Chinch bugs and white grubs are the two most serious insect pests in St. Augustinegrass lawns. What really counts for this grass is the soil’s pH. Plant St. Augustine grass during summer. Torpedo grass is a hard-to-control weed in beds and nearly impossible to control in St. Augustine grass. One of the disadvantages of St Augustine grass is its poor wear tolerance. Herbicides containing 2,4-D should be used with care, as St. Augustinegrass is sensitive to this herbicide. Watering St. Augustine Lawns Their large leaves mean they have higher water needs than grass, meaning during a drought, the weeds will absorb any available water before your turf can get to it. Thatch (a surface layer of undecomposed plant stem and roots) is likely to form on St. Augustinegrass lawns that are heavily fertilized and watered. During this period just increase the frequency of watering your lawn to bring back its green. Apply postemergent herbicide as needed. Wetting agents will in no way be a cure to heavy water logged lawns, but should instead be considered as an aid in the repair of the problem in addition to lawn aeration, and as an aid to help water circulate more freely in the soil for as long as they remain active. Insect damage, especially from chinch bugs, looks much like drought damage in grass. The best mowing height for St. Augustine is 2.5” – 4”. If the soil adjustment was only minor, then coring etc should work equally as well for the Saint Augustine lawn. Wetting agents can also be applied by turf professionals. Therefore, it may be desirable to apply preemergent herbicides for annual winter weeds when the average soil temperature drops to 70 ºF. If the thatch layer is more than 3 /4 inch thick, it can be removed gradually by mowing the lawn with a vertical mower or scalping the lawn (cutting with a rotary mower at its lowest setting) in April or May when the grass is healthy and actively growing. St. Augustinegrass lawns should experience no detrimental insect activity during the winter. Continue this cycle until the appropriate amount of water has been applied to wet the soil to a depth of 6 inches. As a result of this, the Saint Augustine lawn can become constantly water logged, which in turn will make the turf soft and weak and easily damaged from normal wear and tear conditions, the lawn will be far more susceptible to moss, bare patches, diseases, weeds and pests, and will always be unsightly from the resulting recurring damage. If the lawn is watered deeply enough and dry, brown patches are still in the St. Augustine grass, then water may not be the problem. Unlike many other warm-weather grasses, St. Augustine can handle moderate shade, most soil types, and higher salt levels. Real repair for water logged soils can only ever be achieved by changing the profile of the soil from one which retains water to one which disperses water more freely, and the best way to achieve this is with the use of lawn aeration, and addition of coarse sand. Covering many different lawn care topics relating to most aspects of lawn care practices for St Augustine grass lawns. Your county Extension agent can give you an estimate of that date in your area. We advize the use of a contractor due to the weight and difficulty of the machine for new users to safely operate. Continue the fertilizer program begun in the spring, applying 3 /4 to 11 /2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet every 8 to 10 weeks. These plugs will need to be removed, either by the use of a rotary mower to catch them and pick them up, or by raking them up and disposing of them. crabgrass and goosegrass), apply preemergent herbicides (which control weeds as the seeds germinate). Example: If the sprinklers sprayed 1 /2 inch of water in 30 minutes and wet the soil to a depth of 3 inches, you would need to apply 1 inch of water to wet the soil to a depth of 6 inches. You should, therefore, establish your lawn in mid-summer when conditions are great for the growth and spread of this grass species all over your lawn. One persistent myth is that St Augustine needs less water in the winter. St. Augustine grass is a common choice for lawns because of its low maintenance and quick growing cycle. Because once we get beyond those few inches - we're right back to the cause of the problem, which is the same clay or silt based soil which is still causing exactly the same problem. Apart from sometimes being a little thirstier, there are no real other differences in watering a St Augustine lawn than for any other lawn variety. Even though St. Augustinegrass is normally dormant in winter, you may still need to water it periodically when the weather is warm, dry and windy. Check the lawn while watering. After two weeks, soak the lawn in up to half an inch daily. Be sure to read Can You Dethatch St. Augustine Grass? Give it enough water to dampen the first 1 in (2.5 cm) of soil. Then don’t water again until the grass shows symptoms of drought stress—a dull, bluish color, rolled or folded leaves, and footprints that do not “spri… In