Best Way To Grow St Augustine Grass - ), also called Charleston grass, is a coarse-textured, spreading grass popular in the warmer regions of the southern United States. It turns brown with frost in the fall and slowly turns green in the spring. It is the least cold tolerant of the warm season turfgrasses. See 1211, St. Augustinegrass for additional care and cultivar selection information.
The St. Augustinegrass is a broad-bladed, warm-season sod grass adapted to the warmer regions of the southeastern United States.
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Establishing an annual maintenance calendar for ongoing sod management year after year can be difficult in a state with such a diverse climate as South Carolina. Therefore, it is important to monitor temperatures and apply the necessary management practices based on that year's climate. Important times to monitor the weather are late winter or early spring when the turf comes out of dormancy and early fall when the first frost is predicted. Last frost dates and first frost dates can vary by several weeks from coastal areas of South Carolina to the Upstate foothills.
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This sod maintenance calendar can be used on grasses planted throughout the state; however, management practices may need to be adjusted based on the climate of the year and the region where the turf is grown.
Mowing: Mow the lawn slightly above the usual summer mowing height. The mower setting should be between 2 and 2½ inches high. Be careful not to set the mower too low as it can damage the lawn. This height reduction should be done before the lawn turns green, which usually occurs in late April or early May. If possible, use a mower with a collection box to collect clippings and remove dead material left over from hibernation. Be sure to use a sharp blade. Alternatively, the lawn can be raked by hand to remove excess dead leaf material from the surface of the lawn.
A sharp mowing blade will cleanly cut grass blades instead of tearing leaves. Dull blades tear rather than cut the grass and make the grass more susceptible to disease. Sharpen the blade monthly or as needed during the growing season.
The date of the first green-up of the grass can vary a little. In the coastal and more southern regions of South Carolina, this usually occurs in April, but further inland it may not be until mid-May. St. John's wort usually turns green. Augustine and burns several times in late winter or early spring due to late frosts. Refer to 1205, Mowing Lawns for more information on mowing
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Thatch Removal: If a layer of thatch becomes a problem, use a dethatcher or vertical mower to remove it. For St. Augustinegrass, consider scarifying when thatch exceeds ½ inch. For best results, use a dethatcher with 2 or 3 inch blade spacing set to a depth of ¼ inch after the turf is fully green. Do not use an electric rake with a blade spacing of 1 inch, as this can cause serious damage to the sod. Use a bag lawnmower or hand rake to collect and properly dispose of the uprooted grass material. For more information on thatch removal, see 2360, Controlling Thatch in Lawns.
Aeration: Core aeration is the process of punching small holes in turf and soil to reduce compaction, allowing air to reach the root system. This will help correct problems associated with poor penetration and drainage. Once the threat of spring frosts has passed and the lawn is fully green, lawn aeration can be combined with scarifying to reduce soil compaction and thatch problems.
However, if a pre-emergent herbicide is applied in late February to mid-March, delay any growth of soil-disturbing practices until before the next pre-emergent herbicide application date. Pre-emergent herbicides create a barrier that prevents weed seeds from germinating. Disturbing the soil after planting allows weeds to break through this barrier. For more information on aeration, see 1226, Turf Cultivation and , 1200
Weed control: To control crabgrass, goosegrass, sandpur and other summer annual weeds, apply a pre-emergent herbicide early in the year. Estimated application time is mid-February in coastal and central areas and mid-March in Piedmont/mountain areas. A second application is needed about 8 to 10 weeks after the first application to control weeds for a season.
When And How To Plant St. Augustine Grass For A Lush Lawn
If necessary, apply a post-emergence herbicide to control existing winter weeds. In general, do not apply a post-emergent herbicide to the lawn once the turf has started to turn green. If there is a weed problem and the grass starts to turn green in warmer temperatures, wait until the grass is fully green before applying a post-emergent herbicide. Meanwhile, mow and collect the weeds. The grass of St. Augustine is sensitive to some herbicides, such as 2,4-D, not only during spring planting, but also during hot summer temperatures. Follow label directions for using herbicides and be careful with these times. For more information on weed control, see 2310, Control of Weeds in Warm Season Lawns.
Insect Control: Cool winter temperatures usually help prevent insect problems. When temperatures begin to warm in late spring, check for mole cricket and chinch bug activity. If either insect is observed, apply an insecticide to the lawn when the damage becomes too extensive. If damage is minimal, monitor activity and wait before applying insecticide. This is not the best time to apply insecticide due to cold soil temperatures and reduced insect activity. However, early spring warming can lead to both mole cricket and chinchbug activity. Heavy populations can be reduced during this period with well-timed insecticide treatments. See 2155, Mole Cricket Management in Turfgrass or 2487, Chinch Bugs for more information on mole cricket or chinch insect control.
If grubs (the white grubs of beetles, such as Japanese beetles) have been a problem in recent years, keep them at bay by cutting a foot-square piece of sod on three sides and peeling it back . If more than six larvae are found under the sod patch, apply a lawn insecticide labeled for grub control according to label directions. For more information on white caterpillar management, see 2156, White Caterpillar Management in Turfgrass.
Fertilization: Fertilization in St. Augustinegrass should be based on soil test results, and now is a good time to test the soil. However, nitrogen fertilizers should not be used during this period. If new sod growth is encouraged by early spring fertilization and is followed by late frosts, significant lawn damage can result. See 1652, Soil Test for instructions on how to properly submit a soil sample.
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Watering: Water the lawn during the dormant season to prevent excessive drying. Winter dehydration can be a problem during dry winters. Watering to prevent drought stress can help prevent winter sod loss.
Most parts of South Carolina receive enough winter precipitation to keep lawns from drying out in the winter. However, this is not always the case. Monitor winter rain regularly and water the turf if there is no measurable rain for 3 to 4 weeks. This is especially important if warm, clear days are preceded by days expected to be 20 degrees or colder. The added soil moisture helps keep the growing points of the turf warmer, preventing crown dieback.
To manage a lawn, it is important to know the top soil structure of the soil. Sandy soils do not hold moisture because it drains freely and dries out more quickly. Clay soils, however, retain moisture longer. Make sure the lawn does not stay too wet if the lawn has clay soil. Leaving the soil saturated all winter can cause many other problems. A soil probe can be used to monitor soil moisture. For more information, see 1207, Watering Lawns and 1225, Conservative Turfgrass Irrigation.
Mowing: The perfect height of cut for St. Augustine grass can range from 2½ to 4 inches depending on the specific location and management regime and is best determined by growing conditions. Lawns in shady areas perform better when mowed to a height of 3 to 4 inches.
When & How To Plant & Grow St. Augustine Grass
During environmental stress due to high temperatures or lack of rain, raise the cutting height ½ to 1 inch until the stress is relieved. Always mow with a sharp blade and use a mulching mower, which decomposes the clippings into the turf. The blade should be sharpened regularly - usually about once a month or at least before the start of the growing season. If the bag gets soil, especially sand, during mowing, the blade may need to be sharpened more than once a month.
Fertilization: Always fertilize and add lime or sulfur based on soil research. The St. Augustine grass grows best at a pH that
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