However, the seed performed poorly and is no longer available. With warm temperatures through September and the possibility of excessive rainfall that may occur during that period, diseases can increase rapidly. Mowing: The ideal mowing height for St. Augustinegrass can range from 2½ to 4 inches depending on the specific site and management regime and is best determined by the growing conditions. As for the type of care St. Augustine grass needs, this warm-season grass likes moisture and should be watered deeply. Not so fast, tallylassie, St. Augustinegrass seeds have high germination, over 70% in my experience. According to the University of Texas, this grass is native to the regions surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. The best way to install a St. Augustine grass lawn is to purchase grass sod from a high-quality sod dealer like Houston Grass South. Starting a lawn with St. Augustine grass seed requires the same preparation as any other lawn seed. If the grass in the footprints does not bounce back, then irrigate the lawn the next morning. This could indicate an iron or manganese deficiency due to soil temperatures lagging behind air temperatures, high pH soils, or high phosphorous levels. However, if a pre-emergent herbicide was applied late February to mid-March, postpone any cultivation practices that will disturb the soil until just before the next pre-emergent herbicide application date. The mower setting should be between 2 to 2½ inches high. Bermuda grass requires full sunlight all day long to grow optimally. Contact the local County Extension office or the Clemson Home & Garden Information Center for weed identification and control measures. Mowing: Continue to mow St. Augustinegrass at the normal mowing height until the weather starts to cool in the fall. Dormancy conserves the grass’s energy and prevents damage due to … A sharp mower blade will cleanly cut the grass blades as opposed to tearing the leaves. A second application is needed approximately 8 to 10 weeks after the initial application to give season long control of annual warm-season weeds. This is especially important if warm, bright days preceed days forecasted to be in the low 20’s or colder. Contact the local County Extension Office or the Clemson Home & Garden Information Center for identification and control of weeds in the lawn. Please see HGIC 2151, Gray Leaf Spot on St. Augustinegrass. Overall, proper water management, fertilization, mowing height, and thatch control are essential to curtail large patch and gray leaf spot problems. Most areas of South Carolina receive enough rainfall during the winter to avoid winter desiccation of lawns. When applying insecticides for chinch bug control during the summer, rotate chemical families or mode of actions to reduce the chance of pesticide resistance. Weed Control: A selective, annual grass and/or broadleaf weed control pre-emergent herbicide that is labeled for use on St. Augustinegrass and applied during late winter and spring will reduce many weeds the following summer. Need help: Weed control for ornamental perennial peanut (rhizomes type)? For more information on white grub management, see HGIC 2156, White Grub Management in Turfgrass. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. Localized dry spots or hot spots can be watered as needed by hand. tallahassee lassie – posted 12 May 2005 12:35, Hmmmmmm,I guess I have learned something today.I grow several types of St.Augustine,but have never noticed that happen.I am going to observe my varieties closer to see.Any publications to support this?Thought it all was sterile.I have noticed the seed heads seem to be produced by the healthier grass.Thanks. That said, other weeds do produce seeds that grow, and it can be hard to tell the difference from a mower. In the coastal and more Southern regions of South Carolina, this generally will occur sometime during April, but further inland, this may be as late as mid-May. In the meantime, mow and bag the weeds. An infestation may cause the turf to die, which will need to be replaced or allowed to grow back in. For more information on weed control, see HGIC 2310, Managing Weeds in Warm Season Lawns. Once the threat for spring frost has passed and the lawn is fully greened-up, lawn aerification may be combined with dethatching to alleviate soil compaction and thatch problems. i guess they don’t have st. augustine in new jersey…. Shop grass & grass seed and a variety of lawn & garden products online at Lowes.com. As with all pest control, proper weed identification is essential for best control options. Later, the center of the circle may start to re-green. However, fertilizers containing nitrogen should not be applied during this period. On first signs of seeding, apply these lawn care tips to your Saint Augustine lawn: This is not the best time to apply an insecticide because of the cool soil temperatures and reduced insect activity. The addition of phosphorous, the middle number in the fertilizer analysis, should only be applied if recommended by a soil test. Be aware, it could take several months for lime and sulfur applications to affect the soil pH. It combines grass seed, fertilizer, and a soil improver into an easy-to-use product that’s applied using a spreader. However, there can be exceptions. Sometimes St. Augustine grass will produce these seed heads. For more information, refer to HGIC 1204, Lawn Renovation. Fertilization: Fertilization of St. Augustinegrass should