Comparison of warm season turfgrasses

Comparison of Turfgrasses

Warm Season Varieties

Chris Dewey

Pasco County Extension

Florida Friendly Landscaping

Program Coordinator

Zone Map

Zone Map

GRASS KIND MAP ZONESEED RATEfor Lawns

@ 1000 sq. ft. Planting Depth When to Plant

Best USDA*Zones

Bahiagrass:Pensacola

9-10 5-10 1/4" to 1/2" Spring / Summer 9 to 10

Bahiagrass:Argentine

9-10 5-10 1/4" to 1/2" Spring / Summer Lower 9 to 10

Bentgrass 1 thru 9 & 11-12 1/2-1 1/4" to 1/2"Spring or Fall(Fall is Best)

4 to 6

Bermuda 8-9-10-11-12 2-3 1/4" March - August 3 to11

Bluegrass 1-3-4-5-6-7-8 1-3 1/4" to 1/2"Feb-May

Sept - Nov2 to 6

Carpetgrass 9-10 4-5 1/4" to 1/2" Spring / Summer Coastal 8-10

Centipede 8-9-10 1/4 - 1 1/4" Spring / Summer 7 to 10

Fescue:Tall & KY-31

1-3-5-6-7-8 5-10 1/4" to 1/2"Spring or Fall(Fall is Best)

4 to 7

Fescue:Creeping Red

1-3-4-5-6-7-8 3-5 1/4" to 1/2"Spring or Fall(Fall is Best)

3 to 7

Ryegrass:Annual

All zones 5-10 1/4" to 1/2" Fall All Zones(Seasonal)

Ryegrass:Perennial

2 to 8+All for overseeding

1-10 1/4" to 1/2"Spring or Fall(Fall is Best)

3-6 Per.7-10 Overseed

St. Augustine 9-10 1/2 - 1 1/4" to 1/2" Spring & April-August 8 to 10

Zoysia 8-9-10-11-121-2 (raw seed)2-3 (coated)

1/4" to 1/2" Spring & April-Augustlower 5to 10

Mowing heights -

Pensacola BahiagrassArgentine Bahiagrass

St. AugustineRye Grasses

Centipede GrassZoysia GrassBermuda GrassImproved Bermuda

Hot temperature effects - Grasses

that can handle high temperatures.

ZoysiagrassImproved BermudaBermudagrassSt. Augustine GrassArgentine BahiagrassPensacola BahiagrassCentipede Grass

Ryegrasses

Cold temperature effects - Winter kill can

result in grasses with low tolerance

RyegrassZoysiagrassBermudagrassPensacola BahiagrassArgentine BahiagrassCentipede GrassSt. Augustine Grass

Drought Tolerance - Effects of lack of rain-fall

or irrigation on grasses

BermudagrassImproved BermudaPensacola BahiagrassArgentine BahiagrassZoysia GrassCentipede Grass

St. Augustine Grass

Ryegrasses

Traffic & Wear tolerance - Wear and tear

on grass from foot-traffic (people walking)

Zoysia Grass Improved BermudaPensacola BahiagrassArgentine BahiagrassBermudagrassRyegrass - Perennial

St. Augustine GrassCentipede Grass

Fertilizer rates - Low rates simply mean they

require less fertilization to grow.  

Pensacola BahiagrassArgentine Bahiagrass

Zoysia GrassCentipede GrassSt. Augustine GrassRyegrasses

Bermudagrass

Shade effects - sunlight that a lawn area (and

grass plant) receives each day.

St. Augustine Grass

RyegrassesBentgrassCentipede GrassPensacola BahiagrassArgentine BahiagrassZoysia Grass

Bermudagrass

Establishment Time- how long it takes to

establish a grass from sprigs or seed.

Improved BermudaBermudagrass Ryegrasses

Pensacola BahiagrassArgentine Bahiagrass

St. Augustine GrassCentipede Grass

Zoysia Grass

Insect Resistance - Warm Season grasses only

Zoysia GrassPensacola BahiagrassBermudagrassArgentine BahiagrassCentipede GrassSt. Augustine Grass

Disease Resistance - Different grasses

are affected by different diseases

Ryegrasses

Pensacola BahiagrassArgentine BahiagrassBermudagrass

Centipede GrassZoysia GrassSt. Augustine Grass

Salt Water Tolerance - Some grasses are more suitable for planting near the sea coast or irrigated with reclaimed

water.

St. Augustine Grass

ZoysiagrassBermudagrass

Centipede GrassPensacola BahiagrassArgentine Bahiagrass

Seeding Rates - Higher rates of seed (lbs. per

sq.ft.) are needed for some grasses versus others.

Zoysia GrassCentipede GrassRyegrasses

BermudagrassPensacola BahiagrassArgentine Bahiagrass

Cost of Establishment - The dollars actually expended can vary considerably depending on the site

preparation, cost of seeds etc..

Ryegrasses

Pensacola BahiagrassBermudagrassArgentine BahiagrassCentipede GrassZoysia GrassSt. Augustine Grass