Guides
Zoysia vs St. Augustine for Tampa Bay Lawns
How the two grasses compare on sun, shade, foot traffic, mowing and one-day watering, and how to tell which one your yard needs.
In zoysia vs St. Augustine, St. Augustine is the safer choice for most Tampa Bay lawns, and zoysia wins where a sunny lawn takes daily foot traffic and you will mow it often. UF/IFAS rates zoysia’s drought tolerance higher, but it earns that rating by going brown and dormant within about a week of dry weather. Under the one-day watering order in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas, St. Augustine stays green longer between watering days.
Which grass suits which Tampa Bay yard?
Pick St. Augustine for an ordinary front lawn on one-day watering, and zoysia for a sunny lawn that gets walked on every day. The table compares them on the UF/IFAS ratings (UF/IFAS, Selecting a Turfgrass for Florida Lawns).
| Point | St. Augustine | Zoysia |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Most home lawns, partial shade with the right cultivar | Sunny lawns with traffic, a fine manicured look |
| Look | Coarse, green to blue-green blades | Finer, denser, dark green |
| In a dry spell | Keeps some green longer | Browns and goes dormant within about a week |
| Foot traffic | Poor to fair | Good to excellent |
| Shade | Good to excellent by cultivar; Floratam fair | Good to excellent by cultivar |
| Mowing height | 3.5 to 4 inches for standard cultivars | 1.75 to 2.5 inches for medium and coarse types |
| Main troubles | Chinch bugs, gray leaf spot, large patch | Thatch, large patch, hard to mow |
Why is St. Augustine the usual Tampa Bay lawn?
St. Augustine grass establishes quickly from sod, grows in most Florida soils and holds its color well. UF/IFAS calls it the most commonly used lawn grass in Florida and says it “establishes quickly and easily” (UF/IFAS, St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns). Sod or plugs are the only ways to start it, because no St. Augustine seed exists.
Its weak points are traffic and pests. UF/IFAS rates its wear tolerance poor, so a dog run or a path to the pool wears through. Southern chinch bugs are its major insect pest, and ‘Floratam’, the most widely produced cultivar in Florida, has largely lost the chinch bug resistance it had at release. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says chinch bug injury shows first in grass that is water-stressed or in full sun (UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, St. Augustinegrass).
When does zoysia beat St. Augustine?
Zoysia beats St. Augustine where people walk on the lawn every day and where you want a finer, carpet-like look. UF/IFAS rates zoysia’s wear tolerance good to excellent and describes it as dark green, shorter and finer textured than St. Augustine (UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Zoysiagrass). Its dense growth also crowds out weeds.
The trade is work. Zoysia leaves carry more lignin and silica than other lawn grasses, so UF/IFAS says they “can be quite difficult to mow” and calls for a sharp mower, weekly in summer. Zoysia builds a thick thatch layer in the years after planting, which UF/IFAS says needs a vertical mower or power rake every year or two (UF/IFAS, Zoysiagrass for Florida Lawns). It also fills in slower than St. Augustine, so a damaged patch takes longer to close.
Which grass handles one-day watering better?
St. Augustine usually stays greener on one-day watering, even though UF/IFAS rates zoysia’s drought tolerance higher. UF/IFAS explains that an “excellent” drought rating means a grass survives long dry spells through dormancy, and “does not necessarily equate to reduced irrigation.” St. Augustine and Bahia “retain green color longer during drought,” while zoysia “quickly lose[s] green color” (UF/IFAS LH005).
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) order limits lawns in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties to one watering day a week through March 31, 2027 (SWFWMD, District Water Restrictions). LH011 says zoysia browns “within a week under typical drought conditions,” which is the gap between two watering days in a dry spell. Our guide to when the SWFWMD water restrictions end covers the order’s end date. UF/IFAS calls letting zoysia go off-color “an acceptable water-conserving measure,” so a tan lawn in April is a choice you can live with, not a dead lawn.
Under the SWFWMD order, new sod of either grass may be watered any day for its first 30 days, then three days a week for days 31 to 60, with a written schedule. After day 60 it joins the one-day rule. Our guide to how often to water new sod sets that schedule out day by day.
This is general information about the SWFWMD water shortage order, not legal advice. Check the current order or ordinance, or ask your HOA or county, before you rely on it.
The District’s dry season runs October through May at about 3 inches of rain a month (SWFWMD, Rainfall Cycle). In the rainy season, June through September, rain usually covers the gap.
How much shade can each grass take?
Both grasses handle some shade, and both still need sun every day. UF/IFAS says St. Augustine and zoysia have good shade tolerance next to other warm-season grasses “but still require daily sunlight for most cultivars.” The cultivar matters as much as the species here.
