By DoMyOwn staff
Your St. Augustine turf will thrive with these quick care tips.
St. Augustine grass is a beautiful warm-season turf that is popular in tropical and subtropical areas as it is both salt-tolerant and sun-loving. In the United States, St. Augustine is commonly found in Florida, Texas, California, and Hawaii, but it can also be grown in other states.
The turf is thick and carpet-like and in the warmest climates will stay green year-round. In slightly cooler climates, the turf will go dormant in the fall and winter before greening up again in the spring.
St. Augustine grass requires routine maintenance to remain healthy throughout the year. Mowing frequently is especially important as the grass grows quickly in warm weather. When mowing St. Augustine, keep grass blades 3-4 inches long and mow every 5 to 14 days, depending on the season. If your turf goes dormant, wait until the grass greens up again in the spring before mowing. If your grass does not go dormant it will need to be mowed year-round.
As St. Augustine turf is thick, it can easily build up thatch, a layer of dead grass and organic matter that can prevent the soil from receiving air flow and moisture from watering. Dethatching the turf once a year in the spring with a dethatching rake or mechanical dethatcher will help remove this debris and improve the health of the lawn. Dethatching also makes the lawn less susceptible to many turf insect infestations.
Aerating your soil will also help promote growth. This process breaks up tightly compacted soil, allowing it to receive nutrients for stronger grass roots. Aerate in the spring after the last frost of the year. Wait until the turf is 75% green and soil temperatures are above 65 degrees.
Fertilizing your lawn will give it the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Use an at-home soil test or reach out to your local extension office to test your soil. Then, based on the recommendations of the test, apply fertilizer to the entire lawn in the early spring after the last frost and every 6 to 8 weeks during the summer and early fall. If your lawn is too acidic, lawn lime will help raise the pH of your soil.
Healthy St. Augustine turf is very thick, allowing it to suppress weed growth naturally. However, if the turf ever becomes stressed or encounters a drought and thins, weeds can creep in.
Aside from good non-chemical care practices, the best defense against weeds is to apply a pre-emergent herbicide application in the early spring after the last frost of the year for spring weeds, and in late summer or early fall for winter weeds. A post-emergent herbicide can be used on any weeds that do may still appear. Be sure to check your herbicide label for temperature restrictions as some herbicides can burn turf when applied in high heat. Check the label to ensure the herbicide you choose is safe for use on St. Augustine and for your variety of St. Augustine.
Fungi and lawn diseases like gray spot, root rot, and brown patch are common in St. Augustine due to the humidity and warm temperatures of locations where this grass thrives. Applying a preventative fungicide treatment will help keep at and can control current fungal diseases. Chinch bugs, mole crickets, and grubs are some of the pests that can be found in St. Augustine turf. Chinch bugs are especially troublesome as they suck moisture from grass blades, making the lawn appear to be affected by drought. Be sure to select an insecticide that is labeled for your target pest and appropriate for your lawn size to control pest infestations in your turf. This will improve your lawn's health and appearance.
Refer to the lawn care and pest control guides at DoMyOwn dot com for additional information on how to care for your St. Augustine lawn.
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