Centipede Grass vs St Augustine
Verdict: St Augustine tolerates more shade and salt but needs more mowing, feeding and pest care. Centipede grass is the lower-maintenance lawn for sun, acidic soil and light foot traffic.
Both are warm-season grasses that spread by surface runners and suit the Southeast and Gulf Coast. They look different: centipede has finer leaves about 3 to 5 millimeters wide and a light yellow-green color, while St Augustine has coarse, wide blades and stems. Cultivars of St Augustine vary a lot in shade, cold and pest tolerance.
The trade-off is effort versus tolerance. Centipede wants very little fertilizer and is easy to overfeed. St Augustine handles shade and salt spray better, but it needs regular feeding, higher mowing and watching for chinch bugs. Neither stands up to heavy foot traffic, so plan paths or play areas on other surfaces.
Centipede Grass vs St Augustine side by side
| Trait | Centipede Grass | St Augustine |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf texture | Medium, leaves about 3 to 5 mm wide | Coarse, wide leaves and stems |
| Typical mowing height | 1.5 to 2.5 inches | 3.5 to 4 inches (dwarf types 2 to 2.5) |
| Shade tolerance | Fair; needs more sun than St Augustine | Best of the warm-season grasses, but still needs about 4 to 6 hours of sun; Floratam is weaker |
| Fertilizer need | Low; about half the nitrogen of other lawn grasses | Moderate to high; 2 to 6 applications a year by region |
| Soil preference | Acidic, pH 4.5 to 6.5; yellows above about 6.5 to 7 | Soil test advised; yellowing on soils above pH 7 |
| Salt tolerance | Poor | Relatively good |
| Foot traffic | Fair to poor | Poor |
| Cold tolerance | Poor freeze tolerance | Varies by cultivar; Raleigh is hardy, Floratam is not |
| Main pests | Ground pearls and nematodes | Southern chinch bug; some cultivars at risk of viral and fungal disease |
Last verified October 2026. Typical values; individual animals, products and local prices vary.
Which one fits you
Centipede Grass
- Your lawn gets mostly full sun and you want to mow and fertilize as little as possible.
- Your soil is acidic, in the pH 4.5 to 6.5 range, and you do not want to adjust it.
- You prefer a lower-cut, finer-textured, light green lawn.
- You are willing to accept a slow-growing grass that fills in gradually.
St Augustine
- Your yard has tree shade, and you need the most shade-tolerant warm-season option.
- You live near the coast, where salt spray or irrigation salt is a concern.
- You want a thick, coarse, deep green lawn and will mow at 3.5 to 4 inches.
- You will keep up fertilizer and watch for chinch bugs.
How this works
The quiz turns your yard conditions, such as sun, upkeep, salt and mowing, into answers that point to one grass. The cue under each question gives the published reason, so you can see which answers carry the most weight in the final result.
Figures come from University of Florida and Clemson extension guidance. Cultivars, local climate and soil change results, especially for St Augustine, so confirm which cultivar and recommendations apply in your state before you buy sod, plugs or seed for your lawn.
Where these numbers come from
The figures and defaults on this page are based on:
- University of Florida IFAS: Centipedegrass, Shade, cold, mowing height, fertilizer, pH, salt and pests for centipedegrass. (checked October 2026)
- University of Florida IFAS: St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns, Cultivar shade and cold tolerance, mowing, salt, traffic and chinch bugs. (checked October 2026)
- Clemson HGIC: St. Augustinegrass, Shade need, mowing and winter injury notes for St. Augustinegrass. (checked October 2026)
- Clemson HGIC: Centipedegrass, Low fertility, mowing height, color and thatch notes for centipedegrass. (checked October 2026)
Lawn guide. Recommendations vary by region and cultivar; check your state extension service.
Frequently asked questions
Which grows better in shade, centipede or St Augustine?
St Augustine. It is the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass, though it still needs roughly 4 to 6 hours of sun, and some cultivars such as Floratam do poorly in shade. Centipede is only fair in shade.
Is centipede grass lower maintenance than St Augustine?
Yes. Centipede needs about half the nitrogen of other lawn grasses, and overfeeding causes thatch and winter dieback. St Augustine needs more feeding and more attention to chinch bugs.
Which handles cold better?
Neither is reliable in hard freezes. Centipede has poor freeze tolerance, and St Augustine varies by cultivar. Raleigh is the hardier type, while Floratam is poor in cold.
Can I walk on these lawns a lot?
Not much. Centipede is fair to poor under traffic and St Augustine is poor, with University of Florida guidance noting it does not hold up to repeated foot or vehicle traffic. Use stepping stones for paths.
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