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STATE
GUIDE | TURF HELP | GRASS
CHOICES | CLIMATE
ZONE | HOME
FLORIDA LAWNS:
Lawns in Florida are divided somewhat by a line across
the state around Ocala. All of Florida is suited for certain
varieties, while several lawn varieties are limited in use in
South Florida because of nematode problems in the sandy soils.
While they can be planted in South Florida, professional
insecticide applications are required which most home lawn owners
would prefer to avoid.
GRASSES FOR ALL OF FLORIDA:
Bahiagrass - Argentine:
Planted both from seeds and sod,
Argentine
is probably the most popular grass in Florida, competing with St.
Augustine for this title. Its main draw back is the seed
heads produced during active summer growth requires frequent
mowing. It is a wide bladed grass that has excellent drought
tolerance. Overseeding every 2-3 years is recommended to
keep a high density stand for good appearance as it thins out over
time.
Bahiagrass - Pensacola & Tifton 9:
Pensacola
and Tifton 9
can be found throughout Florida on roadsides, pastures and
industrial type lawn situations. It has a narrower leaf than
Argentine Bahia, but it not considered to make a nice residential
type lawn. It is used in areas of lower maintenance type
lawns. Like Argentine its seed head production is
objectionable from a maintenance standpoint. It is probably
a little more drought tolerant than Argentine and overall is the
most drought tolerant grass for Florida use.
St. Augustine: No seeds are available for this grass.
It must be sprigged, plugged or sodded.
St. Augustine is
very popular in South Florida for lawn use. It has fair salt
tolerance and excellent shade tolerance making it ideal for the
large coastal city areas. Newer improved varieties can be
purchased which have less disease and insect problems. Its
biggest drawback lately has been it doesn't tolerate drought
conditions and often will die without supplemental irrigation in
those conditions. Lately water restrictions in Florida are
making this grass less appealing for homeowners.
Ryegrasses - Both
Annual & Perennial Ryegrass
is used for overseeding lawns, sports fields and golf courses to
provide a winter "green" cover when other grasses may be dormant.
Perennial Ryegrass in florida performs similar to an annual,
dieing out around May as warm temperatures return.
Ryegrasses are used for overseeding lawns in ALL parts of Florida.
They do have a shorter season of use in Southern Florida areas,
generally being planted later in Fall as temps cool.
GRASSES FOR LIMITED USE IN SOUTH FLORIDA
& USED MORE IN NORTHERN FLORIDA:
All of the above grasses are used
plus:
Bermuda Grass:
Bermudagrass is found on heavier soils throughtout Florida.
Its use on sandier soils is limited by Nematode problems.
Bermuda has good drought tolerance and is used extensively for
professionally managed fields such as golf fairways and greens and
sports related athletic fields. Both hybrid (sodded /
sprigged) varieties and improved seeded cultivars are available.
Many hay production fields in Florida also use hybrid forage
varieties.
Centipedegrass:
Centipede grass is an
attractive low maintenance grass found mainly in home lawns from
Ocala North. It is also planted extensively in West Florida.
Carpetgrass:
Carpetgrass can be found
throughout Florida and is used in lower maintenance areas of
moist, acidic, low fertility soils. It has the same
objectionable factor of seed head production as Bahiagrasses.
Zoysiagrass:
Zoysia grass has found some
limited use in Florida. Read this IFAS article for more
information on Zoysias.
Zoysia is now available in seeds for faster establishment time
under proper maintenance.
SEE MORE INFORMATION ON THESE GRASSES
BELOW!
GREAT SITE:
Florida Turf - VERY GOOD INFO ON GRASSES IN FLORIDA!
ALSO EXCELLENT INFO
IFAS / EDIS - FLORIDA LAWN HANDBOOK:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/TOPIC_BOOK_Florida_Lawn_Handbook
Links from Florida Lawn Handbook listed below:
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Florida Lawn Handbook
Return to...
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Weed Control Guide for Florida Lawns
FLORIDA Cooperative Extension Service - Contact your local County
agent:
http://extension.ifas.ufl.edu/
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA - Go Gators!
Turfgrass Science Dept:
http://turf.ufl.edu/
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FLORIDA
CLIMATE ZONES
9 &
10
Grass
Zone Selection
Chart |
95 % of Florida - Zone 9.
Extreme southern tip of Florida - Zone 10.
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