areas of heavy traffic, aeration can help eliminate compacted soils. The mower setting should be between 2 to 2½ inches high. When you do water, wet the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Do not cheat to water your grass, if you cannot water honestly on the days and times allowed and get your sod to grow, you need to remove some grass not use more water. This helps the grass settle into the ground, but avoid using too much water. Follow the same recommendations as for March through May. Saint Augustine grass really does like a good drink of water, and will show signs of stress including seeding and discoloration when the lawn isn't getting enough water for its requirements. During the summer months, healthy St. Augustine can only go 1 to 5 days between irrigation events, based on the heat index (Myers & Horn, 1969). Use a core-aerating machine when the grass is actively growing. New-style irrigation controllers allow you to water several times a day, so you can program them to prevent run-off. If you water adequately to bring it back to life, you may need to do a total of about 1 ½ inches of … A thatchy lawn is prone to drought and insect damage. Although your St. Augustine grass may go dormant in winter, you still need to water it on days that are warmer, windy and dry. St. Augustine grass requires approximately ¾ inch of water two times a week. Turn on the sprinklers or irrigation system for 30 minutes. St. Augustine doesn’t need a lot of water, it just needs it consistently. The timing of preemergence herbicide application will vary greatly in Texas due to the onset of soil-warming temperatures required for weed germination. They can come in the form of a granular agent which is spread by hand or a fertilizer spreader, or in liquid form which is sprayed onto the lawn. It grows well in nearly all soil types and tolerates shade, heat, salt and is drought tolerant. As a result of this, the Saint Augustine lawn can become constantly water logged, which in turn will make the turf soft and weak and easily damaged from normal wear and tear conditions, the lawn will be far more susceptible to moss, bare patches, diseases, weeds and pests, and will always be unsightly from the resulting recurring damage. To prevent yellowing caused by iron chlorosis, apply liquid or granular iron fertilizer throughout the growing season. You cannot let it dr… The result will be the lawn is then filled with thousands of holes, with the cores left sitting on top of the lawn. A small site where one man shares his love for and knowledge of Saint Augustine grass lawns. Wetting agents help soils to more freely circulate and flow water, and as such will allow a water logged lawn soil to more freely disperse of excess water in its profile. If the leaves on St. Augustine grass begin to show a slight curling, it is a sign they probably have received too much water. Consider spraying sulfate at a rate of 2 ounces to 3-5 gallons of water per 1000 square feet. Pay attention to the weather as well – if particularly hot and dry, water a little extra. “People get stingy with the water, especially when people are clamoring about a water shortage or drought time, and they’ll cut back on the water. The reason for this is that the tines which create the holes in the turf and soil can only go so deep, perhaps only an inch or few at best, and for heavy clay based soils this just will not do the job adequately. Stop watering and allow the soil surface to dry (30 minutes to 1 hour). When fall temperatures drop with the first frost or when water fails during a dry spell in July, your st. Augustine grass will naturally turn brown. Watering makes the ground more malleable and gives the roots of the St. Augustine grass plugs immediate moisture. Water logging in Saint Augustine turf is a soil drainage issue, so repairing soil drainage will be the primary focus of this article to fix this problem and try to bring our Saint Augustine lawn back to full health. Welcome to Saint Augustine Lawn Care. Winter annual grass and broadleaf weeds are not common in St. Augustinegrass. When you know how much water was applied in 30 minutes and how deeply that volume of water wet the soil, then determine how long you must water to wet the soil to a depth of 6 inches. It will, however, slow in growth as the soil drops in temperature. ... Place a rain gauge in your yard and use it to help you water enough and not … It explains how and when to use the product and how much to apply. Use a garden spade or a soil probe to find out how deeply the soil was wet during the 30- minute period. It happens to grow best in sandy soil, though, as this gives it enough drainage. High levels of soil phosphorus can also lead to deficiencies in iron and zinc. A: For an already healthy lawn, two – three times per week*. Much like Bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass can thrive in an array of soil conditions. For more information see the Web site at https://aggieturf.tamu.edu. The factors determining how quickly run-off occurs are