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New Build - Centipede or St. Aug Sod?
Posted on 1/16/26 at 8:04 pm
Posted on 1/16/26 at 8:04 pm
Building a new house, need to select my sod choice?
What are yalls thoughts? Location is south Alabama, red clay type dirt. Front yard will get plenty of sunlight, back yard will see a majority of shade. Yard will have an irrigation system.
What are yalls thoughts? Location is south Alabama, red clay type dirt. Front yard will get plenty of sunlight, back yard will see a majority of shade. Yard will have an irrigation system.
12
Posted on 1/16/26 at 8:47 pm to GeauxTime9
Red clay soil, usually indicates an acidic soil (need a soil test to verify) favors centipede. Shade definitely favors St Augustine. If the soil is not too highly acidic (pH 4.5-5.5) I’d choose St Augustine.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 9:01 pm to CrawDude
quote:
CrawDude
Any other types you’d recommend for that area and type of soil?
Bermuda? Zoysia?
Posted on 1/16/26 at 10:49 pm to GeauxTime9
quote:
Any other types you’d recommend for that area and type of soil? Bermuda? Zoysia?
Bermudagrass requires full sun, likely a problem for your backyard, but there are zoysia cultivars that do well in shade and sun. No personal experience with zoysia but several on this board do, and I’m sure they will weigh in with the pros & cons.
Posted on 1/17/26 at 12:06 am to GeauxTime9
quote:
Zoysia?
Yes. Centipede will let you down. I wouldn’t sod with it, because it doesn’t hold its ground. It’s actually pretty aggressive when it’s growing but it dies back to nothing at some point. St Aug is mostly like this too, it’s heartier and looks better when healthy, but hardly ever is. Zoysia and Bermuda hold their ground better. Zoysia is a less work, but they are both work. Bermuda recovers more quickly, but zoysia is a beast once it starts running,
If I were sodding, I’d do the other 3 way ahead of centipede just as a matter of cost to benefit, it just has less of a chance to survive. Centipede I think is better to jumpstart an existing or neglected lawn
Posted on 1/17/26 at 6:20 am to OceanMan
Appreciate the insight.
Any idea which is most/least expensive?
Any idea which is most/least expensive?
Posted on 1/17/26 at 8:14 am to GeauxTime9
I would never do centipede ever again.
Zoysia will be the most expensive.
Zoysia will be the most expensive.
Posted on 1/17/26 at 8:35 am to Ziggy
quote:
would never do centipede ever again.
Agree. Mine is terrible and now I’m waiting for the torpedo to take over.
Posted on 1/17/26 at 8:57 am to Ziggy
Would St. Aug typically cost less than Centipede?
Posted on 1/17/26 at 9:01 am to GeauxTime9
I ripped out all my Centipede and laid Zoysia Palisades 6 yrs ago. It's the best, fullest, and easiest to maintain that I've ever had. In BR. You're Welcome.
Posted on 1/17/26 at 9:03 am to GeauxTime9
Centipede seemed to cost more the last time I looked. I figured because it grows so slow they charge more.
Posted on 1/17/26 at 9:04 am to GeauxTime9
St Aug will likely be more.
Wild St Aug is fine. The stuff they are growing these days is really weak and fungus gets it too quick. I have to stay on top of mine or else parts will look like shite almost overnight.
Pretty sure I am going to rip it all out and go with Zoysia.
Wild St Aug is fine. The stuff they are growing these days is really weak and fungus gets it too quick. I have to stay on top of mine or else parts will look like shite almost overnight.
Pretty sure I am going to rip it all out and go with Zoysia.
Posted on 1/17/26 at 9:40 am to fightin tigers
quote:
Pretty sure I am going to rip it all out and go with Zoysia.
I replaced part of my current home with Zoysia and for me, it's been so much better than Centipede. I am certain that my next house will have all Zoysia.
This post was edited on 1/17/26 at 9:41 am
Posted on 1/17/26 at 2:53 pm to GeauxTime9
quote:
Would St. Aug typically cost less than Centipede?
Centipede sod is significantly cheaper than St Augustine and Zoysia sod. Centipede really needs acidic soil to “thrive” - not common in coastal Louisiana.
Posted on 1/17/26 at 3:07 pm to GeauxTime9
Zoysia is by far my favorite and I wish I could have afforded more sod than I installed.
Centipede is certainly the cheapest option and that’s why builder typically select it. St Aug is generally better than centipede, but also has some susceptibility that make it less robust. St Aug is a high cut, thick grass and requires some selective care.
Zoysia and Hybrid Bermuda are similar in cost. Zoysia is going to be far better in shade than any Bermuda or Centipede.
Centipede is certainly the cheapest option and that’s why builder typically select it. St Aug is generally better than centipede, but also has some susceptibility that make it less robust. St Aug is a high cut, thick grass and requires some selective care.
Zoysia and Hybrid Bermuda are similar in cost. Zoysia is going to be far better in shade than any Bermuda or Centipede.
This post was edited on 1/17/26 at 9:45 pm
Posted on 1/17/26 at 6:02 pm to GeauxTime9
Bermuda in the front and zoysia in the back
Posted on 1/18/26 at 8:41 am to GeauxTime9
In south Louisiana empire zoysia is usually what’s available. Pretty hardy with a medium blade. There is thatch buildup but I find it easy enough to cut.
I find it actually looks good with centipede growing with it, similar in color at least.
I find it actually looks good with centipede growing with it, similar in color at least.
Posted on 1/18/26 at 9:33 am to Ziggy
quote:
Zoysia will be the most expensive.
While this is probably true, at least in my area, it’s got the best chance at survival. For 10-20% more cost you have a much better chance of it thriving and not spending more in the future to fix it.
quote:
I would never do centipede ever again.
My neighbor tore up their yard to put in irrigation and went with centipede sod. That was maybe 7-8 months ago and you wouldn’t be able to tell he ever added now, in the hard to grow places like under trees it’s basically mud. It’s a fine looking grass, you just can’t count on it.
Posted on 1/18/26 at 10:11 pm to GeauxTime9
I am on a hard packed clay hill. I moved into the house 15 years ago with mostly centipede lawn fast forward 15 years and the trees have grown up and there is a little of shade. Centipede is just not vibrant enough to keep the clay covered. I sprigged in some of my neighbors, watered it when dry for a summer, and it has taken off and covered whole areas. I would use St. Aug even if you have to plug it to save some cash.
The downside of St Aug is it grows a lot faster than centipede so you have to cut it more often.
The downside of St Aug is it grows a lot faster than centipede so you have to cut it more often.
Posted on 1/18/26 at 10:41 pm to Spankum
My front yard is mixed centipede and st. Aug. The centipede requires more work to keep the lespedeza, chamberbitter and other weeds out, and the st. Aug is slowly taking over.
The only downside is that I cut the two grasses at the appropriate height, and my front yard looks like a drunk idiot mows it in the summer.
The only downside is that I cut the two grasses at the appropriate height, and my front yard looks like a drunk idiot mows it in the summer.
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