Info hub · Sod · Updated 2026-10-03
Choosing sod: fescue, Bermuda, Zoysia, or centipede
Compare sun, traffic, winter color, and maintenance before choosing a grass or cultivar.
Tall fescue: winter color and some shade
Tall fescue fits many Piedmont lawns with sun or moderate shade. It grows in cooler weather and can thin in a hot, full-sun August. Pennington Signature Series is one tall-fescue option we install when the supplier has it. No turfgrass thrives in deep shade or in a spot that stays wet.
Bermuda, Zoysia, and centipede
TifTuf and Tifway Bermuda fit sunny lawns that get wear. They go dormant in winter and need regular mowing. Compadre and Zeon Zoysia make denser, slower turf when the site has enough sun. Centipede can suit a lower-input sunny lawn and is a poor fit for heavy traffic or compacted clay.
Standing water and soil prep decide whether any of these hold. Fix the grade before the pallet is ordered.
Common questions
Which sod is best for a shady Raleigh yard?
Tall fescue is usually the shade-tolerant option. Bermuda and Zoysia want sun. Deep shade is often a planting question, not a sod question.
Will Bermuda stay green in winter?
No. Bermuda, Zoysia, and centipede go dormant. Tall fescue keeps more winter color and has different summer needs.