Floratam is the weak one: UF/IFAS says it “does not persist well in environments that receive less than 6 hours of sunlight daily,” while cultivars such as ‘Palmetto’, ‘CitraBlue’ and ‘Seville’ get the top shade rating in LH010’s cultivar table. Among zoysias, ‘Empire’ is the most common in Florida, and UF/IFAS warns it is susceptible to large patch, a fungus most often seen when temperatures drop below 80 degrees, usually November to May (UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Large Patch).
The honest limit: if your St. Augustine is thinning under an oak, switching to zoysia may not fix it. Count the hours of direct sun first. Under 6 hours, skip Floratam: a shade-rated St. Augustine cultivar, or a planted bed where even that thins, suits the spot better than zoysia bought for its drought rating.
Not sure how much sun your lawn gets? Doug Wilson walks the yard and writes every quote himself.
What does each grass ask of you each week?
St. Augustine asks for a tall cut and a careful eye for chinch bugs; zoysia asks for a sharp mower and a thatch plan. UF/IFAS sets standard St. Augustine cultivars at 3.5 to 4 inches and medium to coarse zoysias at 1.75 to 2.5 inches with a rotary mower.
- Mower: any sharp rotary mower suits St. Augustine; zoysia’s tough leaves need “a sharp, well-adjusted rotary or reel mower,” in UF/IFAS’s words.
- Thatch: St. Augustine builds it under heavy watering and fertilizer; UF/IFAS expects a thick layer on zoysia in the years after planting.
- Fertilizer: UF/IFAS gives Central Florida 2 to 5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet a year for St. Augustine and 2 to 4 for zoysia.
- Winter: UF/IFAS says St. Augustine goes dormant and turns brown or tan in parts of Florida until spring.
For mowing on a schedule, see our lawn care in Tampa Bay.
What does Medscapes lay, and how is the grass chosen?
Medscapes lays St. Augustine, zoysia and Bermuda sod. Which one suits your yard comes down to sun, traffic and the care you will give it, and Doug Wilson walks the yard and writes every quote himself. Bahia is a low-maintenance lawn grass, and UF/IFAS says it has better drought tolerance than other Florida lawn grasses (UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Bahiagrass), but Medscapes does not lay it.
The one thing to do this week: count the hours of direct sun on the spot you want to sod, morning and afternoon. When you are ready for new sod and planting, see how long sod takes to root for the weeks after.
Frequently asked questions
What are the drawbacks of zoysia grass?
Zoysia grows slowly, builds thatch and is hard to mow. UF/IFAS says its leaves carry more lignin and silica than other lawn grasses, it fills in slower than St. Augustine, and it browns within about a week of drought. Popular ‘Empire’ zoysia is also susceptible to large patch in the cooler months.
What are the downsides of St. Augustine grass?
St. Augustine wears thin under daily foot traffic and draws chinch bugs. UF/IFAS rates its wear tolerance poor, and ‘Floratam’ has largely lost its chinch bug resistance and struggles with less than 6 hours of sun a day. It also cannot be started from seed, only from sod or plugs.
Is zoysia more expensive than St. Augustine?
Medscapes does not publish prices, so this guide gives none; the quote names the grass and the price for your yard. UF/IFAS advises that the cost of installation should not be the main reason for choosing a grass, because the lawn has to suit the care you will give it for years. Our guide to what sod installation costs depend on covers the factors.
Can I plant zoysia or St. Augustine from seed?
St. Augustine has no seed, so it goes in as sod or plugs. UF/IFAS lists some zoysia seed, but it may take up to 2 to 3 weeks to germinate and another 6 to 8 weeks to establish, which is a long time to keep bare soil wet on one-day watering.
Why does St. Augustine turn brown in winter?
St. Augustine goes into winter dormancy in many parts of Florida, UF/IFAS says, and stays brown or tan until spring. Brown grass in January is not always a dead lawn or a chinch bug problem, so check again once spring growth starts.
Sources
- UF/IFAS Extension. Selecting a Turfgrass for Florida Lawns (ENH04/LH005), Lindsey, Schiavon, Unruh and Kenworthy. Checked October 26, 2026. ask.ifas.ufl.edu
- UF/IFAS Extension. St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns (LH010). Checked October 26, 2026. ask.ifas.ufl.edu
- UF/IFAS Extension. Zoysiagrass for Florida Lawns (LH011), Trenholm, Unruh, Schiavon, Lindsey and Kenworthy. Checked October 26, 2026. ask.ifas.ufl.edu
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. St. Augustinegrass. Checked October 26, 2026. gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Zoysiagrass. Checked October 26, 2026. gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions. Large Patch. Checked October 26, 2026. gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu
- Southwest Florida Water Management District. District Water Restrictions. Checked October 26, 2026. swfwmd.state.fl.us
- Southwest Florida Water Management District. Rainfall Cycle. Checked October 26, 2026. swfwmd.state.fl.us
Want help choosing the right grass?
Call (813) 382-5801 or send the estimate form. Doug Wilson walks the yard and writes every quote himself.
- 1Call or book online
- 2Doug walks the yard with you
- 3You get a written quote