Short answer: St. Augustine is the better pick for shadier yards and a softer, blue-green lawn. It is rotary-mowed at 3.5 to 4 inches and installs at $2.00 per sq ft. Zoysia is denser and finer, handles foot traffic far better, and is mowed low for a manicured look. It wants more sun and installs at $2.15 per sq ft.
What is the real difference between zoysia and St. Augustine?
Most of the lawns I walk in Oviedo and Winter Park are one of these two grasses, and most homeowners asking this question are standing on a St. Augustine lawn that is thinning out. The grass is rarely the whole problem. Usually it is the wrong grass for the light, mowed at the wrong height, sitting on sandy soil with almost no organic matter.
Both are warm-season grasses that spread by runners and install well as sod. The difference is in how they grow. St. Augustine has wide, coarse blades and a loose, spongy canopy. Zoysia has stiffer, finer blades and grows into a tight, carpet-like mat. That one difference drives everything else: how you mow, how it handles shade and traffic, and what goes wrong with it.
How do they compare side by side?
| Factor | St. Augustine (Floratam, ProVista, Seville, Palmetto) | Zoysia (CitraZoy, Empire) |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Coarse, wide blade; blue-green to dark green | Dense and carpet-like; CitraZoy medium-fine, Empire coarser |
| Mowing height (UF/IFAS) | 3.5–4 in (dwarf Seville 2.5 in) | Empire 1.75–2.5 in; CitraZoy 1–1.5 in |
| Mower | Rotary only. Never reel. | Reel. We reel-cut CitraZoy and Empire. |
| Shade | Most cultivars very good (ProVista, Seville, Palmetto); Floratam weak in shade | Varies: Zeon and Geo among the more shade-tolerant zoysias; CitraZoy moderate; Empire wants sun |
| Foot traffic | Poor wear tolerance | Good wear tolerance |
| Dry spells | Needs supplemental irrigation to stay green | Browns and goes dormant fast without water, greens back up when watered |
| Main problems | Chinch bugs, gray leaf spot, large patch | Large patch (Empire susceptible; UF reports none on CitraZoy), hunting billbug |
| Installed price | $2.00/sq ft | $2.15/sq ft |
| After install | 60-day establishment program | 60-day establishment program |
Which is better for shade?
St. Augustine, as a rule, but the cultivar matters more than the species. UF/IFAS rates most St. Augustine cultivars, including ProVista, Seville and Palmetto, as very shade tolerant. Floratam, the most common one, is the exception: it needs at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Among zoysias, the fine-bladed types like Zeon and Geo are among the more shade-tolerant. CitraZoy sits in the middle, and Empire belongs in the sunnier parts of the yard. In any shade, mow at the top of the recommended range so the plant keeps more leaf to capture light.
Which handles kids, dogs and foot traffic?
Zoysia. UF/IFAS describes St. Augustine as having poor wear tolerance, and it does not recover well from repeated foot traffic. Zoysia's dense mat takes play, pets and parties much better. If the backyard is where the family lives, zoysia is usually the right call for that area.
Which needs less water and care?
Neither one is a low-water, no-care lawn in Central Florida sand, and I would not trust anyone who says otherwise. St. Augustine needs supplemental irrigation during dry spells and steady watch for chinch bugs. Zoysia goes dormant and brown quickly without water, then greens back up when watering resumes. It needs more frequent, lower mowing, and Empire in particular needs a large patch plan for fall and spring. Both are only as good as the soil under them. Healthy lawns and landscapes do not exist without healthy living soil.
How do you mow each one?
St. Augustine is always cut with a rotary mower at 3.5 to 4 inches (2.5 inches for dwarf types like Seville). It is never reel-mowed. Zoysia is cut lower, and we reel-cut it: Empire at 1.75 to 2.5 inches, CitraZoy at 1 to 1.5 inches. For both, UF/IFAS says to mow often enough that you never remove more than a third of the blade at once. See reel mowing vs. rotary for the details.
What do they cost installed?
St. Augustine sod (ProVista, Floratam, Seville or Palmetto) is $2.00 per sq ft installed. CitraZoy and Empire zoysia are $2.15 per sq ft installed. Other zoysias such as Zeon, Geo and Palisades are quoted on site. Every install includes our 60-day establishment program: a written watering schedule, and I check rooting at days 7, 14, 30 and 60. Use the sod calculator for a ballpark.
Our recommendation by yard type
- Shaded lots under oaks: ProVista or Seville St. Augustine. Floratam only where it gets at least six hours of direct sunlight.
- Sunny yards with kids and dogs: CitraZoy or Empire zoysia.
- Estate front lawns where finish matters: reel-cut CitraZoy.
- Mixed sun and shade: often both, each where it fits. That is right plant, right place.
Get a recommendation for your yard
I walk the property, check light, soil and irrigation, and tell you which grass belongs where. Call or text (407) 687-3322. See also: best grass for Zone 9b · zoysia cultivar library · ProVista St. Augustine · CitraZoy zoysia · Oviedo sod installation · Winter Park sod installation
Frequently asked questions
Is zoysia or St. Augustine better in Central Florida?
It depends on the yard. St. Augustine (ProVista, Seville, Palmetto) is better for shade. Zoysia (CitraZoy, Empire) is better for sun and foot traffic and gives a finer, manicured look.
How much does St. Augustine vs. zoysia sod cost installed?
St. Augustine is $2.00 per sq ft installed and CitraZoy or Empire zoysia is $2.15 per sq ft installed. Zeon, Geo and Palisades are quoted on site.
Can you reel-mow St. Augustine?
No. St. Augustine is always mowed with a rotary mower at 3.5 to 4 inches (2.5 inches for dwarf types like Seville).
Which grass handles shade better?
Most St. Augustine cultivars have very good shade tolerance per UF/IFAS, except Floratam. Among zoysias, Zeon and Geo are among the more shade-tolerant.
Is zoysia drought tolerant?
Zoysia browns and goes dormant quickly without water and greens back up when watering resumes. Neither grass stays green through a dry spell without irrigation.
