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Choosing
the Right Grass
Bermuda
I Centipede
I Fescue
I St.
Augustine I Zoysia
Don't
Buy Sod On Impulse!
Choosing the right grass for your southern
yard can make the difference between having
a low-maintenance, environmentally-friendly
lawn and one that is susceptible to disease,
pests, weed invasion and that requires
a lot of upkeep.
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| Use
the charts below as a guide to help choose
the best type of grass for your southern
lawn. |
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| 1.
What do you want your lawn to look
like? Grasses vary in color, leaf
width, habit (characteristic appearance), and
density of growth. |
GRASS
TYPE |
COLOR |
LEAF
|
HABIT |
DENSITY |
| Bermuda |
Blue
Green |
Thin |
Upright
Spreading |
Medium |
| Centipede |
Med.
Green |
Wide |
Low
Spreading |
Medium |
| Fescue
|
Dk.
Green |
Thin |
Upright |
Medium |
| St.
Augustine |
Med.
Green |
Wide |
Upright
Spreading |
Dense |
| Zoysia
|
Dk.
Green |
Thin |
Upright
Spreading |
Very
Dense |
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| 2.
How much time and money are you
realistically willing to spend tending your lawn?
Higher-maintenance grasses mean higher cost
and time commitments. |
GRASS
TYPE |
GROWTH
|
FERTILIZING |
LIME |
CUTS
PER YR |
| Bermuda |
Fast |
Heavy
Feeder |
Yes |
28-32 |
| Centipede |
Slow |
Light
Feeder |
No |
12-20 |
| Fescue |
Moderate |
Moderate |
Yes |
28-36 |
| St.
Augustine |
Moderate |
Heavy
Feeder |
No |
24-28 |
| Zoysia
|
Moderate |
Heavy
Feeder |
Yes |
24-28 |
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| 3.
Your grass choice will be affected by your
site's growing conditions: the amount
of sun and shade your site gets, the soil type
and its level of fertility and dryness or wetness,
and your climate. |
GRASS
TYPE |
LIGHT |
SOIL
TYPE / FERTILITY |
pH |
DROUGHT
TOLERANT? |
| Bermuda |
Full
Sun |
Fertile
Sandy or Sandy Clay |
Alkaline |
Yes |
| Centipede |
Full
Sun or Part Shade |
Sandy
/ Sandy Clay |
Acid |
Yes |
| Fescue |
Part
Shade |
Fertile
Loam is preferred |
Alkaline |
No |
| St.
Augustine |
Full
Sun or Part Shade |
Sandy
/ Sandy Clay |
Acid |
Yes |
| Zoysia
|
Full
Sun |
Fertile
Loam is Preferred |
Alkaline |
No |
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4.
Consider how your lawn will be used:
for decorative landscaping, for erosion control,
or as a play area. |
GRASS
TYPE |
DECORATIVE
VALUE |
FOOT
TRAFFIC TOLERANCE |
EROSION
TOLERANCE |
| Bermuda |
High,
scalps easily if not cut regularly |
High |
Good
|
| Centipede |
High
with extra Iron applied for greening |
Moderate |
Poor |
| Fescue |
Best
in Spring & Fall Seasons |
Moderate |
Poor |
| St.
Augustine |
Very
dense and lush |
Moderate |
Good |
| Zoysia
|
The
Cadillac of grasses |
High |
Good |
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| For
more information about our products and services
call:
770-573-4420 |
