• Florida is well-known for its hot summers, mild winters and abundance of sunshine. Grass in Florida thrives in these conditions, allowing homeowners to have a green lawn almost year-round. Central and north Florida can get cold during the winter, which some varieties of Florida grass can't tolerate. No matter where you live, there is a grass variety that will give you a lawn to be proud of.
  
  

Zoysia Grass

• Zoysia grass is tolerant of salt and shade, while its dense growth stands up to heavy foot traffic, as well as reducing the presence of weeds. Zoysia is grown mainly in north Florida, because of its high tolerance to cold. It can grow in almost any type of soil, as long as it isn't low in potassium. Using plugs or sprigs of zoysia may require two growing seasons to establish a lawn with thick grass. It's a high maintenance grass that is prone to developing thatch, a layer of plant material composed of roots, stems and grass shoots found between the soil surface and grass blades. The presence of nematodes and billbugs is controlled by using chemicals made for killing these pests. A regular schedule of fertilization and watering can reduce the chance for diseases such as brown patch, dollar spot and rust.
  
  

St. Augustinegrass

• The ability of St. Augustinegrass to grow in acidic inland soils and alkaline coastal soils, make it the most commonly planted lawn grass in Florida, according to the IFAS Extension at the University of Florida. St. Augustinegrass has a coarse texture, dense growth, isn't drought-tolerant and doesn't stand up to heavy foot traffic. Thatch is common in established lawns, especially when it's being given too much water and fertilizer. The pests most likely to affect this Florida grass variety are chinch bugs, mole crickets and grubs, which can be controlled with pesticides. Diseases which may affect St. Augustinegrass are brown patch, root rot, gray leaf spot and take-all patch. For optimal results, establish a lawn in late fall, winter or spring in south Florida and in the spring or fall in central and north Florida.
  
  

Centipede grass

• Centipede grass is used for home lawns in central and north Florida because of its ability to tolerate cold weather. The slow growth and low fertilization requirements of centipede grass may appeal to homeowners who don't have a lot of time to spend caring for their lawn. The light-green color isn't for everyone and using too much fertilizer to make the grass dark-green weakens it, leaving the grass susceptible to disease. Two-lined spittlebugs are a major pest of centipede grass, but can be controlled with pesticides. Another major pest is ground pearl insects, which can't be controlled through the use of pesticides. The centipede cultivar "Hammock" is heat-tolerant and can be grown in South Florida.