Centipede Grass vs. St. Augustine: What’s the Difference?

A lackluster, patchy yard can make for an eyesore. If you’re on the hunt for the best type of grass for your lawn, two grass species may have caught your eye: centipede grass vs. St. Augustine.

Both grass types thrive in warmer regions of the U.S., so if you’re wondering which one is best for your lawn, here’s everything you need to know to help you decide.

Centipede Grass Pros and Cons

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If you’ve ever walked barefoot across the grass in the South, there’s a chance you walked over centipede grass. Centipede grass, also called “the lazy man’s grass,” is a popular grass species for states ranging from North Carolina down and west across the south. It thrives in the heat, requiring six or more hours of full sun. 

Though centipede grass originates from Southeast Asia, it quickly spread across the U.S. in the early 20th century and continues to be a staple choice for lawns today. If you need help deciding which grass option will work best in your yard, consider hiring a local lawn service to make a determination.

Pros of Centipede Grass

• Sun tolerant

• Heat tolerant

• Slow-growing

• Drought tolerant

• Low maintenance

• Low fertilizer requirements

• Tolerates many soil types

• Dense consistency

• Weed resistant

• Pest resistant

• Disease resistant

• Stays out of flower beds

• No dormant season

Cons of Centipede Grass

• Not ideal for shady areas

• Poor cold tolerance

• May turn brown during the winter

• Susceptible to lawn thatching

• High traffic may cause bare spots

• Not a native species

St. Augustine Grass Pros and Cons

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St. Augustine grass, or carpetgrass, is a popular warm-season grass that grows across subtropical states in the southern U.S, ranging from North Carolina to Florida and across to coastal regions of Texas. It also grows in California and Nevada. This grass is native to southeastern and central parts of the U.S. and Central America. 

St. Augustine grass thrives in full sun and shade, making it suitable for yards with varying levels of sunlight. Not to be confused with buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass now grows across the world in sunny, coastal regions like Africa and Australia, where it’s also called “buffalo turf” and “buffalo grass.”

Pros of St. Augustine Grass

• Salt tolerant

• Heat resistant

• Tolerates sun and shade

• Tolerates many soil types

• Weed resistant

• Turns green quickly after winter

• Handles moderate foot traffic

• Dense turf

• Wide variety of cultivars

Cons of St. Augustine Grass

• High long-term costs

• High maintenance

• Poor cold tolerance

• Requires lots of fertilizer

• Not drought tolerant

• Unpleasant texture

• Has a dormant season

• Susceptible to overly wet conditions

• Susceptible to insects

• Low disease resistance

• Weed resistant

• High traffic may cause dead, brown patches

Centipede vs. St. Augustine Grass

Pros and cons aside, it’s safe to say that centipede grass and St. Augustine grass have qualities that could make them the right fit for a home in a warm-season zone. That being said, depending on the grass, some properties stand out more than others. Here’s how these grass varieties compare to each other.

Appearance

St. Augustine grass has identifiably broad and flat blades that range from dark, emerald green to bluer shades, depending on the variety. This grass has a dormant season when soil temperatures dip below 55 degrees, turning it yellowish and patchy in appearance. 

Centipedegrass does not have a dormant season, so it will stay a bright, yellow-green year-round. Its blades are also narrower than St. Augustine grass.

Most visually attractive: Centipede grass

Durability

While centipede grass is more attractive, one of its downfalls is its susceptibility to foot traffic. If you have pets or children or enjoy doing outdoor activities in your yard, this grass may not hold up. Though St. Augustine grass can also experience damage from foot traffic, it has a higher resistance to wear and tear.

Most durable: St. Augustine grass

Maintenance

Photo: Jennifer / Adobe Stock

There’s a reason why centipede grass is also called “the lazy man’s” grass. Centipede grass is extremely low-maintenance. You don’t need to go out of your way to care for this grass species as it’s not susceptible to common lawn pests or diseases. Meanwhile, St. Augustine grass requires monthly fertilizer in the growing season if you have sandy soil, and it’s far more susceptible to pests and diseases. 

Most easy to maintain: Centipede grass

Price

St. Augustine grass costs around $0.55 per square foot or $250 per pallet. Centipede grass costs around $0.80 per square foot or $365 per pallet. However, remember that maintenance costs for St. Augustine grass may lead you to spend more in the long run than centipede grass. 

Most cost-friendly upfront: St. Augustine

Sun Tolerance

Both centipede grass and St. Augustine grass are popular warm-season grass species that require full sunlight. Centipede grass requires at least six hours of full sun, while St. Augustine grass needs at least four hours of full sunlight, but it can handle more. 

Most sun tolerant: Tie

Shade Tolerance

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Of all the warm-season grasses, St. Augustine tops the charts as the most shade-tolerant grass. Since centipede grass needs six or more hours of full sunlight, this grass is not ideal for any shaded areas.

Most shade-tolerant: St. Augustine grass

Cold Tolerance

While centipede grass doesn’t grow well in shady areas, it’s surprisingly more cold-tolerant than St. Augustine grass. Centipede grass can handle below-freezing temperatures, but extended temperatures at 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower may kill your grass. St. Augustine grass, on the other hand, starts to die in temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a hair more susceptible to cold damage.

Most cold-tolerant: Centipede grass

Eco-Friendliness

Centipedegrass requires minimal fertilizer and generally does not require pesticides, as it is not prone to pests or disease. However, St. Augustine grass requires regular fertilizer and pesticides, as it’s prone to disease and can be fussy in a nonideal environment. It is, however, a native plant to southern North America, unlike centipede grass.

Both types of grass, however, require plenty of water—roughly 1 inch of water weekly in the summer and 1 inch of water biweekly in the dormant season. St. Augustine grass can withstand drought conditions for up to six weeks before it begins to die, making it better for conserving water compared to centipede grass, which tends to die after two to three weeks without water. 

Most eco-friendly: Centipede grass

What Other Grass Species Should You Consider?

Centipede grass and St. Augustine grass aren’t the only grass species for their respective climate zones. In fact, some grass species might be even better for your yard, depending on your personal preferences or region. 

For example, some homeowners may choose an ornamental grass species for their yard to help promote biodiversity in their yards. Other homeowners might choose zoysia grass for its attractive emerald green appearance or bermuda grass for its disease resistance. 

Here are several alternative grass species for warm season climate zones:

• Bermuda grass

• Bluegrass

• Buffalo grass

• Tall fescue grass

• Zebra grass

• Zoysia grass