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St Augustine grass ( Stenotaphrum secundatum ) is a fast growing , widely - adapted , quick season grass .
It maturate in a broad assortment of soils and pH levels , comes in several cultivars and is the most common turf weed plants grown and used throughout the province of Florida .
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It is also used throughout the southeastern United States . Continue read to learn more about renovate old lawn with St. Augustine eatage .
Properly maintained St Augustine lawn will produce a dense , lush rug of medium to dark dark-green / racy - green colouring making it count like a fresh lawn .
These warm - season grasses do best grow in copious , well - drain soil , in a warm humid mood .
photograph to frigid temperatures should be circumscribe , without excessive or intense duration .
The Advantages of St Augustine Sod
Disadvantages of St Augustine Lawns
Cultivars of St Augustine
There are several cultivar available . Below is a listing of the more popular ones used in Floridalawn aid and across the Southeast .
Standard Cultivars
Dwarf Cultivars
St Augustine Grass Maintenance and Care Tips Calendar
How To Care For St Augustine Grass March Through May
As spring arrives and your St Augustine begins to turn green , it ’s time to set out mow the grass .
During the winter months your eatage may turn brown and tempt you to set your lawn lawn mower or sod stonecutter lower to take away all the “ dead ” sess before the combat-ready grow time of year .
Bad option … St Augustine spreads by stolons or staunch on top of the ground . mop the pot at a downcast mowing altitude can scalp and damage the stolons , it also discourages deep a thick root system .
Mow your supergrass often , at 2.5 to 4.0 inches pout height , removing no more than ⅓ of the leaf vane . By mowing more often during the grow season you ’ll avoid build up of thatch bed include smoke clippings . Unless the supergrass coming out of the mower is depart clumps in the yard , collect the grass is not demand .
Before apply starter fertilizer or organic matter to your lawn it is ordinarily a good idea to get your lawn ’s filth test ( every 2 – 3 years is hunky-dory ) . Apply lime if the ground test recommends it . employ 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square metrical unit about 3 week after your grass begins to green up . Do not use more than 3 pound of atomic number 7 per 1,000 sq ft per year .
See count on Fertilizer below
During the spring time of year St Augustine seldom needs irrigation due to the the spring rains . However , if the lawn is established utilize irrigation on an “ as - necessitate ” cornerstone .
If folio blades turn a blue - gray-haired color , look wilt or curled , begin to close over or show foot - print from walk in the grass – it ’s clip for irrigation .
See Determining Irrigation Rates below
If crab grass has been a trouble , apply preemergence weedkiller judge for St Augustine grass by March 1 – ( before in warmer areas like South Florida )
Rememberif grass seed , weed seed or weed are actively turn , preemergence herbicides will not control them from further seeding .
When using postemergence herbicides , mind St. Augustine Gunter Grass is sensitive to certain weed killer like 2,4 - D. Never hold postemergence herbicides ( e.g. , atrazine ) , when the melodic phrase temperatures are over 85 ° degree Fahrenheit or the turf and soil control surface are under wet stress .
practice and put on postemergence herbicide with caution and ALWAYS survey the instructions on the label directions .
check that you have correctly identified the weed before treating and sens with a post or preemergence chemical substance .
During the spring and fall months you may find oneself brownish smoke , in circular temporary hookup called “ brown patch ” fungus . Brown bandage ordinarily happens during humid , warm conditions and is fueled by overweening nitrogen . Fungicides may furnish control .
A better “ method acting of ascendancy ” is to reduce irrigation and nitrogen , better drainage and air movement through the soil .
The number one insect pests for St Augustine grass is the southern chinch bug . If you notice yellow slur or drouth like symptom in gay locations – check for chinch bug . Lawn chow louse controlcan also be a trouble .
Take a coffee metallic element can and take away the top and bottom . Push the umber can into the area you think may have bedbug bugs .
satisfy the can with piss . If chinch bugs are present – they should float . Generally , it’s advised to hire a professional to treat your St Augustine turf for chinch hemipterous insect .
If your yard pauperism of some lawn restoration , the spring time is the prison term to re - sod the area or plant stopple on 6″ to 12″ inch centre .
June Through August
During the hot summertime months , unless your lawn is stressed due to drought conditions , mow your gage every 5 - 7 24-hour interval . If drouth conditions live , mop less often .
Also during the “ grow ” summertime month , apply 1/2 to 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet . However , because of the rapid growth during this time of the class , I wish to split the program in half .
utilize the first software around mid - June and the second software around the source of August .
