5 Best Grass Types for Miami

One thing is for sure: Miami is known for its beautiful beaches. Packed with non-stop nightlife, diverse cultural arts, and luxury shopping malls, it’s no surprise this colorful city is a resident’s dream. But thanks to Miami’s tropical monsoon climate, residents enjoy their backyards and water sports year-round. Show off a thick green lawn you are proud of with one of these five best grass types perfect for South Florida’s humid climate.       

  1. Bermudagrass
  2. St. Augustinegrass
  3. Zoysiagrass
  4. Bahiagrass
  5. Centipedegrass

5 Warm-Season Grasses for Miami

You can always count on South Florida to be humid. The tropical climate is characterized by warm temperatures, frequent rain, and thunderstorms. With average winter temperatures in the mid-70s, Miami is best suited to warm-season grass varieties. These grass types grow best when temperatures hover between 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, making them ideal for the southern United States. 

1. Bermudagrass

lush green bermuda grass grown in a lawn

Photo Credit: Pexels

Miami’s tropical climate creates ideal conditions for weeds. Bermudagrass is a hardy, fine-textured variety with deep roots that make it resistant to heavy traffic, drought, and Florida weeds like goosegrass and buttonweed. The aggressive turfgrass recovers from damage quickly, making it an ideal choice for athletic fields, golf courses, and even home lawns.

Bermudagrass is medium to dark green with a dense appearance. It establishes quickly, thrives in the sun, adapts to most soils, and is salt-tolerant. 

Classification: Warm-season grass

Spreads by: Stolons and rhizomes

Shade tolerance: Poor — needs full sun

Drought resistance: High 

Foot traffic tolerance: High

Maintenance needs: Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate; develops thatch easily; needs regular fertilization 

Mowing height: 1-2 inches

Potential for disease: Good resistance to disease; prone to spring dead spot, dollar spot, leaf spot, large patch, and sheath spot 

Potential for pests: Low resistance; prone to white grubs, hunting billbugs, mole crickets, army worms, sod webworms, and nematodes

Soil pH: 6-6.5

Soil type: Tolerates most soil types

Other notes: Bermuda spreads aggressively via its stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems) and can out-compete many weeds. The downside is that it also can be a nuisance and is sometimes considered invasive. You’ll often find it has tunneled underground into flower beds and spread into neighboring lawns.

2. St. Augustinegrass

bubble on saint augustine grass

Photo Credit: Jay Morgan / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

Palmetto, to Miami it’s a giant bug and a cultivar of St. Augustinegrass. This dense, blue-green grass is the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass variety. It is easy to establish and quick-growing. Unfortunately, it does not stand up to heavy traffic and is susceptible to chinch bugs. 

St. Augstinegrass loves the warm, Florida weather and tolerates the salty air. It is coarse-textured but less dense than bermudagrass. Bitter Blue, a cultivar of St. Augustinegrass, is chinch bug resistant and popular in many areas. 

Classification: Warm-season grass

Spreads by: Stolons

Shade tolerance: Moderate shade tolerance, among the highest of any warm-season grass; some cultivars are more shade tolerant than others

Drought resistance: Moderate

Foot traffic tolerance: Moderate

Maintenance needs: Moderate to high mowing frequency

Mowing height: 2.5-4 inches (mow dwarf varieties from 2.5-3 inches; standard cultivars from 3-4 inches; mow tall in shade)

Potential for disease: Moderate to high; prone to gray leaf spot, large patch, and take-all root rot

Potential for pests: High; prone to chinch bugs, cutworms, mole crickets, grass loopers, army worms, grubs, and nematodes

Soil pH: 6-7.5

Soil type: Tolerates many soil types; prefers moderately fertile and moist (not waterlogged) soils; not a highly drought-tolerant grass; doesn’t tolerate soil compaction

Other notes: Native to coastal areas across the world and prefers moist soils and mild winters; will thrive in more inland areas provided growing conditions are met; good salt tolerance; will go dormant during winter in all but the southernmost regions

3. Zoysiagrass

lush green zoysia grass in a lawn

Photo Credit: Russbach / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Zoysiagrass is recognizable for its dense appearance and dark green color. This hardy grass shares all of the popular characteristics of bermudagrass but is more shade-tolerant. Cultivars of zoysiagrass are superb choices for homes, athletic fields, and golf courses, standing up to heavy traffic, low mow heights, drought, cold, and shade. 

These grass varieties have low fertilization requirements and grow densely and slowly, blocking out weeds. Zoysiagrass is one of the lowest-maintenance South Florida grasses. It is salt-tolerant, disease-resistant, and not prone to insect infestation.

