Blade & Mow Height
Blade: Medium blade, 6 to 8 mm
Mow: 2.5 to 3.5 inches (lower than Floratam)
St. Augustine Sod Variety
CitraBlue Sod in Louisiana
CitraBlue is the newer premium St. Augustine from the University of Florida. Better drought tolerance, better shade tolerance, and a deep blue-green color that stands out from older varieties. Available now from Louisiana sod farms.
- Cut Fresh Per Order
- Statewide Delivery
- Contractor Pricing
What Is It?
CitraBlue Sod Explained
CitraBlue St. Augustine was released by the University of Florida in 2019. It was bred for improved drought tolerance, improved shade tolerance, and a distinctive blue-green color that distinguishes it visually from Floratam and Palmetto.
Best fit: homeowners who want a premium upgrade over Floratam. CitraBlue handles less water, less sun, and recovers from stress faster than the older standards. The deep blue-green color is the visual signature. Mixed-sun and partially shaded yards across south and central Louisiana suit it well.
Where CitraBlue does not fit: budget-conscious builds where Floratam's lower price wins, or yards in deep dense oak shade (Palmetto and Trinity LS Zoysia handle that better). CitraBlue is the right pick when you want the newer premium with proven UF breeding behind it.
At a Glance
CitraBlue Specs
Quick-reference card. Blade, mow height, sun, shade, drought, traffic, salt, pH, and USDA zone.
Sun & Shade
Sun: 4+ hours of direct sun
Shade: Strong shade tolerance, second only to Palmetto
Drought & Traffic
Drought: Excellent, best in class for St. Augustine
Traffic: Moderate to high
USDA Zone
Zones 8-10
Salt Tolerance
Low to moderate
Soil pH
5.0 to 7.5
Louisiana Fit
Where CitraBlue Fits Best in Louisiana
CitraBlue is gaining traction across Louisiana as the upgrade pick over Floratam. Available from Woerner Turf and other licensed growers, it suits premium residential, custom builds, and homeowners who want the newer drought + shade improvements. The blue-green color reads distinctively in the landscape and pairs well with darker mulches and contemporary architecture.
Common in: Premium custom builds across Lafayette River Ranch, Baton Rouge Highland Road and Bocage, Mandeville and Covington custom homes, Houma upscale subdivisions, Shreveport Spring Lake and Provenance
The LSU AgCenter turfgrass guide backs the regional fit data above. Send us your zip and we will tell you straight whether CitraBlue fits your specific yard.
Pricing
CitraBlue Sod Pricing & Pallet Coverage
Pallet Coverage
A standard pallet covers approximately 450 square feet, cut as 16x24 inch slabs (typical, varies slightly by farm). Most yards in Louisiana run 1 to 4 pallets.
Half Pallets
Half pallets available for small repairs and patch jobs (approximately 225 square feet). Minimum order applies for delivery, not pickup.
Contractor Pricing
Contractor and builder pricing kicks in at five or more pallets per order. NET 30 terms for qualified accounts. Recurring delivery scheduling for ongoing jobs.
Care Schedule
How to Care for CitraBlue Sod
- Watering during establishment: Water twice a day for the first 10 days. Then daily for week 2. Established CitraBlue handles drought stretches better than Floratam, needing closer to 0.75 inches per week vs Floratam's 1 inch.
- Mow height range: Maintain at 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Lower than Floratam, which gives a tighter residential look. Sharp blades, weekly mowing in peak growth.
- Fertilizer schedule: 3 applications per year. Spring, early summer, late summer. Less fertilizer than Floratam due to slower vertical growth. Iron-supplemented feeds enhance the signature blue-green color.
- Pre-emergent timing: Apply in mid-February (south LA) or early March (north LA). Standard timing same as Floratam.
Honest Comparison
CitraBlue vs The Closest Alternatives
Two side-by-side reads so you can pick straight, not guess.
CitraBlue vs. Floratam
CitraBlue is the premium UF 2019 upgrade. Better drought, better shade, distinctive blue-green color, slightly tighter mowing height. Floratam is the proven workhorse with broader supply and lower price. Pick CitraBlue if you want the upgrade. Pick Floratam if you want the proven default.
CitraBlue vs. Palmetto
Both handle shade better than Floratam. Palmetto has decades of proven performance and slightly better deep-shade tolerance. CitraBlue is newer, has better drought tolerance, and a distinctive color. Both cost a premium over Floratam. Either works for partially shaded south LA yards.
Common Questions
CitraBlue Sod FAQ
Yes. CitraBlue is grown by licensed UF cooperators in Louisiana including Woerner Turf at Donaldsonville and Ethel. Supply is solid across south and central Louisiana. North Louisiana availability is more limited but improving.
CitraBlue typically costs 15-25 percent more per pallet than Floratam due to the newer release premium and licensing. Contractor pricing kicks in at five or more pallets. Call for current pricing tied to your zip code.
CitraBlue has a distinctive blue-green color due to its UF breeding. It reads visually different in the landscape compared to the standard medium-green of Floratam or Palmetto. The color is consistent year-round when properly fertilized with iron-supplemented feeds.
CitraBlue has good chinch bug tolerance but Floratam was bred specifically for chinch bug resistance and remains the genus standard. If chinch bugs are the dominant concern in your area, Floratam is the safer pick. If drought, shade, and color are the priorities, CitraBlue wins.
Ready to Order CitraBlue Sod?
Fresh CitraBlue sod cut from our family of Louisiana sod farms and delivered direct to your driveway. Same-week delivery. Contractor pricing on volume.
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 6 PM · Statewide delivery · Contractor pricing on volume