Which Florida Grass Needs Less Watering?

Bahiagrass

• Bahiagrass is native to Brazil and was first introduced in Florida in 1914 as a pasture grass. Additional varieties have been introduced to use as lawn grasses. It provides a low-maintenance lawn, because it requires less water and fertilizer than other species. Bahiagrass grows best in acidic and sandy soils. Because it forms an extensive root system, it's a good drought-tolerant grass. It does form tall seed heads during the spring, summer and fall, necessitating extensive mowing.

Centipedegrass

• Centipedegrass was introduced into the United States from southeastern Asia. It is a popular choice for the climate and the soils of central and northern Florida and is the common lawn grass in the Florida panhandle. A low and slow-growing grass, it has fairly good shade tolerance and good drought tolerance. Because it's highly susceptible to nematodes, centipedegrass is not a good choice for the sandy soils of southern Florida.

St. Augustinegrass

• St. Augustinegrass is believed to be native to the coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean. It is the most commonly used lawn grass throughout Florida, because it is adaptable to most soils. It establishes quickly and produces a dense turf. However, St. Augustinegrass requires more water than Bahiagrass and centipedegrass to remain green and healthy. It does not tolerate a lot of foot or vehicular traffic. The major insect pest of St. Augustinegrass is the cinch bug.

Considerations

• Because Bahiagrass and centipedegrass have deep root systems, they are good choices for establishing a lawn during an extended drought. Bahiagrass and centipedegrass only need to be fertilized one or two times a year and they can be established with sod, sprigs, plugs or seed. St. Augustinegrass cannot be established with seed, but only by sod, sprigs or plugs. However, it is salt tolerant and shade tolerant so it's a good choice for the coastal areas; it will likely die without supplemental irrigation.