re: Complete Backyard Makeover - Zoysia or St. Augustine

I own a spraying business, so I deal with all types of warm season turfs. Zoysia hands down if your choices are between those two, however, Bermuda is the cheapest and easiest option!!! There's a reason the state and local municipalities spray roadsides with glyphosate/ 2,4-d mix...they're trying to encourage Bermuda to take over because it's extremely hardy and the amount of maintenance is minimal in that setting. Put bermuda in a lawn setting where it's mowed regularly and gets watered/rain 2x per week and you end up with a beautiful lawn. St Aug is prone to Brown Patch in Spring and Fall. It will thin during times of frequent rain...like we've had this summer. It doesn't tolerate traffic, so if you have a dog or kids, they will wear it thin and Bermuda or weeds will fill in the areas worn by foot traffic. Zoysia on the other hand is pretty disease and insect resistant. When planted next to St. Augustine, it will eventually take over the lawn. It does fairly well in traffic areas, though not as well as Bermuda. Like Bermuda, it grows via rhizomes and stolens, which adds to its resiliency when stressed.
To answer your question about sprigging, you're probably not going to be happy with the results because your going to be dealing with a lot of weeds until the lawn fills in. If your on a budget, seed with Bermuda. If not, sod with Zoysia.