The short answer
Most Spring Hill lawns are St. Augustine, and it is still the best all-round pick, especially for a yard with some shade. Bahia is the low-cost, low-water choice for big sunny lots, common out toward Brooksville. Zoysia makes the densest, softest lawn and takes kids, dogs, and foot traffic best, but it costs more and fills in more slowly.
How they compare
| St. Augustine | Bahia | Zoysia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shade | Depends on the variety: Floratam wants sun, Palmetto takes more shade | Needs full sun | Good, varies by variety |
| Foot traffic | Poor | Fair | Good |
| Water | Needs regular watering in dry spells | Lowest; browns and goes dormant in a long drought, then recovers | Moderate; may need extra water in a long drought |
| Mowing height | 3.5 to 4 inches (dwarf types 2 to 2.5) | 3 to 4 inches | 1.75 to 2.5 inches for common types like Empire |
| Look | Wide blades, thick, deep green | Thinner and more open, seed heads in summer | Fine to medium blades, dense, carpet-like |
| Watch for | Chinch bugs | Seed heads need regular mowing in summer | Thatch buildup and large patch disease |
St. Augustine: the Spring Hill standard
Floratam is the most common St. Augustine in Florida and does best in full sun. Palmetto handles more shade, so it suits yards under oaks. UF/IFAS notes that St. Augustine does not hold up to repeated foot traffic, and that Floratam has largely lost the chinch bug resistance it once had. Keep it at 3.5 to 4 inches; more in how short to cut St. Augustine grass.
Bahia: the low-water option
UF/IFAS calls Bahia a low-maintenance grass that does well with little water or fertilizer and holds on in sandy, poor soil. In a long dry spell it turns brown and goes dormant, then greens up when the rain returns. It needs full sun, grows thinner than St. Augustine, and sends up seed heads all summer, so it needs mowing every week or two at 3 to 4 inches. It fits Hernando County’s one-day-a-week watering better than the other two.
Zoysia: the toughest underfoot
UF/IFAS lists zoysia’s strengths as shade, salt, and foot traffic. Empire is the most common zoysia in Florida. It is mowed shorter than St. Augustine, at 1.75 to 2.5 inches, with a sharp blade, and it builds up thatch over time. It costs more than St. Augustine or Bahia and takes longer to recover if it gets damaged.
Which one fits your yard?
- Mostly sun, normal family use: Floratam St. Augustine.
- Shade under oaks: Palmetto St. Augustine, or zoysia for moderate shade.
- Big lot, low water: Bahia.
- Kids, dogs, or a busy back yard: zoysia.
- Patching an existing lawn: match the grass that is already there, or the patch will stand out.
- In an HOA: check the rules first; some list the grass types allowed.
Getting it installed
Supreme Landscape lays St. Augustine, Bahia, and zoysia sod across Spring Hill and Hernando County, with a written watering plan for the first 60 days. The best months to lay it are in when to lay sod in Florida. Call or text 727-809-8150 for a free quote.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension: St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns; UF/IFAS Extension: Bahiagrass for Florida Lawns; UF/IFAS Extension: Zoysiagrass for Florida Lawns
