- Bahiagrass: Easiest to maintain<\/a><\/li>
- Bermudagrass: Best for foot traffic<\/a><\/li>
- Centipedegrass: The lazy man\u2019s grass<\/a><\/li>
- St. Augustinegrass: For blue-green lawns<\/a><\/li>
- Zoysiagrass: Dense and carpet-like<\/a><\/li>
- How to pick the best grass type for your North Carolina lawn<\/a><\/li>
- Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Bahiagrass: Easiest to maintain<\/span><\/h2>
![\"bahia](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bahiagrass.jpg\")
Forest and Kim Starr<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Bahiagrass is a low-maintenance grass with deep roots that help it survive drought conditions – perfect for coastal North Carolina\u2019s hot summers. Its root system means it establishes well in sandy soils with limited water retention. It doesn\u2019t have many insect or disease problems, and thatch doesn\u2019t bother it. However, it doesn\u2019t tolerate shade and heavy foot traffic.<\/p>
Read our article on growing bahiagrass<\/a> if you want a bahiagrass lawn.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options <\/strong>
Pensacola Bahiagrass:
\u2013 SeedRanch Pensacola Bahiagrass Seed<\/a> (10 lb. bag)
\u2013 Hancock’s Pensacola Bahia Grass Seed – Coated – 5 lbs.<\/a>
Argentine Bahiagrass:
\u2013 Scotts Turf Builder Argentine Bahiagrass<\/a> (10 lb. bag)<\/p>Bermudagrass: Best for foot traffic<\/span><\/h2>
![\"closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bermudagrass.jpg\")
Forest & Kim Starr<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> If you have many kids or plan on having barbecues often, Bermudagrass is the best choice. It does well under foot, so frequent use doesn\u2019t bother it. It also tolerates salt spray and has no issues with heat or drought, which is why it\u2019s perfectly suited to coastal North Carolina. However, it needs frequent mowing due to its fast growth rate.<\/p>
Learn more about how to grow and care for bermudagrass<\/a> in our article if you\u2019re curious.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options: <\/strong>
<\/strong>\u2013 Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass<\/a> (10-lb. bag)
\u2013 Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass<\/a> (50-lb. bag)<\/p>Centipedegrass: The lazy man\u2019s grass<\/span><\/h2>
![\"centipedegrass\"](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/centipedegrass.jpg\")
Michael Rivera<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Centipedegrass is a moderately drought and shade tolerant grass that doesn\u2019t require much maintenance, hence its nickname \u201clazy man\u2019s grass.\u201d It grows well in coastal North Carolina\u2019s sandy soils. However, it doesn\u2019t like heavy foot traffic and may go dormant during drought.<\/p>
If you want to learn more about centipedegrass, see our guide to growing centipedegrass<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Seed Options: <\/strong>
<\/strong>\u2013 <\/strong>Gulf Kist Coated Centipedegrass Seeds<\/a> (1 lb.)
\u2013 Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Centipedegrass<\/a> (3.75 lbs.)
\u2013 TifBlair Centipedegrass<\/a> (5-lb. bag)<\/p>St. Augustinegrass: For blue-green lawns<\/span><\/h2>
![\"St.](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/St.-Augustine.jpeg\")
Forest & Kim Starr<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Heat-loving and shade tolerant, St. Augustinegrass tolerates salt quite well, making it ideal for beachy North Carolina areas like Wilmington and Cape Hatteras. It comes in sod, sprigs, or plugs, and it crowds out most weeds. It has a fast growth rate, but needs frequent mowing as a result.<\/p>
To learn more about St. Augustinegrass, see our guide to growing St. Augustinegrass<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Plug Options: <\/strong>
<\/strong>\u2013 Seed Ranch St Augustine Seville Grass Plugs<\/a> (2 Trays)
\u2013 Seed Ranch St Augustine Floratam Grass Plugs<\/a> (2 Trays)<\/p>Zoysiagrass: Dense and carpet-like<\/span><\/h2>
![\"zoysiagrass\"](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/zoysiagrass.jpg\")
Forest & Kim Starr<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> A slow-growing, warm-season turfgrass, Zoysiagrass tolerates drought, some cold and salt, which is great for the coast. It also stands up well to heavy foot traffic, but it takes a while for it to recover if it\u2019s damaged because it\u2019s a slow grower.<\/p>
Read our guide to growing Zoysiagrass<\/a> for more.<\/p>
How to pick the best grass type for your North Carolina lawn<\/span><\/h2>
Not every grass is suitable for every lawn. Various factors influence what grass to buy, such as how much maintenance you plan to give it, how much foot traffic it can withstand, and how shady your yard is.<\/p>
And if you want to know the best grass types for all of North Carolina, we refer you to our article on the best grass seed for North Carolina<\/a>.<\/p>
Grass Plug and Seed Options: <\/strong>
<\/strong>\u2013 Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
<\/a>\u2013 Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)<\/a>
\u2013 Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)<\/a>
\u2013 Zenith Zenith Grass Seeds<\/a> (1\/8 lb. of seeds)<\/p>Maintenance needs<\/span><\/h3>
All lawns need a little TLC to grow green and lush, but some need more than others. Consider how much time you plan on lawn care before picking a grass. <\/p>
- High-maintenance: <\/strong>Bermudagrass<\/li>
- Moderate maintenance: <\/strong>St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass<\/li>
- Low-maintenance: <\/strong>Bahiagrass, centipedegrass <\/li> <\/ul>
Foot traffic tolerance<\/span><\/h3>
If you plan on having kids and pets run around in the yard, or have barbecues and parties, pick a grass with high foot traffic tolerance.<\/p>
- High foot traffic tolerance: <\/strong>Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass<\/li>
- Moderate foot traffic tolerance: <\/strong>St. Augustinegrass<\/li>
- Low foot traffic tolerance: <\/strong>Bahiagrass, centipedegrass<\/li> <\/ul>
Shade tolerance<\/span><\/h3>
Trees and other landscape features can bring shade to your yard, and your lawn will need to adapt to it. Pick a grass with high shade tolerance if you have a shady yard.<\/p>
- Moderate shade tolerance: <\/strong>Centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass<\/li>
- Low shade tolerance: <\/strong>Bahiagrass, bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass<\/li> <\/ul>
Frequently asked questions<\/span><\/h2>
When\u2019s the best time to plant grass seed in coastal North Carolina?<\/span><\/h3>
The best time to plant grass seed in coastal North Carolina is between mid-April and early June, when soil temperatures reach 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>
When should I fertilize my coastal North Carolina lawn?<\/span><\/h3>
The best time to fertilize your coastal North Carolina lawn is in April.<\/p>
Hiring a professional<\/span><\/h2>
With factors like maintenance, foot traffic tolerance, and shade tolerance to take into account, choosing the right grass for your lawn can be tricky.<\/p>
But we can help. Whether you live in Wilmington, Greenville, Fayetteville, or somewhere else in coastal North Carolina, our LawnStarter pros<\/a> can give you the lawn you want at a price you can love.<\/p>
Main Image Credit: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D.<\/a> | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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- Low shade tolerance: <\/strong>Bahiagrass, bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass<\/li> <\/ul>
- Moderate foot traffic tolerance: <\/strong>St. Augustinegrass<\/li>
- Moderate maintenance: <\/strong>St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass<\/li>
- Bermudagrass: Best for foot traffic<\/a><\/li>