Classification: Warm-season grass

Spreads by: Stolons and rhizomes

Shade tolerance: Tolerates light to moderate shade 

Drought resistance: High

Foot traffic tolerance: High

Maintenance needs: Low to moderate nitrogen requirement; moderate mowing frequency

Mowing height: 1-2.5 inches

Potential for disease: Low; large patch, root decline, spring dead spot, rust, curvularia, and lead spot can occur

Potential for pests: Low; most common pests are mites, grubs, mole crickets, hunting billbugs, army worms, chinch bugs, sod webworms, and nematodes

Soil pH: 6-6.5

Soil type: Well-draining, some cultivars more tolerant of a wide range of soils than others

Other notes: Moderately salt tolerant; cut with sharp mower blade; mow taller if grass is in partial shade 

4. Bahiagrass

close up of beautiful bahia grass in a lawn

Photo Credit: Forest and Kim Starr / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Most South Floridians love the feel of sand between their toes, and the resilient variety Bahiagrass agrees. This grass loves sandy soil and is drought-resistant, thanks to deep roots. It grows slowly and requires less mowing than other varieties. 

Bahiagrass has a coarse texture and light-green color. It requires little fertilization and most Miami homeowners do not need supplemental irrigation for this variety to thrive. Unfortunately, it does not stand up to salt spray, heavy traffic, or shade.  

Classification: Warm-season grass

Spreads by: Rhizomes

Shade tolerance: Low — needs full sun

Drought resistance: High

Foot traffic tolerance: Low

Maintenance needs: Growth rate is moderate to high, so plan to mow often during the growing season

Mowing height: 3-4 inches

Potential for disease: Low; dollar spot may occur

Potential for pests: Low; mole crickets may cause problems

Soil pH: 5.5-6.5

Soil type: Tolerates most soils, does well in sandy loam

Other notes: Bahiagrass is grown in the Gulf Coast and Southeastern U.S; does best in acidic soils — not the best grass if your soils are naturally alkaline; doesn’t tolerate saltwater

5. Centipedegrass

beautiful green centipede grass in lawn

Photo Credit: James Becwar / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Centipedegrass is a low-maintenance and slow-growing cultivar, requiring little mowing, fertilization, or water to remain green. The light-green grass loves the sandy, acidic soils of South Florida, but the smooth, flat blades do not handle heavy traffic, shade, cold, or herbicides well. Centipedegrass is prone to pests and disease when overwatered.  

Classification: Warm-season grass

Spreads by: Stolons

Shade tolerance: Moderate — at least six hours of full sun per day

Drought resistance: Low to moderate

Foot traffic tolerance: Low

Maintenance needs: Low mowing frequency

Mowing height: 1.5-2 inches

Potential for disease: Moderate; prone to centipedegrass decline and iron chlorosis

Potential for pests: Moderate; prone to ground pearl insects, grubs, mole crickets, sod webworms, lawn caterpillars, and nematodes

Soil pH: 5-6

Soil type: Acidic, infertile, at least moderately good drainage (very dense, clay soils produce poor results)

Other notes: Low maintenance once established; greenish-yellow color (like a green apple) during the growing season; low fertilizer and mowing requirements; not a salt-tolerant grass

FAQ About Miami Grass Types

When does grass grow in Miami?

Warm-season grasses grow in temperatures as low as 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Miami’s tropical weather allows for year-round growth most years. 

When should I plant grass seed?

You should plant your grass seed between April and July. This gives the seed a full growing season before the cold winter. 

What are the signs of chinch bug infestation?

Chinch bugs love the sun. They are small and difficult to spot. Watch for yellow or brown patches in your lawn and contact a lawn care professional if you see signs of activity. In South Florida, chinch bugs love many grass types, including bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and zoysiagrass. 


Choose Plant and Grass Varieties for Your Miami Landscape

South Florida grass varieties thrive in warm weather, salty air, and sandy, acidic soil. Different varieties have different characteristics and needs, so choose a variety that works well for your space and lifestyle. 

Your grass comes together with plants, flowers, and outdoor furniture to complete your home landscape. There are many hurricane-resistant landscaping options available for Miami, so you can spend less time worrying about your yard and more time enjoying the pristine beaches before hurricane season rolls around. For even more low-maintenance plants, check out our list of the best native plants that will thrive in the tropical climate.

A tropical oasis is within reach so long as you provide the rum runner. Contact a Miami lawn care pro today to keep your lawn and landscaping green and chinch-bug-free. 

Main Image Credit: Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

About Wikilawn

Wikilawn’s mission is to provide the best resources and information to help you enjoy your outdoor spaces the way you want. Whether you are a DIY, lawn-loving, gardening guru, or someone who wants help in picking a local lawn care professional, we can smooth your path to a beautiful backyard!

About Wikilawn

Wikilawn’s mission is to provide the best resources and information to help you enjoy your outdoor spaces the way you want. Whether you are a DIY, lawn-loving, gardening guru, or someone who wants help in picking a local lawn care professional, we can smooth your path to a beautiful backyard!