How To Unfold St. Augustine Grass (2024)

In the event you’re seeking to flip your yard right into a lush, inexperienced oasis, St. Augustine grass could be simply what you want. Identified for its dense, carpet-like protection, such a grass thrives in heat climates like Florida and Texas. This makes it a well-liked alternative for owners in these areas. Whether or not you’re ranging from scratch or attempting to fill in some naked spots, figuring out how one can correctly plant, put together, and care on your St. Augustine grass garden helps it obtain that enviable, wealthy inexperienced shade.

On this article, I’ll cowl precisely when to plant St. Augustine grass for the very best outcomes and how one can put together your soil so the grass blades take root and unfold. I’ll additionally talk about how one can fertilize, aerate, and water your garden appropriately whereas avoiding frequent pitfalls like crabgrass and chinch bugs that may wreak havoc in your laborious work.

By the point you end studying, you’ll be able to roll up your sleeves and get to work in your St. Augustine grass garden. Whether or not you’re coping with a small patch or a sprawling yard, the following tips will make it easier to rework your area into a wonderful, thriving garden that you could get pleasure from all 12 months lengthy.

When To Plant St. Augustine Grass

In the case of planting St. Augustine grass, timing is every part. This warm-season grass goes dormant and turns brown in chilly climate. Wait till the possibility of frost has handed and daytime temperatures stay above 70° F earlier than planting plugs, sprigs, or sod. Usually, late spring is good for many areas as a result of the early summer season warmth provides these stolons the increase they should unfold shortly throughout your garden. In the event you’re in Texas or the same local weather, purpose to plant between early spring and early summer season to offer your garden loads of time to ascertain earlier than the primary fall frost.

Ensure that your garden will get full solar, as St. Augustine grass doesn’t do nicely in shaded areas. In the event you’re coping with naked spots or skinny patches, planting St. Augustine grass plugs can assist fill them in. Simply you should definitely give the grass sufficient time — a minimum of 90 days earlier than the primary frost — to take root and set up itself.

How To Put together the Planting Space

Earlier than you begin planting, it’s essential to arrange your garden correctly. A soil take a look at can assist you perceive your soil sort and decide if any topsoil or nitrogen fertilizer is required to assist wholesome progress.

Correct soil preparation helps St. Augustine grass set up a wholesome root system. Enough moisture is essential, requiring each day watering for the primary few weeks after planting. To organize the planting space:

• For sprigs, plugs, or sod, until the soil to a depth of a minimum of six inches. Add compost or different natural matter if mandatory to offer extra vitamins. Rake clean to create an excellent floor.
• Stage any low spots or excessive areas, as St. Augustine thrives finest on flat floor. Fill in dips within the terrain and break up any mounds.
• Check the soil pH, which ought to be between 5.0 and eight.5 for St. Augustine grass. Add lime if the soil is simply too low (acidic) or sulfur if it’s too excessive (alkaline).
• Apply starter fertilizer particularly formulated for St. Augustine grass on the time of planting.

Planting Strategies for St. Augustine Grass

Once you’re seeking to set up or broaden your St. Augustine grass garden, you’ve obtained just a few choices to contemplate. Begin by planting plugs, and in order for you them to fill in quicker, merely plant them nearer collectively or enhance the variety of plugs per sq. foot. This helps the grass unfold extra shortly, providing you with that lush protection.

Sodding and seeding are different strategies to consider, particularly when you’re aiming for a faster or extra uniform consequence. St. Augustine grass loves well-draining soil that’s wealthy in natural matter, so it’s a good suggestion to check your soil’s pH. A pH between six and 7 is good, and if it’s off, you may simply modify it with lime or sulfur. Additionally, make certain your soil isn’t compacted, as compacted soil can result in poor drainage and even root rot.

To keep away from these points, aerate your garden repeatedly. Aerating helps stop soil compaction, guaranteeing that your St. Augustine grass has the very best probability to thrive. With the best planting technique and correct soil care, you’ll have a wholesome, inexperienced garden very quickly.

Fertilizing Newly Planted St. Augustine Grass

Fertilizer supplies the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and different vitamins St. Augustine grass must unfold and thrive. I like to recommend you apply starter fertilizer when planting sod, sprigs, or plugs. Choices embody:

Granular Fertilizers

Select a slow-release system that gives longer vitamin and unfold it with a broadcast spreader. When making use of to newly planted sod, use half the beneficial price two weeks after planting. Fertilize once more 4 weeks after planting with a full software.

Liquid Fertilizers

Connect to the irrigation system or spray on with a hose-end sprayer to offer fast however shorter-term vitamins. Fertilize two weeks after planting and month-to-month all through the primary rising season.

In the course of the second season, fertilize St. Augustine 3 to 4 occasions beginning in early spring, permitting 6 to eight weeks between purposes. Apply at half the beneficial price when grass isn’t actively rising in summer season.

Upkeep Ideas for St. Augustine Grass

Common upkeep is essential to conserving St. Augustine grass wholesome and looking out its finest. Correct upkeep contains:

• Water established lawns 2 to three occasions per week, offering 1 to 2 inches of water every week to stop browning and dormancy.
• Mow typically, eradicating not more than 1/3 of the overall blade size every time. St. Augustine ought to be 2 to 4 inches tall.
• Management weeds with pre-and post-emergent herbicides labeled for St. Augustine. You can even hand-pull small weed infestations.
• Dethatch in spring and fall to stop the buildup of lifeless grass stems and roots. Thatch prevents air, water, and vitamins from reaching the soil.
• Aerate compacted areas in spring or fall to assist the grass develop deeper roots.
• Apply preventive fungicides to keep away from ailments like brown patches, grey leaf spots, and take-all root rot.
• Don’t take away dormant brown grass in winter until you propose to re-sod in spring. Exposing dormant roots could kill the grass.

So, Is Spreading St. Augustine Grass Well worth the Effort?

Sustaining a thriving St. Augustine garden requires constant care and a focus, however the payoff is nicely definitely worth the effort. By following the best planting methods, guaranteeing correct soil preparation, and maintaining with common upkeep, you’ll be nicely in your option to a wonderful, lush garden that stands as much as the challenges of heat climates. From aerating to fertilizing, each step you’re taking strengthens your turfgrass, giving it the very best probability to unfold and flourish.

As you nurture your St. Augustine grass, do not forget that persistence is essential. It might take a while, however with persistence and the best garden care practices, you’ll quickly get pleasure from a inexperienced, dense garden that’s the envy of the neighborhood.