The best grass types for Jacksonville are all warm-season varieties that do well in our hot, humid climate and sandy soil: St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, Bermudagrass, and bahiagrass.
Each has strengths and weaknesses, however, ranging from their ability to handle drought and shade to how well they stand up under heavy use.
What Grass is Best For You?
What’s the best grass type for your Jacksonville lawn? That depends on things like how much sun it gets, how much foot traffic it has to endure, and how much work you want to put into it. Plug in your preferences below, and we’ll tell you the grass type you should consider.
🌱 Grass Match Calculator for Jacksonville
Select your preferences to find the perfect grass for your Jacksonville lawn!
Shade Level
Foot Traffic
Maintenance Level
Salt Tolerance
Drought Tolerance
1. St. Augustinegrass
One of the most common grasses in North Florida, St. Augustinegrass deals well with salt from the Atlantic and can handle long dry periods like a champ. It’s also the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass, and it tolerates disease pretty well.
The main reason St. Augustinegrass is so popular, however, is its appearance, said Nathan Heaton, owner of NH Landscaping in Jacksonville
“It’s popular because it’s attractive, dense, and has a lush appearance, particularly its deep green color, and it has the ability to thrive in warm, humid climates, especially in coastal areas,” Heaton said.
On the downside, St. Augustinegrass needs frequent mowing and dethatching, as well as regular fertilization. It’s also a favorite of chinch bugs and doesn’t do well in yards that are heavily used by pets and kids, or for entertaining.
Mowing Height: 2.5 – 4 inches
Foot Traffic Tolerance: Low to moderate
Shade Tolerance: Moderate to high
See Related:
2. Zoysiagrass
While St. Augustinegrass is king here in Jax, Zoysiagrass runs a close second and is gaining popularity because it’s both attractive and durable – good for busy yards.
Like many warm-season grasses, Zoysiagrass goes dormant in our short winters, but it recovers a bit more slowly compared to other types. And while it’s durable, if it suffers disease or pest damage, it tends to recover slowly.
Mowing Height: 1-2 inches
Foot Traffic Tolerance: High
Ability to Withstand Drought: Moderate
See Related:
- Growing Zoysiagrass: Everything You Need to Know
- How and When to Fertilize Zoysiagrass
- How Much Water Does Zoysiagrass Need?
3. Centipedegrass
The super power of centipedegrass is that it’s a very low-maintenance turfgrass. This lighter grass type doesn’t require much mowing, weeding, and fertilizing. It also does well in shaded yards.
However, centipedegrass is slow to grow and can’t handle foot traffic or salt, so it’s not good for busy yards or coastal areas like Atlantic Beach, Mayport, or Jacksonville Beach. It also doesn’t take well to over-fertilization; overfertilizing makes it susceptible to thatch building and overall decline.
Mowing Height: 1-2 inches
Foot Traffic Tolerance: Low
Ability to Withstand Drought: Moderate
See Related:
4. Bermudagrass
Popular in golf courses and public parks, this medium to dark green turfgrass is very hardy, resisting drought, salt, and foot traffic. It also grows in sandy, poor-quality soils.
However, this turfgrass takes work. It grows fast, so it requires frequent mowing and fertilization. Because it doesn’t resist insects and nematodes very well, it also needs to be treated periodically for pests.
Mowing Height: 1-1.5 inches
Foot Traffic Tolerance: High
Ability to Withstand Drought: High, but it goes dormant during dry spells
- See Related: Bermudagrass Guide: Types, Traits, and Care
5. Bahiagrass
Bahiagrass is a slow-growing turfgrass that doesn’t produce a dense lawn or handle foot traffic well. However, it’s a great option for homeowners who want a low-maintenance yard, as it doesn’t need much fertilizer or water.
It’s also fairly inexpensive, which is why many home builders sod new lawns with it.
Mowing Height: 3-4 inches
Foot Traffic Tolerance: Low
Ability to Withstand Drought: Moderate
See Related:
- Bahiagrass Lawn Maintenance Guide
- When to Overseed Bahiagrass in Florida
- When to Fertilize Bahiagrass in Florida
Comparing the Best Jacksonville Grasses
St. Augustine
| Pros | Cons |
| Fast-growing, thick grass | Needs to be well watered |
| Thrives in shade | Requires frequent mowing |
| Holds up in drought | Doesn’t stand up well in busy yards |
| Tolerates salt air near coast | Susceptible to diseases |
| Establishes, recovers quickly | Susceptible to pest damage |
Zoysiagrass
| Pros | Cons |
| Attractive golf course look | Establishes slowly |
| Soft under foot | Recovers slowly when damaged |
| Thick, crowds out weeds | Turns brown in drought |
| Handles foot traffic well | Fairly expensive sod |
| Moderate shade tolerance | Prone to thatch buildup |
Centipedegrass
| Pros | Cons |
| Low maintenance | Establishes slowly |
| Minimal fertilization | Damages easily, not good for busy yards |
| Grows in poor, sandy soils | Doesn’t handle salt air well |
| Grows slowly; needs less mowing | Damages easily from overfertilization |
| Resists bugs and diseases |
Bermudagrass
| Pros | Cons |
| Soft grass, comfortable for walking | Doesn’t handle cold well; goes dormant |
| Handles drought | Needs frequent mowing |
| Tolerates salt air; good for coast | Doesn’t like shade |
| Thrives in full sun | Spreads aggressively to flower beds |
| Requires just moderate watering | Develops thatch |
Bahiagrass
| Pros | Cons |
| Requires very little maintenance | Coarse, less attractive appearance |
| Tolerates drought very well | Doesn’t handle traffic well |
| Thrives in poor, sandy soil | Establishes slowly |
| Stands up well to high heat | Doesn’t like shade |
| Doesn’t develop much thatch | Produces tall, weedy looking seed heads |
How to Keep Your Jacksonville Turf Green
Picking a grass variety for your Jacksonville yard is a very personal choice that depends on your aesthetic, your lifestyle, how much maintenance you want to do, and other factors. Once you pick your grass, keep it looking its best with one of LawnStarter’s Jacksonville lawn care pros.
We also have local lawn care pros in Middleburg, Jacksonville Beach, Orange Park — and all across the Jacksonville metro area. Call, click, or book mowing in our app.
An editor for LawnStarter since 2022, Tom McNiff has lived in North Central Florida for more than 30 years. He’s the proud owner of a hard-earned St. Augustinegrass lawn that requires a lot of TLC but also draws a lot of looks.
Main Photo Credit: Illustration by Whitney Lehnecker / LawnStarter; Adobe Stock photos
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