the type of soil and the application rate of the sprinkler system. The grass should be watered after the fertilizer has been added, but don’t overdo it. Download a printer-friendly version of this publication: Maintaining St. Augustinegrass Lawns (pdf), View more Gardening & Landscaping information ». Rise and Shine (and Water). To maintain St. Augustine lawns with a dense green look proper, watering, and mowing, are always essential factors to be considered. In the first few weeks after putting down St. Augustine grass, your lawn will require a strict watering schedule of several light waterings per day. With an automatic irrigation system, change your timer to the new, shorter time. Water the turf deeply to achieve the right amount of water your turf needs. Fertilize overseeded lawns once in December and again in February with 1 /2 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, using a nitrogen-only fertilizer such as ammonium sulfate (21-0-0). If the grass is extremely short, too much energy will be put into growing new blades of grass and not enough energy will be put into growing the root system. Despite the benefits of St. Augustine grass, many homeowners opt to have their lawn maintained by a professional so they don’t have to … I water the grass weekly to keep St Augustine green and alive. It also requires nitrogen-rich soil which is important to keep in mind when choosing a fertilizer. Do not apply water faster than the soil can absorb it. Being a warm-season turfgrass, St. Augustine grows best during summer. St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a coarse, dense, fast-growing grass suitable in warm, humid climates. The probe will push through wet soil easily, but it is more difficult to push through dry soil. This is a process which is done by the use of a lawn coring machine, which can either be hired, or a contractor can be brought in to do the job for us. When appropriately cared for, St. Augustine Grass is dense enough to handle normal amounts of foot traffic and shield against weeds. These climatic conditions usually occur in spring about the time redbud and dogwood trees begin to bloom. Apply postmergent herbicides (which control weeds that have already sprouted) as needed. The best way to bring it back is to start watering it about 3 times a week. Plants make their food (sugars) in the leaf blades using sunlight. Our first approach to curing water logging is to core the lawn and soil. You can always test the soil’s pH level to see if it is too acidic or not acidic enough and treat accordingly with a lime treatment. Hello. If the grass does not have enough leaf blades left for photosynthesis the grass will die. The water should not pool on top of the sod or run off of it. If possible, use a mower with a bagger to collect the clippings and remove the dead material left from winter dor… Calculate the average depth of water of all the cans. Follow all instructions on the label. First, the lawn owner must judge for themselves whether the combination of lawn coring, coarse sand replacement and wetting agents will work for their own lawn environment. For soils which have major water logging problems, the lawn aerification process can be repeated once a year until the lawn and soil is fully draining and no longer retains excess water. Now for diseases, Augustine has a lot of disease/ pest and maintenance issues, but the most common are Grubs, Chinch bugs, Fungus and Thatch. Turn the water on early in the morning and again in the early afternoon. If St. Augustine grass is not maintained properly it will experience problems. To prevent run-off: The best form of weed control is a healthy, dense lawn. The idea is that as long the St. Augustine is thriving from adequate irrigation, Bermuda cannot step in to occupy the space. Routinely check for these pests and treat as necessary. If you have an underground irrigation system, flag the sprinkler heads first to avoid damaging them. The water you apply should soak in, not remain on the soil surface. Water a new St. Augustine lawn two times per day for the first 3 weeks then cut back to a normal seasonal schedule. Some homeowners prefer a finer bladed grass instead of the coarse texture of Saint Augustine grass. And the best way for them to do this is with a working knowledge of their garden areas of the same property and how those garden areas have responded to soil improvements to repair the water logging problem of the soil. The most effective time to treat for white grubs is in August when they are immature and close to the soil surface. This is called photosynthesis. Continue the recommended mowing practices until the grass goes dormant and does not require mowing. Wetting Agents are applied to a lawn in the same manner as fertilizers. Follow the same recommendations as for March through May. Poor Nutrition. St. Augustine Maintenance and Care. Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory, Texas A&M College of Agrculture and Life Sciences, Blackland Income Growth Virtual Conference, Ranchers Agricultural Leasing Workshop: Online course, Connecting Agriculture and Health – From the Ground Up: online, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc8xY2YuOfM. Follow the label directions for the rate of application. Be careful not to set the mower too low, as it may scalp the lawn. The lawn should then be top dressed with a coarse sand, which is raked into the holes in the turf and soil. Weed Management. Listed are lawn care tips on watering and mowing which will be helpful, and can save money in the long run. Use enough water that the soil is damp but not soaked since St. Augustine grass and similar tropical varieties don’t need a ton of liquid. If you let it get too dry, and especially if you do so repeatedly, St. Augustine will be weak, and it may even die away. Postemergent weed control is most effective if you apply the herbicide when the weeds are still very small. Click for a hub of Extension resources related to the current COVID-19 situation. Broad-leaf weeds are water hogs. This is the maximum amount of time you should water at one time. *Always follow Local and State laws in regards to watering restrictions. Further, St. Augustine Grass can survive high temperatures and drought conditions. It is also a hardy grass, which makes it ideal for hotter climates. The trick is to water only when the grass needs it. Even the easiest of grasses, however, can become thin if not cared for properly. If the soil remains warmer than 60 degrees all year, the grass will stay green. Use a hose or sprinklers to water the sod. Irrigation may be needed to supplement natural rainfall. Grass with deeper roots is more drought-resistant than grass with shallower roots, the university says. Run-off from watering a lawn can waste a significant amount of water, which is costly and a poor use of a limited natural resource. If however the soil in the gardens needed major improvement to create the desired result, then the same would be true for the lawn area, and major soil work would need to be undertaken, which cannot be done with an existing lawn. Mowing:Mow the lawn slightly lower than the regular summer mowing height. For the worst affected Saint Augustine lawns and soils, wetting agents may often prove a futile exercise if used on their own and without proper soil repair being undertaken at the same time. Using a ruler, measure the depth of water caught in each individual can, and record the depths. When the leaf blades wilt, turn a blue-gray color or when footprints remain visible after walking in the grass, the lawn is in need of irrigation. “Keep it wet,” Orr says. When this is the case, a matted depression will be left by your footprints. This may eventually contribute to eutrophication of streams and lakes. St. Augustine grass is medium to dark green and coarse grass, additionally it has a low, dense growth habit. St. Augustine needs nitrogen to maintain its rich green color and vigorous growth. Continue fertilizing as recommended until 4 to 6 weeks before the first expected frost. If the lawn has been overseeded, water based on the earlier discussed principle. Be aware that fertilizers containing iron may stain concrete, brick or stone surfaces. St. Augustine grass will not survive a drought situation as well as Bermuda grass or Zoysia. St. Augustine grass is pretty hardy and can tolerate salty soil and ocean air though it has a tendency not to tolerate extreme cold very well, turning brown in the winter and green again in the spring. Lawn aerification is done by using this machine to punch steel tubes, called tines, into the turf and soil, which in turn removes plugs (cores) of turf, thatch and soil from the lawn. Without soil test information, it is recommended that you use a fertilizer that either contains nitrogen only (21-0-0, ammonium sulfate) or is very low in phosphorus (Examples: 21-3- 6 or 15-0-15) to reduce the chance of excessive phosphorus buildup in the soil. To control summer annual grassy weeds (e.g. 4. This height reduction should be done just before the lawn greens up, which usually occurs during late April or early May. Apply postemergent herbicides as needed. Wetting agents will eventually break down and the process will need to be repeated a couple of times a year for water logged lawns, sometimes more often if the owner so wishes. It’s the very fine particles within these soil types which causes them to stick so closely together, and thus preventing the free flowing of water through the earth. Raise the level of your mower to 4 or 5 inches for St. Augustine grass. Weakened turf needs even more water. Herbicides may damage the lawn if you apply them when the temperature is higher than 90 ºF. Iron is also a vital nutrient for St Augustine grass. Our work makes a difference, in the lives of Texans and on the economy. The depths applied by turf professionals remains warmer than 60 degrees all year the. Plants make their food ( sugars ) in the morning and again in the long run the machine for users. 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