St Augustine Grass Vs Centipede

Choosing the right grass for your lawn can feel overwhelming. If you live in the warm, humid Southeast, two popular options are St Augustine grass vs centipede. Both are excellent warm-season grasses, but they have very different personalities and needs. Picking the one that fits your yard and your lifestyle will save you time, money, and frustration.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll compare their looks, maintenance, and how they handle problems. By the end, you’ll know exactly which grass is the champion for your home.

Let’s start with a broad overview of these two grasses. St. Augustine is known for its thick, lush, dark green blades that create a dense, carpet-like lawn. It’s a vigorous grower that can tolerate some shade and salt, making it a favorite in coastal areas. Centipede grass, often called the “lazy man’s grass,” is lighter green, grows more slowly, and has a coarser texture. It’s famous for its low maintenance requirements and ability to thrive in poor, acidic soils where other grasses struggle.

Appearance and Texture

How your lawn looks is a big factor. Here’s how they compare side-by-side.

St. Augustine: This grass has wide, flat blades that are a rich, dark green. It spreads via above-ground runners called stolons, which create a very thick, soft carpet. It’s one of the most attractive warm-season grasses when healthy.
Centipede: Centipede grass has narrower, pointed blades that are a lighter, apple-green color. It spreads by both stolons and below-ground rhizomes. Its texture is more coarse compared to St. Augustine’s plush feel.

Climate and Growing Zones

Both grasses need warmth, but their ideal ranges differ slightly.

St. Augustine: Thrives in USDA zones 8-10. It loves heat and humidity but can be damaged by prolonged freezing temperatures. It’s very common from Texas across the Gulf Coast to Florida and up the Atlantic coast to the Carolinas.
Centipede: Best suited for zones 7-10 in the deep Southeast. It is slightly more cold-tolerant than St. Augustine but less so than Zoysia or Bermuda. It performs best in the heat of summer.

Sunlight and Shade Tolerance

How much sun does your yard get? This is a critical question.

St. Augustine is the clear winner in partial shade. It can perform reasonably well with as little as 4-6 hours of direct sun. This makes it a top choice for yards with lots of trees.

Centipede grass demands full sun. It needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to grow thick and healthy. In shady areas, it will thin out quickly and be overtaken by weeds or moss.

Soil Preferences and pH

This is where centipede grass really stands apart. It’s not picky about soil fertility, but it is very specific about pH.

Centipede: Prefers acidic soils with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0. It actually thrives in the poor, sandy soils common in the Southeast. Adding too much lime or fertilizer can harm it.
St. Augustine: Prefers a more neutral soil pH, between 6.0 and 7.5. It likes moderately fertile soil and will benefit from regular fertilization to maintain its vigorous growth.

Establishment and Growth Rate

How quickly do you want a full lawn?

St. Augustine is a fast grower. It’s typically planted from sod or plugs (small pieces of sod). Because it grows so quickly, you can space plugs farther apart and they will fill in fast, especialy during the hot summer months.

Centipede is slow and steady. It can be planted from seed, sod, or plugs. Its slow growth rate means plugs take longer to fill in, but it also means less frequent mowing once established. You need to be patient with it.

Watering Requirements

Both grasses are somewhat drought-tolerant once established, but have different needs.

St. Augustine has moderate to high water needs. To keep it looking its best, it requires regular, deep watering during dry spells. It will show signs of drought stress (like folded blades) fairly quickly.

Centipede grass has lower water requirements. It survives well on rainfall in many areas and is more drought-tolerant than St. Augustine. Overwatering is actually a common mistake that can lead to disease problems in centipede.

Mowing and Maintenance

This is the deal-breaker for many homeowners.

Mowing Height: St. Augustine should be mowed high, at 3.5 to 4 inches. Centipede should be mowed at 1.5 to 2 inches. Mowing either too low can cause severe damage.
Fertilizing: St. Augustine needs regular feeding, typically 2-4 times per growing season. Centipede needs very little fertilizer; often one light application in late spring is enough. Too much nitrogen will harm centipede.
Thatch: St. Augustine can develop a thick thatch layer due to its fast growth. Occasional dethatching may be needed. Centipede produces minimal thatch, which is another reason its so low-maintenance.

Pest and Disease Resistance

Every grass has its weaknesses.

St. Augustine’s biggest enemy is the chinch bug. This tiny pest can devastate a lawn quickly. It is also susceptible to certain fungal diseases like brown patch and take-all root rot, particularly in overwatered or shady lawns.

Centipede grass has fewer pest problems, but it’s not immune. It can be bothered by ground pearls and nematodes. Its main issue is “centipede decline,” a condition often caused by over-fertilizing, overwatering, or soil pH that is too high.

Traffic and Wear Tolerance

Do you have kids or pets who play on the lawn?

St. Augustine has a moderate tolerance for foot traffic. It can recover from wear due to its fast growth, but it won’t hold up as well as Bermuda grass. Heavy, constant traffic will create bare spots.

Centipede grass has low traffic tolerance. It’s not a good choice for play areas or sports. It recovers from damage very slowly due to its growth habit.

Quick Decision Guide

Choose St. Augustine grass if:

You have partial shade in your yard.
You want a lush, dark green, carpet-like lawn quickly.
Your soil is fairly neutral or you’re willing to amend it.
You don’t mind a more involved fertilization and watering schedule.

Choose Centipede grass if:

Your yard gets full, all-day sun.
You have acidic, poor, sandy soil.
You want the lowest maintenance lawn possible.
You prefer a lighter green color and don’t need a “perfect” turf.
Your lawn doesn’t get heavy foot traffic.

FAQ Section

Which is more expensive, St. Augustine or centipede?
Initially, St. Augustine sod is often more expensive per pallet. However, centipede’s lower long-term maintenance costs (less water, less fertilizer) can make it cheaper over the life of the lawn.

Can I mix St. Augustine and centipede grass?
It’s not recommended. They have vastly different soil pH, fertilization, and mowing requirements. One will always outcompete and look poorly where the other thrives, leading to a patchy, unhealthy lawn.

What is the best grass to choke out weeds?
St. Augustine’s dense growth habit is excellent at choking out weeds once it’s fully established. Centipede’s slower, lower growth allows more opportunity for weeds to sneak in if it becomes thin.

How do I switch from centipede to St. Augustine?
You must completely kill the existing centipede grass, adjust your soil pH upward if it’s very acidic, and then install St. Augustine sod or plugs. It’s a significant renovation project.

Which grass stays green longer?
They both go dormant (turn brown) after a hard frost. St. Augustine may green up a little earlier in spring and stay green slightly later in fall, but the difference in most climates is minimal. Their dormancy periods are very similar.

Choosing between these two grasses ultimately comes down to your specific yard conditions and how much work you want to put in. Assess your sunlight, test your soil, and be honest about your maintenance commitment. Whether you choose the lush, vigorous St. Augustine or the easy-going centipede, you’ll be on your way to a beautiful warm-season lawn that fits your life.