegrass care guide). It doesn’t tolerate traffic very well, and some of its cultivars are susceptible to diseases.

Grass Plug Options:

– Seed Ranch St Augustine Seville Grass Plugs (2 Trays)
– Seed Ranch St Augustine Floratam Grass Plugs (2 Trays)

Bermudagrass: The Best Grass for Sun, Drought, and Foot Traffic

Bermudagrass is the sun-lover among grasses. It thrives in the heat of Gainesville’s summers and is ideal for backyard barbecues and other gatherings because it can handle being trampled. The grass tends not to struggle with weeds, but it doesn’t resist some diseases.

This grass is also a water-wise option because it handles drought easily (learn about more drought-tolerant landscaping for Gainesville). It also handles foot traffic well. However, it typically needs more maintenance than other grasses, which you can read about in our bermudagrass guide.

Grass Seed Options:

– Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass (10-lb. bag)
– Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass (50-lb. bag)

Zoysiagrass: The Best Grass for High Foot Traffic and Low Maintenance

Zoysiagrass is a champ at resisting weeds, similar to St. Augustinegrass. It’s also your second-best option for shaded areas, is great for foot traffic, and doesn’t require much maintenance, much like bahiagrass and centipedegrass. Moreover, most cultivars are pretty good at resisting diseases and weeds. Plus, the grass can live through drought and light shade relatively well.

For more, check out our article on everything you need to know about growing Zoysiagrass.

Grass Plug and Seed Options:

– Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)
– Zenith Zoysia Grass Seeds (1/8 lb. of seeds)

Bahiagrass: The Best Grass for Drought and Low Maintenance

Bahiagrass is a drought-tolerant grass that you can let grow; it needs little maintenance (check out our bahiagrass maintenance guide). However, bahiagrass is sometimes affected by dollar spot and weeds. It doesn’t tolerate shade or foot traffic well, either. It’s not the best pick for busy, shady lawns.

Grass Seed Options 

Pensacola Bahiagrass:
– SeedRanch Pensacola Bahiagrass Seed (10 lb. bag)
– Hancock Seed Co. Pensacola Bahiagrass Seed (5 lb. bag)
Argentine Bahiagrass:
– Scotts Turf Builder Argentine Bahiagrass (10 lb. bag)
– Hancock Seed Co. Argentine Bahiagrass Seed Mix (25 lb. bag)

Centipedegrass: The Best Grass for Low Maintenance, Weed Resistance, and Disease Resistance

Centipedegrass resists weeds and diseases like a champ. It doesn’t need much maintenance, although its typical mowing height is 1.5 to 2 inches. This grass even tolerates some moderate shade. However, it’s much less tolerant of foot traffic and drought. It may struggle during hot summers, especially if you like to spend a lot of time on your lawn. For more information, check out our centipedegrass maintenance guide.

Grass Seed Options:

– Gulf Kist Coated Centipedegrass Seeds (1 lb.)
– Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Centipedegrass (3.75 lbs.)
– TifBlair Centipedegrass (5-lb. bag)

How to Choose the Best Grass in Gainesville

When choosing a grass for your Gainesville lawn, there are a number of factors to consider because every warm-season grass has different strengths and weaknesses.

So before you select a grass type, you may want to consider:

• How much time do you have to irrigate? Some grasses require less water than others (see When and How Much to Water Your Gainesville Lawn).
• How often do you want to mow? 
• Is your lawn shady? Some species prefer full sun, and some do great in shade.
• Can you deal with lawn diseases? If not, pick one that is very disease-resistant.
• Do you have the time, money and will to battle weeds?
• How much maintenance are you ready to invest in general?

Here is a look at which grasses are best for each of those conditions:

Seed vs. Sod vs. Plugs

While seed is cheaper to plant, it takes more work and time for it to flourish into a dense turf. On the other hand, sod or plugs bring about quick results. Sod, particularly, looks great almost instantly. However, be prepared to pay up for sod or plugs. Some grasses are also only available as seed.

