Argentine Bahia Grass

Common Bahia grass is a coarse-textured, light-colored Bahia grass. It has an open and sparse growth habit and is very susceptible to cold temperatures. 'Argentine' bahia grass forms a relatively dense sod and has a dark green color, making it acceptable for lawn use. It has good insect and disease resistance. It is one of the most commonly used grasses in Florida.

ST. AUGUSTINE (FLORATAM) GRASS

Floratam is coarse-textured grass, but a distinguishing feature of Floratam is its longer and wider leaf blades. This dark-green cultivar grows rapidly in both spring and summer. It is less cold and shade tolerant than other St. Augustine grass cultivars and can suffer from freeze damage when temperatures stay below freezing for an extended period of time. Floratam needs plenty of sunshine and will perform poorly if it receives less than six hours of sunlight a day.

ZOYSIA GRASS

Zoysia grass is known for its ability to stand up to heat, drought, heavy foot traffic and a variety of other challenges. In its optimal growing zones, this tough grass can deliver a beautiful, dense lawn with very little input from you. Whether Zoysia is right for you depends on where you live, your lawn care goals, and how you use your lawn. When those elements align with Zoysia's strengths, this versatile lawn grass may be the ideal choice.

BERMUDA GRASS

It's the best grass for a hot, sunny or even adverse climate. It can grow from sandy to clay soil with low cost maintenance. Due to its rapid growth, Bermuda grass is easily available throughout the year. The main characteristics of this grass is that it's very persistent and aggressive vegetation.

How much will the sod I need cost me?: Each variety of sod has a different cost per square foot. It is best to contact Sunshine State using the Sod Estimate Form to determine the type of sod and the amount of sod required to satisfy your needs. Full yard installations will obviously cost less per square foot than small repair area. .

I have a new home. What is the best sod choice?: Some Homeowner's Associations will require a specific sod so check with your association so you conform to their requirements. That way all the yards seem to flow endlessly from a visual point of view. If you are not in a Homeowner's Association community, the choice of sod is basically yours. Most homeowners will choose the sod that their neighbors are using. Before you choose the type of sod, the installation cost and maintenance costs should be considered prior to choosing the 'right sod' for you and your home. Sunshine State can assist you with those decisions.

Which sod is the easiest to maintain?: Each type of sod requires various care needs. Cutting height and frequency, pest control, fertilization, sun exposure and watering requirements all need to be considered before picking the right lawn for your home.

What about artificial turf?: When you see artificial turf on a football field or installed at a public building you may think it is a great idea for your home. However, the cost of artificial turf installation is VERY expensive. The high cost of artificial turf versus traditional lawns and their maintenance, pest control and other factors must be weighed. Artificial turf can cost about $6,250 for a 500 square foot area versus about $200 or less for some traditional sods. You should also consider how the affect an artificial turf lawn will look with traditional lawns around you. But, if you have no desire to cut grass or pay someone to do it for you along with pest control and fertilizing costs, and your yard is fairly small, artificial turf may be the best for you.

How often should I water my grass?: Each type of grass different watering requirements which include quantity and frequency. Before you decide on what type of grass you want to use, Sunshine State can provide you with these requirements. You should also contact your local authorities and find out if you have watering restrictions that regulate what days and hours you are allowed to water.

How can I save on my water bill when watering my lawn: Conforming to most county requirements, Sunshine State installs a rain sensor with each sprinkler system they install. This sensor will automatically turn off your sprinkler system if a predetermined amount of rain has fallen. This will save a considerable amount of money on your watering bill during the rainy season.