| St. Augustine is warm season, perennial grass that is a widely used. A native grass of
tropical origin that extends from water marshes (salty & fresh), lagoon fringes, and
sandy beach ridges. Saint
Augustine grass grows from the Carolinas to the Texas Gulf coast and from
mid California down. This is one of the oldest coastal grasses and in its different
varieties and strains it has been found from the Carolinas to Australia and New Zealand.
Several coastal areas of Africa and all through the tropics St. Augustine can be found
growing. As long as moisture and soil requirements are met it makes for beautiful
lawns. It is a thick bladed grass and with good maintenance can produce a thick, beautiful
dark green lawn.
Requires full sun to moderate shade.
Adaptation: Areas of moist, semi-fertile soils,
high temperatures, coastal and bordering areas, sun and minimal shade.
St. Augustine grows quite well with a
starter fertilizer added into the soil at the time of planting and fertilization monthly
until fully established. Plenty of water on well draining soils with seasonal rains or
watering systems for full establishment. Once it is fully developed in areas of consistent
rainfall it grows rather well on its own, but further inland and in drought conditions it
will have to be watered and fertilized to maintain lush grow.
Bermuda Grass
Centipede Grass St. Augustine Grass
|
- Forms attractive, blue-green, low
growing turf
- Coarse textured
- Low wear tolerance
- Tolerant of alkaline soil and ocean
spray
- Bitterblue and Seville are the most
tolerant of shade; others need full sun
- Ideal pH 6.5 to 7.5
TYPE |
Warm season |
When
to Fertilize |
Spring, Summer, and Fall |
LIGHT |
Full sun to partial shade |
Mowing
Height |
2 to 3 inches |
| 1 |
1 |
Planting
Method |
Sod, plugs |
ST. AUGUSTINE IN THE LANDSCAPE
|
| St. Augustine is a favorite
grass in warm climates where the soil is sandy or alkaline. Its bluish-green color
persists longer into the fall than other warm-season grasses, and St. Augustine thrives in
high shade beneath tall pines. It is also the favored grass along the beach, where salt
air or brackish water can often give other grasses a problem. |
| St. Augustine is
the best warm-season grass for partial shade. Some selections such as Seville and
Bitterblue will grow in heavier shade. St. Augustine will grow in full sun, too. |
| St. Augustine lawn
will survive periodic droughts, but if you want it to look picture perfect, you will
probably need to provide extra water when dry spells last longer than a week. |
| St. Augustine
responds dramatically to being properly fed. Fertilize it right, and your St. Augustine
will "knit" itself into a tight turf that naturally resists weeds. A fertilizer
that contains iron will insure a maximum green color. |
BEAUTIFUL ST. AUGUSTINE,
SEASON BY SEASON
|
| You can have a
beautiful St. Augustine lawn by following an easy Step-by-Step Program. Together with
proper mowing and watering, these measures will help St. Augustine grow strong and
healthy. Spreading by
above-ground stems or runners, called stolons. The stolons need occasional edging to keep
them out of flower or shrub borders. Pieces of rooted stolon that are removed by edging
are easy to transplant and can be used to patch bare spots in the lawn. After
transplanting, be careful to keep them watered as the small pieces dry out quickly. |
SEASONAL STEP-BY-STEP
PROGRAM
|
| To get weed problems under
control, follow the Step-by-Step Program shaded in yellow. If your lawn is already
in good condition, follow the Step-by-Step Program shaded in green. You can start either
program during any season, but the key is to complete a full year. After a year you
will see marked improvements in your lawn. When applying any lawn care product,
always read the entire label first and follow directions. Be especially careful
with weed control products and only use products labeled for use on St. Augustine. |
Restoring St. Augustine
|
|
Maintaining St. Augustine
|
Step
1: Apply in late winter or early spring
- St. Augustine Weed and Feed
|
|
Step
1: Apply in late winter or early spring
- Lime (only if needed to raise pH)
|
Step
2: Apply in late spring or early spring
- Lawn Fertilizer for St. Augustine
- Insect Control, if needed
|
|
Step
2: Apply in late spring or early summer
- Lawn Fertilizer
- Insect Control, if needed
|
Step
3: Apply in late summer
- Lawn Fertilizer
- Insect Control, if needed
|
|
Step
3: Apply in late summer
- Lawn Fertilizer
- Insect Control, if needed
|
Step
4: Apply in fall
- St. Augustine Weed and Feed (in South Florida and South
Texas)
- Winterizer or Winter Conditioner
- Lime (only if needed to raise pH)
|
|
Step
4: Apply in early fall
- Winterizer or Winter Conditioner
- Lawn Fertilizer for St. Augustine (in South Florida and
South Texas)
|
|
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