St Augustine grass is a coarse textured grass that spreads by stolons. We have made it easy to understand. St. Augustine naturally spreads through runners, so you can take advantage of this to plant a new lawn … Most varieties do well at 3 to 4 inches. With this disease, as the name sounds, the roots rot and the plant dies. Mercedes is a shade-tolerant warm-season grass, although it still needs 4-6 hours of sunshine to thrive. Centipede Grass. Organic Lawn Fertiliztion The popularity of organic lawn care is increasing. Quick kill products include trichlorofon (dylox) and carbaryl (sevin). Insecticides are available for controlling this pest, but some have developed resistance to certain insecticides. 2016-05-11 . The turf requires at least four hours a day of sun to really do well. If you live in a section of the country where high humidity is the rule and not the exception, fungicides like Daconil are available to help control brown patch. Over-fertilization of mature turf only encourages thatch, insect and disease problems. It is important to research the attributes of each before selecting one since they offer different levels of tolerances to environmental stresses and susceptibility to pests. Since the roots are not anchored into the soil for few weeks, it is necessary to water everyday to keep the grass from drying out. The roots won’t take hold in the soil for a couple of weeks, so it will need to be watered carefully to keep from drying out. St. Augustinegrass aggressively spreads through stolons (aboveground stems) and can be established via plugs or sod. The roots can't tell the difference between soil and thatch, so the new roots will frequently grow through the thatch. ... BishopD521 on Reviving dead St Augistine Grass; Phil Busey on Need help…live in DFW sodded Palmetto S/A last year looked great…over seeded Winter Rye…mow yard looks awful. Planting sprigs, also called stolons, is also a cheaper alternative to laying St. Augustine sod. It is also very tolerant of salt, and is often grown along the coast for that reason. Occasionally, it will be found in areas of California. Common and Improved Bermudagrass Bermudagrass is the most popular warm season grass in America. The southern states in the warm/humid The thick thatch layer of St Augustine is a well known trait. Even many homeowners don’t care for the coarse texture and would prefer a finer bladed grass instead. lawn fertilization. St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) spreads with stolons, often called runners, using a process called vegetative propagation. This species is called by its common name of St Augustine. Soil pH problems can be another. The primary species used in the U.S. is "Stenotaphrum secundatum". Post by Dchall_San_Antonio » June 19th, 2012, 7:24 pm I've gone several years in a row and only mowed my lawn a few times each season. St Augustine grass can only be started vegetatively, with sod being the primary method. It grows tightly enough to permit average amounts of foot traffic, and also to compete well with weeds. If you haven't planted yet and know you would prefer a lower cut, you can always try a dwarf species. Sodding is the most expensive, but the fastest way to get an instant yard. The grass suffers because thatch dries out much faster than soil and the new roots quickly die. It would be great if one day a good St Augustine grass seed was developed. Planting sprigs, also called stolons, is also a cheaper alternative to laying St. Augustine sod. This robust perennial grass works well for pastures and lawns in warm coastal areas, creating a dense carpet of coarse, textured grass blades even in shady areas. 2,4-D will cause all sorts of damage to the stolons and crowns on St. Augustine despite thinking the turf is in dormancy. If you have a shady area you wish to make into a lawn, St. Augustine grass may be the ticket. 'DeltaShade' is a standard cultivar that has greater shade tolerance than other standard cultivars but less than the dwarf cultivars. Dog Urine Damage on Lawns We all love our pets, but dog urine can do a number on grass. St. Augustine grass aggressively spreads through stolons (aboveground stems) and can be established via plugs or sod. . Mercedes is a shade-tolerant warm-season grass, although it still needs 4-6 hours of sunshine to thrive. St. Augustine is a turf grass that is suitable for planting in the warm, humid climate commonly found on the Gulf Coast of the United States. Legacy post . To maintain a proper fertility program, it is important to know how much nitrogen is being delivered. St Augustine grass is one of several grasses that can create thatch. 