Grass Types We Offer
St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede - compare all four and find which sod fits your yard's sun, shade, soil, and traffic needs.
Compare All Four Grass Types
St. Augustine sod ready for installation
St. Augustine Grass
Best all-around grass for Louisiana
St. Augustine grass is the number one lawn grass in South Louisiana. It covers more yards in this region than every other type combined. It handles heat, humidity, and shade better than anything else available. It fills in thick with just four to six hours of filtered light. Under a live oak canopy where Bermuda would die, St. Augustine thrives.
| Sun needs | 4-6 hours (shade tolerant) |
|---|---|
| Mowing height | 3-4 inches |
| Water needs | High |
| Traffic | Medium |
| Maintenance | Medium |
Pros
- Best shade tolerance available
- Thick, carpet-like texture
- Handles Louisiana clay soil
- Multiple varieties (Classic, CitraBlue, Palmetto)
Cons
- Needs more water than others
- Susceptible to chinch bugs
- Goes dormant in hard freezes
Tifway 419 Bermuda sod close-up
Bermuda Grass
Top pick for full sun and heavy traffic
Bermuda grass is the top choice for full-sun yards that take heavy foot traffic. It grows fast, repairs itself, and shrugs off heat that stresses other grasses. Soil temps above 80 degrees push it into peak growth mode. Athletic fields, commercial properties, and open residential lots across Baton Rouge run on Bermuda.
| Sun needs | 8+ hours (full sun only) |
|---|---|
| Mowing height | 1-2 inches |
| Water needs | Low to medium |
| Traffic | Excellent |
| Maintenance | Medium to high |
Pros
- Fastest self-repair of any grass
- Best drought tolerance
- Fine-bladed, manicured look
- Varieties: Tifway 419, Celebration
Cons
- Zero shade tolerance
- Goes dormant early in fall
- Can invade flower beds
Zeon Zoysia dense carpet lawn
Zoysia Grass
Premium lawn, low long-term maintenance
Zoysia grass is the premium option. It creates a dense, carpet-like lawn with a manicured look that turns heads. Once established, it needs less water and fewer chemicals than St. Augustine or Bermuda. It crowds out weeds naturally through its tight growth habit. The LSU AgCenter lists Zoysia as a solid option for Louisiana homeowners who want a quality lawn with less ongoing work.
| Sun needs | 5-7 hours |
|---|---|
| Mowing height | 1.5-2.5 inches |
| Water needs | Low to medium |
| Traffic | Good to excellent |
| Maintenance | Low (once established) |
Pros
- Dense growth crowds out weeds
- Low input once mature
- Soft, comfortable underfoot
- Varieties: Palisades, Empire
Cons
- Slow to establish (1-2 seasons)
- Higher upfront cost
- Can develop thatch buildup
Centipede sod, naturally low-growing
Centipede Grass
Lowest maintenance grass available
Centipede grass is called the lazy man's grass for a reason. It needs less mowing, less fertilizer, and less water than any other option on this list. It naturally grows low, so mowing frequency drops compared to St. Augustine or Bermuda. Centipede prefers slightly sandy, acidic soil found in parts of Livingston, Tangipahoa, and St. Tammany parishes. Over-fertilizing actually hurts it.
| Sun needs | 6-8 hours |
|---|---|
| Mowing height | 1.5-2 inches |
| Water needs | Low |
| Traffic | Poor |
| Maintenance | Very low |
Pros
- Lowest maintenance of all four
- Naturally low growth habit
- Thrives in acidic, sandy soils
- Most affordable per pallet
Cons
- Poor traffic tolerance
- Slowest recovery from damage
- Struggles in heavy clay
What types of grass grow best in South Louisiana?
The best types of grass for South Louisiana are St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede. All four are warm-season grasses adapted to USDA Zone 9a conditions. St. Augustine is the most popular choice because it tolerates shade, heat, humidity, and heavy clay soil common across the region. Bermuda grass is the top option for full-sun yards and high-traffic areas due to its fast self-repair growth habit. Zoysia provides a premium, low-maintenance lawn once established, and Centipede requires the least care of all four types.
Cool-season grasses like Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass cannot survive Louisiana summers. The LSU AgCenter recommends selecting grass based on site-specific conditions including sun exposure, soil type, traffic levels, and maintenance preference. Baton Rouge Sod carries all four grass types in fresh-cut pallets with delivery across the Greater Baton Rouge area.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | St. Augustine | Bermuda | Zoysia | Centipede |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Shade, most yards | Full sun, traffic | Premium look | Lowest care |
| Sun requirement | 4-6 hours | 8+ hours | 5-7 hours | 6-8 hours |
| Shade tolerance | Excellent | Poor | Moderate | Fair |
| Traffic tolerance | Medium | Excellent | Good to excellent | Poor |
| Drought tolerance | Medium | High | Medium to high | Medium |
| Mowing height | 3-4 in | 1-2 in | 1.5-2.5 in | 1.5-2 in |
| Water needs | High | Low-medium | Low-medium | Low |
| Maintenance | Medium | Medium-high | Low (established) | Very low |
| Establishment | Fast | Fastest | Slow | Medium |
| Clay tolerance | Excellent | Good | Good | Fair |
| Cost per pallet | $$ | $$ | $$$ | $ |
Which Grass Should You Choose?
Your yard conditions narrow the choice fast. Match your situation below.
Mostly Shaded Yard
St. Augustine. The only grass that fills in under a live oak canopy. Palmetto and CitraBlue handle the deepest shade.
Full Sun, High Traffic
Bermuda. Kids playing, dogs running, foot paths. It repairs itself faster than anything. Tifway 419 for a professional look.
Premium Look, Less Work
Zoysia. Dense, soft, manicured. Costs more upfront but needs less once established. Palisades or Empire.
Low Maintenance, Open Yard
Centipede. Mow less, fertilize less, water less. Make sure your soil drains well. Best on sandy, acidic ground.
Tight Budget
Centipede costs the least per pallet. St. Augustine Classic is the next most affordable and covers the widest range of conditions.
Mixed Sun and Shade
Use two grass types. Bermuda in the sunny areas and St. Augustine under the trees. We deliver both on the same order.
Why Grass Selection Matters
South Louisiana sits in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. Summers hit 95 degrees with humidity above 80 percent for months. Baton Rouge clay drains slowly, stays wet, and runs acidic. Live oaks throw heavy canopy across yards from Highland Road to Sherwood Forest.
Four warm-season grasses handle these conditions. Each one fits a different yard. Get the choice right, and your lawn stays green with half the effort. Get it wrong, and you fight bare spots and brown patches year-round.
About Our Grass Types
Ready to Pick the Right Grass?
Call Baton Rouge Sod at 225-310-8080. Tell us about your yard's sun, shade, and soil. We will recommend the right grass type and get fresh sod delivered to your property.