Backyard with Centipede grass and garden beds in a shaded NC lawn. Contact Honeycutt Landscaping Inc. for easy residential lawn care.

Summary Highlights:

  • Learn which warm-season grasses perform best in NC’s soil and climate.
  • Compare Bermuda Grass, Zoysia Grass, and Centipede Grass for maintenance and look.
  • Get climate-appropriate turf selection tips for your yard.
  • Expert guidance from the residential lawn care team at Honeycutt Landscaping Inc.

North Carolina’s diverse climate and soil conditions make it the perfect home for warm-season turf varieties. But with so many lawn seed types available, how do you know which one fits your yard’s sun, traffic, and upkeep needs?

This turf guide breaks down the three most popular grasses—Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede—so you can make an informed residential lawn care decision for your property.

Understanding North Carolina’s Lawn Climate

North Carolina falls into USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7 and 8. This means our region benefits from hot summers, moderate rainfall, and relatively mild winters. These factors make warm-season grasses the top choice for residential lawn care in Union County and surrounding areas.

Ideal turf for NC should be:

  • heat and drought-tolerant
  • resistant to disease and pests
  • adaptable to clay-heavy soils
  • low-maintenance for busy homeowners

As part of our residential lawn care services, Honeycutt Landscaping Inc. helps homeowners select and maintain turfgrass that thrives in our unique climate—delivering a lush, resilient lawn that complements your overall outdoor space.

1. Bermuda Grass: Fast-Growing and Sun-Loving

Bermuda Grass is a go-to for homeowners who want a thick, fast-growing lawn that recovers quickly from damage. It’s ideal for full-sun areas and handles foot traffic well.

Key Features:

  • bright green color and dense texture
  • thrives in 6+ hours of direct sunlight
  • high drought tolerance
  • requires frequent mowing during peak season

Bermuda is best suited for open front lawns, play areas, or any high-use spaces. Its ability to bounce back makes it one of the most popular turf choices in NC residential lawn care.

2. Zoysia Grass: Elegant, Soft, and Low-Maintenance

Zoysia Grass is slower to establish than Bermuda but makes up for it with a soft feel and outstanding weed resistance. This warm-season turf adapts well to partial shade and needs less frequent mowing.

Key Features:

  • deep green color with soft, fine blades
  • tolerates moderate shade and clay soils
  • excellent drought resistance once established
  • slower growth = less maintenance

Zoysia is perfect for homeowners who want curb appeal without constant upkeep. It’s an excellent fit for both sunny and mixed-light yards.

3. Centipede Grass: The “Lazy Lawn” for NC Homeowners

Centipede Grass is often called the “lazy man’s grass” because it requires very little to thrive. This slow-growing turf is well-adapted to acidic soils, making it a top pick across eastern North Carolina.

Key Features:

  • apple-green color and coarse blade texture
  • grows well in sandy or acidic soil
  • very low nitrogen and mowing needs
  • poor traffic and shade tolerance

Centipede is best for low-traffic areas like side yards, backyard gardens, or vacation properties. It fits perfectly into low-maintenance, climate-appropriate turf selection plans.

How to Choose the Best Grass for Your Yard

To select the right turf for residential lawn care, ask yourself:

  • How much sun does my yard get?
  • Will kids or pets use the lawn often?
  • Do I want soft grass underfoot or dense, durable turf?
  • Am I looking for fast growth or low upkeep?

Honeycutt Landscaping Inc. helps NC homeowners match their yard’s conditions with the best turfgrass. Whether you’re starting from seed or laying sod, we can help you install and maintain a lawn that looks great year-round. A healthy, well-chosen lawn is also the foundation of many popular backyard landscaping ideas in North Carolina—from play areas and outdoor dining zones to fire pit seating and garden borders.

Ready to upgrade your lawn with turf that fits your yard’s needs and NC’s climate?

Honeycutt Landscaping Inc. provides residential lawn care and installation services across Union County with expert insight into the best warm-season grasses.

FAQs for About Lawn Care

At Honeycutt Landscaping Inc., we personalize our Fertilization & Weed Control program to fit each customer’s specific needs. We take into account the type of grass you have in your lawn and provide the exact nutrients and weed control required for each season. Our team consists of local experts who understand the unique characteristics and requirements of lawns in our community, ensuring that your lawn receives care as if it were our own.

Recognizing lawn fungus is key to maintaining a healthy lawn. Typically, lawn fungi thrive in the moistest areas of your yard. Signs of a fungal issue include patches of grass that turn brown and die off. These patches can start small but may spread rapidly, indicating a serious fungal infection. If you notice these symptoms, it’s important to address the issue promptly to prevent further damage.

