St. Augustine is the most common lawn grass in Central Florida: UF/IFAS Extension calls it "the most commonly used lawn grass in Florida," with good salt tolerance and some cultivars offering better shade tolerance than other warm-season grasses. Zoysia and Bahia are the main alternatives for Orlando yards. USA Sod offers several St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bahia varieties in the Orlando market: check your ZIP code for what's available now.
Orlando's humid, subtropical climate with mild winters means frost is rare and the growing season is long, which is part of why St. Augustine does so well here.
St. Augustine: the default for most Orlando yards
UF/IFAS Extension describes St. Augustinegrass as producing "a green to blue-green dense turf that is well adapted to most soils and climatic regions in Florida," with "relatively good salt tolerance" and certain cultivars offering "better shade tolerance than other warm-season grass species." That combination of shade tolerance and adaptability is why it is the default pick for yards with a mix of sun and tree cover.
The same UF/IFAS publication also notes that St. Augustine "goes into winter dormancy in parts of the state and turns a brown or tan color until springtime," which is normal and not a sign of a dying lawn. For more on that pattern across grass types, see why sod arrives brown: dormant vs. dead.
In the Orlando market, USA Sod commonly offers Bitter Blue St. Augustine, CitraBlue St. Augustine, Floratam St. Augustine, and ProVista St. Augustine. Availability changes week to week, so check your ZIP code for today's list.
Zoysia and Bahia as alternatives
UF/IFAS Extension's species comparison table rates Zoysiagrass shade tolerance as "Good to excellent," the same rating it gives St. Augustinegrass, with a "Medium" maintenance level. USA Sod commonly offers Empire Zoysia in the Orlando market. The same table rates Bahiagrass drought tolerance as "Excellent" with a "Low" maintenance level, which is why it shows up on lower-input yards; USA Sod commonly offers Bahia sod in this market as well. See types of Zoysia grass for more on how Zoysia varieties compare.
Ordering for your Orlando yard
Orlando pallets run 400 square feet in USA Sod's quotes, smaller than some other markets, so how many pallets of sod do I need is worth a read before you estimate your order. Sod ships in full pallets only, since it is cut to order. Delivery is a flat $200 no matter how many pallets you order, and installation is offered in the Orlando market, priced per pallet and varying with order size; see how much does sod installation cost.
Ready to see real pricing for your Orlando address? Design your lawn or call 1-866-886-2763, and check our markets page to confirm coverage near you.
