SWFlorida Grass

cr*******@ao*.com – posted 19 March 2004 17:42

As a recent first time homeowner, it’s time to start working on the yard. It’s been a mixture of weeds and sandspurs. The previous owners were definitely NOT into lawn care. I’ve got a short list of wants for the yard and am looking for some direction from those of you who have probably forgotten more than I’ll know…

We have 2 young children, no pets and live in SW Florida. We would like a grass that will meet the following:

1. Soft feel yet durable to play on.2. Growing from seed is acceptable option.3. Ability to effectively withstand potetial invasion from St. Augustine next door.4. Minimal weed intrusion, or ease of combatting weeds.5. Also, if seeded, what’s the best way to keep the birds from having an all you can eat buffet?

I’m new at lawn care, but don’t mind putting in the work to make the yard a fun, enjoyable place for my kids to grow up playing in.

Thanks in advance for any and all help you can give me. (Momma’s tired of looking at the weeds!!!)

Alex_in_FL – posted 19 March 2004 19:30

You have lots of choices: Bermuda is easy to seed and easy to maintain. I dislike the seed heads and the need to cut it often or else you can wait a few weeks and have it cut and baled as hay. St. Augustine is okay and will grow well but I find that it is a very itchy grass. Weeds enter and you are very limited in weed killers (atrazine is cheap, image is expensive) Zoysia is a very good grass but you need to be careful which variety you select. Some of them are a bit wirey and will poke you, especially if you don’t water it and fertilize a little. Weeds rarely compete with zoysia and you can use many different chemicals. Not to sure about seeding zoysia (I do not know about companion zoysia) it but you can sprig or sod or plug your lawn with zoysia. It grows slower than some grasses but reasonably well here in Florida.

Hope this helps.

Lex

cr*******@ao*.com – posted 19 March 2004 21:06

Thanks Lex for your info. Would like to follow up – Is there a particular type of Bermuda that would perform best? Front yard has southern exposure with full sunlight.

jr – posted 20 March 2004 05:23

Bermuda is the only grass that does fit all your criteria. As far as I know, common bermuda is the only one that can be seeded. All of the man-made cultivars don’t produce seed.

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 29 March 2004 08:22

We have folks selling bermuda seed for some of the cultivars. Look around.