At Honeycutt Landscaping Inc., we advise annual core aeration for all types of lawns to promote healthy grass growth and soil health. However, when it comes to seeding, it depends on the type of grass in your lawn. Cool-season grasses, like Tall Fescue, benefit from yearly seeding to maintain their lushness. On the other hand, warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine, are well-adapted to warmer climates. These grass types naturally go dormant in winter and revive as temperatures rise, eliminating the need for annual reseeding. IF they are hybrids, however, you cannot reseed these.

At Honeycutt Landscaping Inc., we provide preventative and post-infestation treatments depending on the situation of your lawn. Preventative treatments happen in the spring to keep armyworms at bay when they are active, which is typically late spring to late summer. Post-infestation treatments are performed one time if you already have an infested lawn to quickly stop armyworms from doing more damage.

At Honeycutt Landscaping Inc., we provide preventative and post-infestation treatments depending on the situation of your lawn. Preventative treatments happen in the spring to keep armyworms at bay when they are active, which is typically late spring to late summer. Post-infestation treatments are performed one time if you already have an infested lawn to quickly stop armyworms from doing more damage.

To check for grubs, look for these signs:

Brown, Dry Patches: Your lawn may have irregular brown spots.
Loose Grass: If the grass lifts easily from the soil, it might indicate grub activity.
Visible Grubs: Check under the turf for small, c-shaped grubs. More than 10 per square foot is a sign of serious infestation.

If you notice these signs, contact Honeycutt Landscaping Inc. for prompt treatment.

Our Fire Ant Control program targets the entire colony, including the queen, using a strategic approach:

Granular Bait: We use a special granular bait that worker ants mistake for food.
Colony Distribution: These worker ants take the bait back to their nest, sharing it with the queen, larvae, and other ants.
Effective Results: The bait, though appearing as food, is lethal to the ants. It typically takes about 6-8 weeks to completely eliminate all fire ant mounds in your lawn.

This thorough method ensures the entire colony is addressed, providing long-lasting relief from fire ants.

Moles and voles dig in yards looking for food that insectivores love including: grub worms, earthworms, and other insects they find in their tunnels while digging. This is a sign of a healthy ecosystem, however. They are active year-round because do not hibernate.

At Honeycutt Landscaping, Inc, we treat plant and flower beds twice a year for both pre and post-emergent weed control treatment plans. Each individual yard needs will determine the plan that is unique to each customer.

Honeycutt Landscaping provides knowledge and experience based on over 20 years of experience in the field. We take an individualized approach with each job ensuring the vision that the customer wants is met. Owner, Brandon Honeycutt, also has a degree in Forestry Management, pesticide licensing, and licensing in landscape contracting.

 About Honeycutt Landscaping, Inc. – A Trusted Landscaping Company in North Carolina

With over 24 years of professional experience, Honeycutt Landscaping, Inc. is a licensed and insured landscaping company proudly serving Union County and the Piedmont Region of North Carolina, including Wingate, Monroe, Indian Trail, Waxhaw, Marvin, Stallings, and surrounding communities. Founded by Brandon Honeycutt, a seasoned expert with a degree in forestry management and extensive field knowledge, our team blends science, strategy, and superior service to bring every outdoor space to life.

As a full-service landscape contractor, we specialize in:

🌿 Landscaping Design & Installation: Custom plant selection, hardscapes, soil-specific planning, and drainage solutions
🌱 Landscape Maintenance: HOA and commercial upkeep, pruning, mulching, and seasonal cleanups
🏡 Lawn Care Services: Fertilization, aeration, weed control, and lawn health management for residential and small commercial properties
❄️ Snow Removal: Reliable winter weather services for industrial, medical, and commercial facilities

We proudly serve a diverse client base, including homeowners, property managers, HOAs, and business owners who depend on professional results that enhance curb appeal, support functional outdoor living, and deliver year-round landscape reliability.

Honeycutt Landscaping holds multiple credentials that demonstrate our commitment to regulatory compliance and safety, including:

✅ NC Landscape Contractor License #3161
✅ NC Landscape Corporate License #CL.1889
✅ NC Pesticide License #28785
✅ NC Septic Installer Grade IV #11873

From residential landscape makeovers to commercial site maintenance and storm-ready snow solutions, we approach every project with precision, transparency, and pride. We tailor every landscape installation and maintenance program to match the unique needs of North Carolina’s soil types, climate conditions, and seasonal changes, ensuring long-term results and customer satisfaction.

Whether you’re planning a full-yard transformation, need help with lawn health, or want a responsive partner for multi-site commercial property upkeep, Honeycutt Landscaping, Inc. is the landscaping company North Carolina trusts for quality workmanship, local knowledge, and honest service you can count on.