Learn About St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine grass is not great for high-traffic areas. You will most likely never see it on a football or soccer field. St. Augustine grass will likely not grace a local playground or baseball diamond with its grassy shoots. Though it is a very popular grass with homeowners, St. Augustine is also a high-maintenance pain in the rear end if you want it to look lush, green and inviting. It requires tedious attention to watering, mowing, and fertilizing or it looks messy and rustic. If you have ever known anyone who freaked out when the neighborhood kids frolicked on their lawn, chances are they had a meticulously maintained and delicate St. Augustine plot outside.

St. Augustine can grow in the shade, but not full shade. If it is under a tree, it will grow green, but it will brown if it is in shade all day. St. Augustine does not take cold well and is at risk of fungal diseases that will turn it brown in patches if it is exposed to moderately cold temperatures. A frost or two can kill off a St. Augustine lawn completely.

Understanding how St. Augustine grass grows and the environment in which it grows best is essential to maintaining a healthy St. Augustine lawn. St. Augustine grass grows in a dense carpet which can help reduce weeds. With good lawn information and proper care, St. Augustine can grow well in shady areas and stay green in the summer heat.

Identification

Information on St. Augustine grass is available online, in lawn care books at the library, and at any local nursery. Sometimes the best information on St. Augustine grass can come from the gardeners that tend the grass at a nearby country club or public golf course. St. Augustine grass frequently makes an appearance as the grass on the rough of a golf course.

Benefits

Information on St. Augustine grass can help provide specific, custom care information and instructions that help St. Augustine grass thrive. Information helpful when growing St. Augustine Grass includes soil preparation, fertilizer and preventing common pests and diseases. When exposed to cold temperatures, St. Augustine grass is at a greater risk of fungal diseases that can leave brown patches on a lawn.

St. Augustine grass tends to be rough in texture, and requires frequent mowing to keep it in check. For gardeners who loathe mowing, a slower growing choice like buffalo grass or zoysia grass may be a better lawn option.

St. Augustine is best planted in early summer, to provide a green lawn during the warm summer months.

Types

According to "The Lawn Bible" by David R. Mellor, types of St. Augustine grass include Floratam, Seville, and DelMar.

References:
Texas Cooperative Extension: St. Augustine Grass; Richard R. Duble
"The Lawn Bible"; David R. Mellor; 2003