Remember : DO NOT hold more than 3 lbs per thousand square feet per class .
water your lawn betimes in the sunrise is always recommended . St Augustine supergrass can survive for farseeing menstruum without rainfall or irrigation . However , good moisture in the dirt will facilitate your St Augustine lawn retain its coloration during the summer months . A hebdomadal tearing of 1 to 1 ¼ column inch should allow the water to penetrate 4 – 6 inches into the soil and provide plenteous moisture .
Lawn in flaxen soils will need more frequent watering . When water lawn in stiff soils , call up the soil “ accepts ” the water lento .
Water until the “ overspill ” starts , water system the next zone and come back and irrigate the zone again until the water has been able to perforate the clay territory to th desired depth .
If Gunter Wilhelm Grass looks dark and dismal - gray , wilted , and curl up or fold foliage blade and foot - print show , your St Augustine is say it ’s time to water .
Never forget : you could help prevent or decoct pestis and other problems with right irrigation practices .
Areas , discover to heavy traffic – foot or machine – could perhaps benefit from lawn aeration . A core aerator will descend in handy .
Check for Teach . If thatched roof depth exceeds 0.75 inch , the best control is to dethatch your lawn or remove the excess with a dethatching political machine such as a power rake .
Early summer is thebest time for any lawn aerationor cultivation as the St Augustine has plenty of time to find .
Do a thoroughgoing walk of life over your lawn looking for any drought like symptoms or yellow billet showing up in gay localisation .
If they are come up – check for any Cimex lectularius bug activity . Use the “ coffee tree can ” method described above . If chinch hemipterous insect are found – treat the domain . It ’s recommend to try a lawn professional for intervention .
To control summer perennial and yearly broadleaf weeds apply post - emergence herbicides . Always follow the label and counsel in app . ensure the post - emergence herbicide is labeled for St Augustinegrass .
DO NOT Apply any herbicides if :
Check for large piece or bare spots and greyish leaf spot disease .
If your lawn is in indigence of some renovation , replant any large area in Late - May , re - sod the areas or plant life hoopla on 6 to 12 inch centers .
September Through November
Continue mowing St. Augustinegrass following the same road map as June - August , pout every 5 to 7 day and less when the lawn is drouth stressed .
Generally , St Augustine sens can be fertilized between 2 - 6 fourth dimension per year , all depending on your location .
Due to the climatic range and geographical location of where St. Augustine grass growsfall fertilizer applicationsdiffer depending on locating .
In northern areas where St Augustine will go abeyant , no fertilizer is needed . However , in south Florida , a year - round fertilisation programme is acceptable .
implement calcium hydrate if a soil trial recommend .
The exception : To prevent desiccation new imbed lawns or sod should be watered during this period .
Do regular checking for big patch fungus .
Check for crabgrass . If present make plan and mark your calendar to use a pre - emergence herbicide in the leaping .
St Augustine Lawn Care December Through February
During this period mowing will most belike not be take , except in the very southerly areas like south Florida . However , you may do some hefty lawn clean up by , picking up any rubble ( sticks , rock , leaves , dead pasturage , etc . ) .
Fertilizer should not required during this period . If you have not taken a soil sampling ( every 2 - 3 old age is fine ) and had your soil prove , now is a honorable meter to find out your lawn ’s nutrient constitution and necessity .
Be certain to intend your lawn species . Also , labs are sluggish so a dirt run during this period is perfect .
Any newly planted lawns or sod should be irrigated and watered to foreclose drying up . Again bet on location , watering may be call for .
Do not keep the dirt wet as dollarweed and sedges flourish in soused soil conditions .
For the control of clammy chickweed , Lamium amplexicaule and others apply a broadleaf herbicide label for St. Augustine grass .
Always brook by the recording label directions cautiously on charge per unit and always use with caution .
Tips On Calculating Fertilizer & Irrigation
To shape the amount of plant food product required to apply 0.5 pound of atomic number 7 per thousand square foundation , divide 0.5 by the first number ( % ) in the fertilizer ratio .
For example , for a 20 - 5 - 5 fertilizer ( containing 20 % N ) , disunite 0.5 by 0.20 ( NOTE : 20 % = 0.20 ) .
The result is 2.5 pound of product per thousand square foot .
To determine the measure of water cater by a sprinkler scheme , put several straight - sided cans ( for instance , tuna Pisces the Fishes or computed tomography food ) in each irrigate zone . start the zona and record the amount of time required to meet the cans to a level of 1/2- or 3/4 - inch .
Each geographical zone will most in all probability vary in the amount of sentence required to produce the same amount of water .
Now program into the irrigation controller the fourth dimension needed to create the required irrigation rates to make the sprinkler organisation automated .
Sources : Univ Arkansas|Univ Florida
Images : Sod Solutions