be based on soil test results, and this is a good time to test soil. I contacted Dr. Richard Duble, Turfgrass Specialist and Professor for A&M and he writes: "seedstalks are not that uncommon in the summer. Katie. That said, other weeds do produce seeds that grow, and it can be hard to tell the difference from a mower. St. Augustine doesn’t need a lot of water, it just needs it consistently. Fertilizer Calculations: To determine the amount of granular fertilizer needed to apply ½ pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, divide 50 by the first number on the fertilizer bag. Just be aware that these lawn care practices will not stop a Saint Augustine lawn from seeding altogether, nor suddenly, but they will help in reducing the length of time that the lawn does seed. It may take several years to make a large pH change. For more information on thatch removal, see HGIC 2360, Controlling Thatch In Lawns. St. Augustinegrass should be fertilized three times during the summer, as recommended below. Sharpen the mower blade monthly or as needed during the growing season. A soil test will help determine if a fertilizer containing phosphorous is required. Lime or sulfur may be applied if recommended by a recent soil test. Copyright © 2020 Clemson UniversityClemson Cooperative Extension | 103 Barre Hall Clemson, SC 29634864-986-4310 | Contact UsHGIC@clemson.edu, Centipedegrass Yearly Maintenance Program, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences. Our lawn has some now and we like it a lot, but we’re having trouble finding seeds. The rate will depend on soil type. “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. Producing a yearly maintenance calendar for managing turfgrass consistently year after year can be difficult in a state with such a diverse climate as South Carolina. For more information on weed control, see HGIC 2310, Managing Weeds in Warm Season Lawns. Monitor the turf on a regular basis during the growing season, especially during hot, dry periods. You cannot let it dry … Is it TARR or just bad idea of Winter Rye? See the section on fertilizer calculations below to determine how much granular fertilizer should be applied. In most southern climates, St. Augustine grass is the coveted turf of choice, while Bermuda grass is an invasive nuisance. St. Augustinegrass lawns should receive 2 to 4 pounds of actual nitrogen per growing season, per 1000 square feet of turf. The added moisture in the soil will help keep the growing points of the turf warmer, preventing crown death. It is a medium- to high-maintenance grass that forms a thick, carpetlike sod, crowding out most weeds and other grasses. Maybe some day it will. Always mow with a sharp blade using a mulching type mower, which leaves the clippings to decompose on the turf. What makes commercial seed production unprofitable are several factors, such as the difficulty of processing the seeds (the spikelets are embedded in sockets in a corky rachis), their slow “take” in competitive situations, and the fact that any seed produced from a vegetative planting will be all inbred seed, with depressed vigor. This is best done before the first frost. If the bag is picking up soil, mainly sand, when the lawn is mowed, then the blade may need to be sharpened more often than once a month. Mowing:Mow the lawn slightly lower than the regular summer mowing height. St. Augustine grass is a type of warm season grass that is popularly grown in the southern regions of the United States. This height reduction should be done just before the lawn greens up, which usually occurs during late April or early May. If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988. However, an early spring warm-up can lead to both mole cricket and chinch bug activity. See HGIC 1201, Fertilizing Lawns for more information. St. Augustine varieties are available in sod, sprigs or plugs only. Important times to monitor the weather are during late winter or early spring when the turf is coming out of dormancy and early autumn when the first frost is forecasted. Selective, post-emergent herbicides can be applied as necessary for control of chickweed, henbit, and other cool-season broadleaf weeds. Apply 1 pound of potash (K2O) per 1,000 square feet, 4 to 6 weeks before the first expected frost, using 1.6 pounds of muriate of potash (0-0-60) or 2 pounds of potassium sulfate (0-0-50) per 1000 square feet. Scotts® Turf Builder® Thick’R Lawn™ is specially designed to turn weak, thin grass into a thicker, greener lawn. They are not all that common. An application of a soluble iron product, such as iron sulfate or a commercial chelated iron, in between fertilizer applications, will enhance the green color without encouraging growth. If a soil test indicates a higher soil pH, sulfur can be applied to lower it. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. If a weed problem begins and the grass has begun to green with warmer temperatures, wait until the grass has fully greened-up before applying a post-emergent herbicide. The mower setting should be between 2 to 2½ inches high. For more information on disease control, please see HGIC 2150, Brown Patch & Large Patch Diseases of Lawns. Insect Control: There are various insects and related pests that may infest St. Augustinegrass during the summer months. The addition of phosphorous, the middle number in the fertilizer analysis, will need to be determined by a soil test. 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