Rolly’s grass filter
Choose by sun. Break ties by use.
Too dark for turf: Below roughly four hours of useful light, a bed or mulch is a better bet than another pallet.
Turf traits: Texas A&M AggieTurf on Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine.
Measure sunlight before choosing grass
Count the hours of useful light across the lawn during the growing season. Check shaded areas separately from open areas.
Bermuda suits full sun. St. Augustine tolerates more shade, while Zoysia’s tolerance varies by cultivar. Deep shade may need a bed or mulch.
Compare the three grass types
| Bermuda | St. Augustine | Zoysia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun it needs | Six or more hours | More shade tolerant, but still needs useful light | Full sun to part shade |
| Shade tolerance | Poor | Highest of these three | Varies by cultivar |
| Foot traffic | Strong tolerance and rapid recovery | Lower traffic tolerance | Good, but slow to recover |
| Water once rooted | Drought tolerant | Site-dependent | Varies by cultivar |
| Mowing | 1-2 in, weekly in season | 2.5-3.5 in, weekly in season | 1-2 in, weekly in season |
| Sod only, from | $269 / pallet ($0.60 / sq ft) | $259 / pallet ($0.58 / sq ft) | $375 / pallet ($0.83 / sq ft) |
| Installed with prep | from $850 / pallet | from $850 / pallet | from $850 / pallet |
| Cold tolerance | Good | Weakest of the three | Good |
Sun, shade, traffic, and water rankings follow Texas A&M AgriLife’s AggieTurf species pages, listed under Sources. Delivery runs $95 to $250. Prices are the current per-pallet prices on the sod page, which change with farm and fuel costs.
Bermuda for sunny, active yards
Bermuda tolerates regular traffic and recovers quickly during active growth. Poor shade tolerance limits where it works.
Sod-only pallets start at $269 / pallet ($0.60 / sq ft). Installed with preparation, it runs from $850 / pallet.
Compare the Bermuda varieties.
Give repeated traffic a path
A durable route can protect the same corner or fence line from daily wear. Keep dogs off loose sod.
St. Augustine for sites with more shade
St. Augustine has broad leaves and better shade tolerance than the other two grass types. It still needs adequate light.
Traffic and cold tolerance are weaknesses. Account for dog routes and winter exposure when choosing a cultivar.
Sod-only pallets start at $259 / pallet ($0.58 / sq ft). Installed with preparation, it runs from $850 / pallet.
Compare the St. Augustine varieties.
Winter color changes above living roots
Dormancy can change leaf color while the plant remains alive. Inspect roots and crowns before deciding a patch has failed.
Zoysia for dense turf with slower recovery
Zoysia tolerates traffic and generally needs less fertilizer. Damaged areas recover slowly, and maintenance needs vary between cultivars.
Sod-only pallets start at $375 / pallet ($0.83 / sq ft). Installed with preparation, it runs from $850 / pallet.
Keep at least two-thirds of the leaf
Remove no more than one-third in a single cut. Reduce an overgrown lawn’s height over several mowings.
Plan sunny and shaded areas separately
Some lawns use Bermuda in full sun and St. Augustine where there is more shade. The grasses can remain visibly different.
Choose a clear boundary and plan maintenance for each area. Send us the sunlight pattern if you need help with the layout.
Measure the lawn in simple sections
Measure rectangles and triangles separately. Add the planted areas, then allow for cuts before rounding to whole pallets.
Build a shortlist
- Sunny, active yard: Compare Tifway 419 and TifTuf Bermuda.
- Darker Bermuda color: Look at Celebration.
- Some shade: Compare Raleigh and Palmetto St. Augustine, then confirm the available light.
- Zoysia lawn: Compare Palisades, Empire, and Emerald for the site and mowing equipment.
Use the grass picker to compare the available choices.
Questions people ask
Which grass needs the least water in DFW?
Bermuda is drought tolerant, but actual watering needs depend on the cultivar, soil, weather, and maintenance. Compare site requirements before choosing by water use alone.
Can Bermuda grow in shade?
Bermuda has poor shade tolerance and generally needs full sun. More watering cannot compensate for inadequate light.
Is Zoysia worth the extra cost?
Zoysia may suit your site if you value dense turf and lower fertilizer needs. Consider its higher purchase price and slower recovery from damage.
Sources
This guide is part of The complete guide to sod in Dallas-Fort Worth.
