Zoysia<St. Augustine<Centipede
 

Zoysia is NOT a great grass for this area. Never was, and still isn't. Centipede would be a scientific and well known choice as the best grass for this area. VERY low water and fertilizer requirements, and needing mowed only once a year added to a resilient pest resistance gives this low growing turf grass, that not only re-seeds itself, but spreads on runners as well the 1st place choice in this part of Florida. When zoysia is brown from frost, centipede is still green but does add a faint burgundy hue.

Zoysia migrated to this part of FL in spite of it's high water requirement ( EXACTLY the same as St Aug.) in spite of it's tendancy to suffer badly from fungus and a myriad of pests that call this area home (not to mention, the dethatching required)... because of a very rainy summer flooding St Aug farms in this area. My theory is the deal made for Zoysia was cheaper than St Aug.(Can't close a house with no sod BTW) Thankfully powers that be found the problems that go along with zoysia do not outweigh the saving, as they have returned to St Aug south of SR44.

Thank You for the good sensible information. People spend to much time fretting over their lawns.

I failed to mention, the biggest reason St. Augustine beats Zoysia in this area ( there are so many small reasons ) ... pH. Our avg pH is 7.2, and uncomfortable for zoysia causing iron (and other micro nutrients) to become deficient as it attempts to grow roots into your soil. St. Augustine will do fine up to a blistering 8.5.
This factor alone (plus growing in quickly for the sod farms) is why St. Augustine is the grass of choice for this area, in spite of the lawn connoisseur's from up north seeing it's similarities to crab grass, being healthy and resilient with minimal chemical investments is pretty important.

Seems to be a trend towards this new Round Up ready GMO ST Augustine. THIS I DO NOT ENDORSE!! I hope TV is giving a choice in the new homes to use non-GMO varieties, but I doubt it. If you follow the money, I am sure there is a LOT of money behind this new variety.

I sadly await the future of Mother Nature ( and our ground water, ponds and lakes) where all these lawn spraying companies convince tens of thousands of people to pay them to spray unchecked amounts of herbicide on their lawns...

No, you cannot only mow centipede once a year. I have had centipede and you need to mow it every 1-2 weeks during the growing season. It is true that the water and fertilizer requirements are less than zoysia.

You are right. I had centipede in South Carolina and with normal rainfall, I cut it every 7-10 days.

I'm not familiar with Centipede grass. While I don't like mixing grass types, what would be the result of overseeding Centipede into an existing St Augustine grass lawn. Some areas of my property just will not fill in and no amount of help by the lawn company has been able to help. If Centipede will grow in this beach-sand type of soil and will "reseed" itself, might that work? Or would it result in an unsightly patchy look of two types of grass blades?

Most everything that I have read leads me to believe that mixing centipede and St. Augustine would not end up with a positive result. They grow differently, they look different, and their fertilizer and watering needs are different.

There are different varieties of Centipede. The variety I have used and seen others use in this area, was mowed a few times a year, and unmowed for months, barely reached 3 inches, hence, did NOT need mowed.

The following guidance can be found in many locations:

How to Care for Centipede Grass

This is typical for centipede used for residential lawns. Perhaps you had access to some rare variant?

Empire Zoysia needs to be cut to 2 inches to eliminate thatching.
Water deep and infrequent - 3/4 inch every 5 days to make rhizomes go deep.

That simple...It is an excellent grass for this climate...Very drought and flood tolerant.

What a shame AstroTurf is not allowed!
Only needs a good vacuum occasionally, and you can wash dog poop away with a hose!:coolsmiley:

so if i wanted to put this centepede grass in, i'd have to remove/pull all grass in the lawn now, is that correct?

Arc
 

And get approval from the ARC.

depends on the CDD.... some of the docs don't require that "as long as" etc


However centipede really isn't much different than zoysia when considering maintenence. Where the OP got twice a year..... no idea try every week. and it does get fungus etc.

but as always these threads keep me laughing thanks!

I think this is another mystery that is easily answered by following the money. Who charges for irrigation water? Would they profit more or less if a less water needs grass was put in?