(See Does Lawn Aeration Really Work? For zoysia grass to overtake and smother St. Augustine grass, the soil must become drier to favor the zoysia's slower growth and cause the St. Augustine to wither. In the final analysis, if you are choosing between Zoysia, Bermuda grass or St Augustine you are generally better off picking from between the first two. St. Augustine does not handle dethatching with a power rake, so it is important to mow frequently to prevent long grass clippings or clumps of grass. Though there are many varieties to choose from, always pay attention to the weather and conditions in your lawn before finalizing any type of grass. Both St. Augustine and zoysia are warm-season, creeping grasses with good drought tolerance. St. Augustine Grass. For this reason, there are only a few types of grass that do well in Texas. It would be better not to mix because the former grows slower than later which can choke the latter. If St. Augustine is maintained well, it can choke out most weeds without help from herbicides. It does not hold up to foot traffic as well as zoysia, and it does not fill in as fast after aeration or damage. It is a very coarse-textured type that grows via above-ground stolons that can reach several feet. Even the more desirable “turf type” Fescue is the heaviest maintenance lawn type for our area. If you want to prevent dormancy, irrigate as needed April-October at 1”/week (source). August 5, 2015 I realize that I can fertilize, water and wait for the St Aug to fill in, but I'm thinking of converting to Empire Zoysia. --, Weeds In Your Lawn? Of the types of grasses for Texas, St Augustine is a long time favorite. Bermuda grass is the most difficult weed to remove from a zoysia lawn. She has an A.A.S. Space plugs 6”-12” apart. Both put off runners that get into everything, although zoysia isn't quite as aggressive. Clay soils tend to become compacted, which leaves very little pore space for drainage. Most homeowners want a beautiful yard to compliment their house. Bermuda grass wins this round, if you are looking for a type of grass with lower water requirements. St. Augustine is a good turf grass for hot, humid, coastal climates with sandy soil. Squeeze the soil firmly. Patrick Dickinson, the Urban Water Program Coordinator at Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center, suggests St. Augustine will lose this category of the turf wars, because it greedily slurps up twice the amount of water as Bermuda grass. So, which grass should you choose for your new lawn? However, it has a lower tolerance of poor soils and poor drainage, which may disqualify this turf as an option in your climate. Zoysia is more prone to disease and "bald spots". Zoysia vs. Centipede Grass. If the lawn is mowed too short, or if you use a power rake to dethatch, you will damage the stolons and your lawn may not recover. Occasionally, it will be found in areas of California. It is also more tolerant of dethatching. St. Augustine has above-ground runners, known as stolons, which creep along the soil and put down roots. This helps you will have success with a … The difference between the three is that without regular watering, Saint Augustine will die off. Bahia grass has excellent wearability, but gets a high-maintenance rating in the mowing department. Then depending on the severity of that shade, one variety of St. Augustine or Zoysia may work better than another. For example, in areas to the north and to the west of San Antonio, it Is a lot smarter to choose Bermuda or Zoysia for sod installation. Side By Side Comparison). Both Zoysia and Bermuda are warm-season grasses, and a soil temperature of 65-75 degree F is ideal for both. Plant St. Augustine if your lawn drains well, receives consistent rainfall or irrigation, and has shaded areas. 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