In summary, here are the pros and cons of seed vs. sod and plugs:

How to Plant Seed

1. Plant seed between April and July.
2. Prepare your site before planting.
3. Choose high quality seed.
4. Remove all weeds, debris, and vegetation from the soil.
5. Level the soil.
6. Work the seed into the soil.
7. Cover the soil with sand or hay. 
8. Keep moist. 
9. Once grass begins to grow, apply fertilizer as needed. However, test your soil first to know how much to fertilize. See our Florida lawn fertilization guide for more tips and tricks.

How to Plant Sod

1. For the best results, plant seed between April and July. However, you can plant it at any time of the year, as long as the temperatures aren’t freezing.
2. Check if your sod is healthy. Lay your sod within 24 hours of delivery. But first, prepare the soil.
3. Remove all weeds, debris, and vegetation from the soil.
4. Level the soil. 
5. Lightly irrigate.
6. Cut the sod squares if you need to (see How to Use a Sod Cutter).
7. Lay the sod squares closely together.
8. Water lightly and frequently for the first two to three weeks (check out How to Care for New Sod).
9. Mow after three to four weeks at earliest.
10. Fertilize after thirty to sixty days at the earliest.

For more detailed instructions, check out How to Lay Sod: A Step-by-Step Guide.

How to Plant Plugs

1. For the best results, plant plugs between April and July. However, you can plant it at anytime, as long as it’s at least 60 days before frost. You can’t plant plugs in freezing weather.
2. Buy plugs or cut sod into plugs of two to four inch pieces. Before you plant them, prepare your soil.
3. Remove all weeds, debris, and vegetation from the soil.
4. Level the soil. 
5. Plant the plugs on six- to twelve- inch centers. The farther they are from each other, the long it will take for your lawn to become dense.
6. Water regularly.
7. Don’t mow until your plugs have developed firm roots. This usually takes two weeks to a month or more in winter.
8. Don’t fertilize new plugs until they’ve grown together.

If you have any lingering questions, check out our grass plug guide.

FAQ

Which Gainesville grass is the most invasive?

Bermudagrass is an invasive grass that may overtake your flowerbeds. However, we have some suggestions for keeping bermudagrass out of flower beds.

Which Gainesville grass do you need to mow the least often?

St. Augustinegrass doesn’t need as much mowing as bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass.

What are the different diseases that attack St. Augustinegrass?

Some St. Augustinegrass cultivars are susceptible to:

• Gray leaf spot
• St. Augustine decline
• Nigrospora stolon rot
• Take-all root rot (TARR)
• Fairy ring

Which plants are native to Florida?

Florida has many native plants. For example:

• Beach sunflower
• Railroad vine
• Scarlet sage
• Azaleas
• Bahama Cassia

What are the most common Florida pests?

Just a few of Florida’s most common pests are:

• Chinch bugs
• Cutworms
• Fall armyworms
• Fire ants
• Ground pearls

Does Gainesville get hurricanes?

Yes, all of Florida is prone to hurricanes. Check out our guide about preparing your landscape for a hurricane to read more. You should also consider hurricane-resistant landscaping.

Where to Get a Pristine Lawn

While you might consider planting your Gainesville lawn yourself, there are drawbacks. Prepare to spend some time and effort researching your grass of choice, and giving it the care it needs throughout the spring, summer, fall, and winter.

But there’s no need to do it all on your own. Lawnstarter can provide you with an instant quote from a local pro.

Get your quote now.

Main Image Credit: The Matheson House / Alex Barrow / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

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Judith van der Weij

Judith Gallova is a freelance writer who created her first blog at the age of 10. Later, she started working in marketing and eventually combined her writing and marketing skills to become a freelance writer. In her free time, she studies the Bible, goes to the gym, spends time with loved ones, and enjoys all things outdoors.

Posts by Judith van der Weij