Centipedegrass is a slow-growing but aggressive grass that produces a dense, hardy turf. It does not require much maintenance or care and is resistant to disease and insects. It has a small amount of shade tolerance, but too much shade will make it sickly and unwilling to thrive. Centipede grass is a good choice for North Florida, as it is cold tolerant as far north as Georgia. It can be established from seeds or sprigs, and it tolerates soils with low fertility.
St. Augustinegrass is a quick grower that produces a dense, green to blue-green turf. It tolerates cold well enough to be planted in North Florida, and it also has a good tolerance for salt, making it a good choice for coastal areas. St. Augustinegrass is propagated from sod, making it easy to install. It does require supplemental irrigation during drought climates and is prone to attack from chinch bugs and grubs.
Tall fescue is a cool-season grass that puts down deep roots and shows vigorous growth in the spring and fall. It is only suitable to North Florida in shaded areas, as its tolerance for heat and sun is low compared to other Florida grasses. It can grow in a number of different soil conditions, though it prefers well-drained clay soils. It is ideally kept at a height that is over 1½ inches, and is unsuitable for areas where the grass needs to be mowed shorter. Tall fescue is commonly used in parks, lawns and golf courses.