Grass Guide | Sod Comparison

Sod Comparison

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Buffalo Grass. This is the only native Texas lawn grass and is the best choice for dry climates. Buffalo grass needs at least six hours of sun per day. It requires little water and fertilizer, and will survive in poor soil. Left to grow uncut, this prairie grass reaches a maximum height of 6 to 12 inches. It takes one to two years to establish it from seed, but sod is available.

Bermuda Grass. This popular grass is easy to maintain and inexpensive to install. It grows best in full sun, poorly in shade. It can be a problem because it spreads into planting beds. Common Bermuda grass is less susceptible to diseases and insects than other Bermuda varieties.

Zoysia Grass. A slow-growing grass for full sun to partial shade, Zoysia grass is exotic looking with dark green, thick, and succulent foliage. Like Bermuda, it hold up well to foot traffic from people and pets. Zoysia grasses are somewhat less drought tolerant than buffalo and Bermuda grasses.

St. Augustine Grass. A wider blade than Bermuda grass, it can tolerate more shade, but it will not do well in heavy shade. St. Augustine requires more water and care than other grasses, and is susceptible to freeze and disease. The hybrid cultivar Raleigh is less disease prone than other varieties

	Bermuda	Buffalo	St. Augustine	Zoysia
Season Type	Warm	Warm	Warm	Warm
Ideal for:	High traffic, barefoot play, and beautiful green color.	Low maintenance and dry weather in the Great Plains	Coastal areas, very warm temperatures, moist soils and shade tolerance.	High traffic, moderate maintenance lawns as far north as D.C. and Little Rock.
Soil Types	Clay, sand, loam, or mix.	Clay and loam; No sand or salt.	Sandy and loamy soils. Extra work for clay.	Sand, clay, or loam but with good drainage.
Soil PH	5.5 - 7.5	7.0 - 7.5	6.5 - 7.5	6.0 - 7.0
Summer Temps	To 115º F 90º+ for best growth	To 100º F	To 115º F	To 115º F
Winter Temps	To -8º F	To 15º F	To 35º F	To 0º F
Sun / Shade	Full Sun	Full Sun	Moderate Shade to Full Sun	Light Shade to Full Sun
Density	Moderate to Thick	Moderate	Thick	Thick
Ideal Mow Height	.25 to 1.5 inches	2 to 3 inches	2 - 3 inches	2 - 3 inches
Mowing Frequency	1 - 2 times per week	Weekly	Weekly	1 - 2 times per week (reel mower is best)
Bag or Mulch	Alternate	Either	Alternate	Alternate
Thatch Problems	Moderate	Low	Moderate	Low to Moderate
Drought Tolerance	Moderate - High	High	Low	Moderate
Disease Problems	Low to Moderate	Low	Moderate	Low
Weed Issues	Moderate	Moderate, particularly broadleaf weeds	Low	Low
Kid / Pet Friendly	Yes, though dog urine kills the grass.	Yes, for large pets. Wear shoes. Grass is coarse.	With lighter traffic, yes.	Yes.
Fertilizer Demands	Every 1 - 2 months during growing season	Twice during growing season	3 times per year	3 - 4 times per year
Seed, Sod, Plugs	Seed (common or improved), Plugs & Sod (hybrid)	Seed, Sod, Plugs	Sod, Plugs	Seed (not ideal), Sod or Plugs (best)
Cost for New Lawn	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	High
Overall Effort to Maintain	Moderate - High	Low	Moderate	Moderate