Athletic field managers are frequently perplexed when it comes time to select the best turf surface for playability, safety and traffic tolerance for their athletic fields. The choices for most quality playing turfs in Texas are limited to a few grass species: Bermuda, Tall Fescue, and Zoysiagrasses. In each of these species there are many cultivars or varieties to choose from, but as a whole each species has its own positives and negatives. For example Bermudagrass can provide a beautiful, dense, fine textured field with proper care, and when compared to zoysiagrass it has better traffic tolerance and recovers more quickly. But on the other hand it requires more water and fertilizer than zoysiagrass, so it may be a poor choice in the constraints of a budget or city water ordinance.
In a recent national turfgrass tall fescue variety evaluation trial, there were more than 125 different varieties entered. For most warm season grasses there are typically less than 10 varieties available to and suitable for athletic fields.
To assist managers with the process of grass selection, the following tables have been put together. These tables will allow the manager to select a grass species that would be best suited for their particular circumstances, desired level of care and quality, and location in Texas.
| Grass Species |
Shade Tolerance |
Water Requirement |
Traffic Tolerance |
| St. Augustine |
High |
Medium |
Low |
| Bermuda |
Very low |
Med.-Low |
High |
| Buffalo |
Medium |
Very Low |
Medium |
| Centipede |
Medium |
Medium |
Low |
| Tall Fescue |
High |
Medium |
High |
| Zoysia japonica* |
Med.-High |
Low |
High |
| Zoysia matrella* |
Med.-High |
Medium |
Medium |
| Grass Species |
Cold Tolerance |
Salinity Tolerance |
Disease Potential |
| St. Augustine |
Low |
Medium |
High |
| Bermuda |
Medium |
Med.-High |
Med.-Low |
| Buffalo |
High |
Medium |
Low |
| Centipede |
Low-Med. |
Low |
Low |
| Tall Fescue |
High |
Low |
Low |
| Zoysia japonica* |
High |
Med.-High |
Med.-Low |
| Zoysia matrella* |
Medium |
Medium |
Med.-Low |
| Grass Species |
Mowing Frequency |
Mowing Height |
Fertility Requirement |
Leaf Texture |
| St. Augustine |
5-7 days |
2.5-3.5" |
Medium |
Coarse |
| Bermuda |
3-7 days |
1.0-1.5" |
High |
Fine |
| Buffalo |
7-14 days |
2.5-3.0" |
Low |
Fine |
| Centipede |
7-14 days |
1.5-2.5" |
Low |
Coarse |
| Tall Fescue |
5-7 days |
2.5-3.0" |
Medium |
Coarse |
| Zoysia japonica* |
7-10 days |
1.0-1.5" |
Med.-Low |
Medium |
| Zoysia matrella* |
5-7 days |
0.5-1.0" |
Medium |
Fine |
* There are two species of zoysiagrass available to home owners, Zoysia japonica (a medium leaf grass that is well adapted for use in home lawns) and Zoysia matrella (a fine leaf grass that produces a very dense, beautiful turf, but may require more maintenance than the average homeowner is willing to provide)