'Floratam' is an improved St. Augustine grass cultivar widely used in Florida. The least expensive method of irrigation is to water whenever the grass needs it. The roots of the grass will turn brown and shrivel. Examples of warm season grasses with stolons include centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, and bermudagrass. Daily water, regardless of whether it needs it or not can contribute to thatch. It has relatively poor wear tolerance and won't thrive in an area with repeated foot traffic. St. Augustine is a dark green grass with broad, flat blades. Then I discovered it was starved. The fungus disease has been found in clays to fine sandy soils. Likewise, it won't grow well in an area with extended cold periods or in waterlogged soil. Since there is no cure for a virus, the only hope is to plant a variety that is more resistant to it. Of all the warm season grasses, it is the least cold tolerant and has the coarsest leaf texture. Stolons are above ground stems that grow horizontally. The lesions that appear on the grass became tan in appearance as the grass tissue dries out. St. Augustine grass, also known as buffalo turf in Australia and buffalo grass in South Africa, is a warm-season lawn grass that is popular for cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions. Many homeowners will confuse this rot with take-all root rot because of the yellow coloring of the leaves. Occasionally, it will be found in areas of California. It will hold up well under to normal traffic of a home lawn, but not under the heavy traffic of an athletic field. Mach 2 is another biological control for insects that pupate. Leaves are oppositely arranged on the stolon and have a wide, rounded tip. However, its presence represents deeper soil problems that must be fixed or the moss will stick around. It can decimate your lawn rather quickly and is difficult to control unless immediately treated. It has thick, singular seed heads, which extend slightly above the leaf blades and produce small, white-brownish flowers. Always read the label carefully before using any product and preferably before purchasing. Note however, that some dwarf varieties are more prone to thatch, winter damage and insect problems. St. Augustine is a warm-season grass that grows well in full sun and moist soil in warm, coastal areas. In other countries, it goes by other names. Fertilization can be confusing for many people. St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), sometimes known as buffalo grass, is a warm-season turf grass, hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Be aware that thatch can hinder the movement of insecticides to the root zone where grubs live. Check with companies in your area to see. *stolons and rhizomes are short St. Augustinegrass is a creeping-type grass that is spread by thick stolons. Some pest controls, including some biological controls, are available only to certified pesticide applicators. Grass hoppers can also be a problem in summer months. In warm climates, the broad, coarse-textured grass blades are an attractive blue-green color. It tolerates extreme summer heat and keeps its color even at the low end of its hardiness range, U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. Good, well drained soil is necessary for planting and growing. Although I do travel to Southeast Texas to examine St Augustine, I have not studied in depth or verified these causes or solutions because of limited access. 'Palmetto' is a standard cultivar with a shorter growth habit that does well in full sun or partial shade, but not in dense shade. Grey leaf spot is mostly a problem with young plants in humid, wet conditions. Click here for buffalo grass facts, care and maintenance tips, adaptation range, popular varieties, and much more. St. Augustine grass is best suited to warm-arid regions such as Florida and the Gulf Coast region. The chinch bug is very small insect, but a major pest. Stolons allow the grass to fill in quickly as long as there is adequate moisture. Lawn Fertilization Made Easy Lawn fertilization is one of the most important aspects of lawn care. St. Augustine is a course, perennial, warm season grass . Always follow the label directions and wear all required personal protection equipment and clothing. St. Augustine naturally spreads through runners, so you can take advantage of this to plant a … Grass Type: St Augustine Lawn Size: 5000-10000 Level: Advanced. Saint Augustine grass is well known for its thick top layer of stolons (above ground runners), which is an inherent trait to all Saint Augustine grasses, including the new soft varieties. 2016-05-11 . A professional writer and consummate gardener, Spengler has written about home and garden for Gardening Know How, San Francisco Chronicle, Gardening Guide and Go Banking Rates. Many commercial applicators will apply what you need without selling you a whole program. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. This thatch layer can grow quite quickly and quite high. St. Augustinegrass grows best in warm, humid areas that are not exposed to long periods of cold weather. The coarse texture makes it unsuitable for golf courses and is only used in a few places. Important Note About Insecticides and Fungicides. It primarily consists of shed roots, stems and other grass debris. Re: St. Augustine stolons growing up? Especially now as there has not been sufficiently cold enough soil temperatures to cause dormancy in the turf. Fungus on St. Augustine grass shows symptoms such as browning of leaf blades, rust-like growths on grass, and areas of thinning or dead grass in your lawn. 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