How to Choose the Best St. Augustine Grass for Your Lawn

St. Augustine grass is widely used in Florida lawns—and for good reasons. Recognized for its resilience and adaptability, this warm-season grass thrives in subtropical climates and coastal regions, offering homeowners a lush, green lawn even under challenging conditions. St. Augustine grass stands out for its ability to tolerate shade, making it an excellent option where other grasses struggle to grow. 

But as common as St. Augustine grass is in the state, it has different varieties, and while they share fundamental qualities—tolerance for heat, drought, salt, and humidity—the specific variety you choose for your lawn will influence the care you give it to keep it looking its best.

Understanding the differences among St. Augustine grass varieties will help you select one that aligns with your local conditions and maintenance preferences.

The Different Types of St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine grass is characterized by its dense, green to blue-green turf, coarse texture, and wide blades that create a thick, visually appealing lawn. It can be established successfully from sod or grass plugs like SodPods and adapts well to medium to low soil pH levels. St. Augustine is salt-tolerant, making it ideal for coastal areas, and offers varying degrees of shade and drought tolerance depending on the variety.

Floratam St. Augustine

Floratam is one of the most widely used varieties of St. Augustine grass in Florida. It was developed to resist the St. Augustine Decline (SAD) virus and chinch bugs, making it a durable option for warm, sunny regions. It features coarse, thick blades and thrives in full sun, though it has moderate shade tolerance. Floratam St. Augustine grass requires frequent mowing to maintain its health and appearance, with a recommended height of 3-4 inches.

CitraBlue St. Augustine

CitraBlue is a relatively new, improved variety known for its stunning darker blue-green hue and softer texture. It offers excellent wear tolerance and is resilient in drought and shade conditions, making it a versatile choice for various landscapes. CitraBlue grows laterally, requiring less frequent mowing than other varieties, ideally at a height of 2.5-3.5 inches. Its superior shade tolerance and appealing color make it an excellent option for residential, commercial, and sports fields.

Scotts ProVista St. Augustine

This dark green, dense variety was engineered to offer superior weed resistance and reduced mowing requirements. Scotts ProVista thrives in full sun with a horizontal growth pattern that supports moderate foot traffic. Maintaining a mowing height of 3-4 inches ensures the grass stays healthy and lush.

Palmetto St. Augustine

Palmetto is a semi-dwarf variety known for its medium-width blades, soft texture, and good shade tolerance. It’s also one of the more cold-tolerant St. Augustine grass types, staying green longer in cooler weather. Palmetto thrives in moist soil and adapts well to various light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. A mowing height of 1.5-2.5 inches is recommended to maintain its health and aesthetic appeal.

Seville St. Augustine

Seville is a compact, fine-textured dwarf variety that has a wide range of soil pH levels. Its narrow leaf blades give it a finer texture than other St. Augustine grasses. Once established, Seville requires relatively low maintenance. Mowing to a height of 2-3 inches and keeping the soil moist ensures a healthy lawn. This variety is suitable for shady residential lawns and coastal properties, offering a darker blue-green color that enhances its visual appeal.

St. Augustine Grass Growing Tips and Maintenance

While St. Augustine grass is resilient, proper maintenance is key to keeping your lawn lush and healthy. Regular upkeep extends its lifespan, improves its wear and tear tolerance, and reduces susceptibility to pests like chinch bugs and other issues such as thatch buildup and gray leaf spot diseases. General tips include:

• Mowing: Follow the recommended mowing heights for your grass variety to avoid scalping. Adhere to the one-third mowing rule: never cutting more than one-third of the grass blades at a time to prevent stress.

• Watering: Maintain a consistent watering schedule of 1-1.5 inches of water weekly, spread in 1-2 sessions. Water the lawn deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth. Morning watering is best to reduce evaporation and fungal risks. Provide supplemental watering during dry periods.

• Fertilization: Apply balanced fertilizers to promote vigorous growth and a healthy blue-green hue.

• Pest Control: Monitor for signs of chinch bugs and apply appropriate treatments.

• Disease Prevention: Avoid overwatering and use fungicides to manage gray leaf spot diseases.

• Proper Establishment: Lay sod for faster establishment and better resilience.

A well-maintained St. Augustine lawn remains lush, healthy, and visually appealing. Proper mowing practices, such as maintaining the recommended height for each variety, prevent scalping and promote robust growth. Watering deeply but infrequently encourages strong root systems, while consistent fertilization provides the nutrients needed for a blue-green to dark-green color. Regular maintenance also reduces issues like thatch buildup and keeps the lawn resilient against pests and diseases.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the best St. Augustine grass variety is the first step toward a resilient lawn. Each variety—whether it’s the sun-loving Floratam, the versatile CitraBlue, or the more shade-tolerant Palmetto—offers unique benefits tailored to specific conditions. With proper care, including irrigation, mowing, and pest management, St. Augustine grass can transform your lawn into a lush, inviting space that withstands Florida’s challenging climate.

Assess your lawn’s needs and consider your maintenance preferences to select a variety that ensures lasting beauty and functionality from season to season. Visit Bethel Farms today to explore our wide range of premium St. Augustine grass sod for sale.