While St. Augustine grass is a rich and hearty favorite for North Texas lawns, it does require a bit of care to remain healthy year-round. This height reduction should be done just before the lawn greens up, which usually occurs during late April or early May. With proper maintenance, you can help keep your St. Augustine lawn healthy and attractive. It also has a low, compact growth habit. Then, one month later, fertilize at the recommended rate. As we mentioned before, you want to start fertilizing three weeks after the grass turns green. Additionally, a good rule of thumb is to wait until about 3 weeks after it’s begun turning green. Augustine Grass in Texas For new St . For information on soil testing procedures, contact your county extension agent. Be careful not to set the mower too low, as it may scalp the lawn. (Recommended by Texas A&M as well) ST. Augustine Grass: 4-5 Total pounds of Nitrogen per thousand square feet, per YEAR. While fertilizers are made from naturally occurring compounds, they can still burn your lawn if applied during high heat. Each bag of fertilizer has The analysis nutritional printed on the bag. To determine the amount of fertilizer needed to equal 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, divide 100 by the first number in the fertilizer analysis. Normally you fertilize the St. Augustine grasses at least two to three times a year, the Bermudas maybe a couple more times than that. grub worm, brown patch, ant, mosqueto, Weed control, Sick tree diagnostics and treatment, Certified Arborist, Austin, Austin, … (Note that these techniques are used exclusively for warm season grasses, which we use in Texas) When to Fertilize. Wait Four to Six Weeks Before You Fertilize New Sod When do you need to fertilize new sod or fertilize new grass? Every two months thereafter - we apply a standard high quality lawn fertilizer, until we return back to our first winter fertilization - one month before the onset of winter. Moreover, it tolerates shade, heat, salt and, to a certain extent, drought. Apply 1 pound of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of turf every eight weeks or 1½ pounds of slow-release nitrogen every ten weeks. The best way to determine when to apply spring fertilizer to St. Augustine grass is to monitor its growth. Also, this thick cover competes well with most weeds, as they have a difficult time taking root. If managed correctly, St. Augustine grass forms a dense cover that easily handles light foot traffic. If you water your St, Augustine grass properly, and feed it the right fertilizers, at the right time, then you will have a beautiful lawn with few weeds. To determine the amount needed to apply 1½ pounds per 1,000 square feet, replace 150 per 100. Your new sod needs a fertilizer that contains very little phosphorus. Feeding your lawn in early spring will strengthen its roots and get it off to a good start. Be sure you adhere to proper fertilization methods in order to nourish your lawn and guarantee that it … The mower setting should be between 2 to 2½ inches high. However, the third and the last number represents the percentage of potassium. Has your soil been analyzed to determine what additional nutrients your lawn might need? Description: St. Augustinegrass is a warm-season turfgrass that spreads laterally by stolons and is one of the most widely planted turfgrass species in Texas, particularly in urban environments. If you haven't had to mow for two weeks in the fall, the grass has quit growing. Its broad, flat leaves grow dense and turn into a thick carpet of grass. To buy the proper amount of fertilizer you need to divide 100 by the first number that is listed on the label. Your St. Augustine grass needs one pound of soluble nitrogen for every 1,000 feet of lawn. Let’s explore some important information about maintaining a vibrant bed of St. Augustine grass. When you feed your St. Augustine grass it is important that you use a fertilizer that contains the right balance of nutrients. What kind of lawn do I want? Bermuda uses a little bit more fertilizer, so to keep it its greenest you might fertilize it a little bit more often. Instead, you … It grows well in almost all types of soil. It spreads rapidly through the soil growth “branches” called stolons. And there are certain times of year that it’s best to fertilize new sod. The best fertilizer method for St Augustine sod is to apply a fertilizer to the soil before planting the sod. St. Augustine grass has a medium to dark green color with dense consistency. A. Fertilize when your St. Augustine has fully greened up and is growing this spring or you'll only be helping the winter weeds along. St. Augustine grass thrives in Dallas, Texas making it a favorite for homeowners in the area. In Texas, the warm-season lawn grasses used are bermudagrass, buffalograss, centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass and zoysiagrass. You will use 1 ½ pounds of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn. 5 Cowboys Way, Suite 300-D3, Click here for a free lawn care estimate from, when to apply spring fertilizer to St. Augustine grass, Fertilizer Schedule For St. Augustine Grass, When to Fertilize St. Augustine Grass In Texas. Iron-based fertilizers can stain cement, brick or stone surfaces. The grass is tolerant to the Texas heat, can survive small periods of droughts and can grow in just about any soil type. ... P.O. The grass is characterized by its dark green hue and dense carpet-like cover. Those numbers refer to the ratio of nitrogen – phosphorus – potassium that the mixture contains. Austin, Texas Lawn Care, St Augustine grass When To Fertilize Grass, General Lawn Care, When To Water Your Lawn - How High To Mow Grass, Certified Lawn Care professionals in Austin, Texas, Ant and deer control for Austin weed control, Austins finest locally owned Lawn Care company. Fortunately, fertilizing grass is easy and simple. According to the author, Lisa Bohler, of the Fixin To Texas blog, providing your St. Augustine sod with the right fertilizer, at the right time of year, is the key to having healthy grass. That first feeding should be at half the recommended rate. Continue to fertilize as recommended for up to 4-6 weeks before the first frost sets in. The best way to determine when to apply spring fertilizer to St. Augustine grass is to monitor its growth. Conduct a soil test prior to any soil preparation. The perfect time to fertilize new sod depends on the two main factors: the time you laid it down and the type of grass. This is because our St Augustine lawns are usually thriving in these hottest months anyway. Yearly Calendar for St. Augustinegrass Care and Culture1 L. B. McCarty and John L. Cisar2 St. Augustinegrass is a fast-growing, warm-season turfgrass used extensively in Florida. However, it does not endure flooded land or prolonged periods of cold weather. Click here for a free lawn care estimate from Frisco Lawn Pros. St. Augustine is the most resistant shade grass in hot weather. St. Augustine grass is a Texas favorite, due to its resilience and it’s deep green blades. Do not use more than ½ pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Late Spring (April to June) Additionally, because sod is generally fertilized prior to harvest at the sod farm, the sod will not typically require additional fertilizer during the establishment period. Early results from those studies also show that waiting 30 days before fertilizing new sod minimized nutrient leaching without reducing turf quality, researchers said. You probably will not win the “yard of the month” award, but you will spend less time and money on lawn maintenance. Best Fertilizer for St Augustine Grass in Texas Fixin Texas With all manicured lawns, it’s important to know exactly what your grass type needs in order to stay healthy. Box 2171, San Antonio, TX 78297-2171, or email him at SAENgardenQA@sperrygardens.com. This is when there is little chance of a late frost. It is planted by sprigs, plugs or sod, and if maintained properly it chokes out most weeds naturally, eliminating the use of herbicides. Contact your local agricultural extension service for the process and procedures. This type of grass does well in the warmer temperatures, and it has a low dense growth habit. If possible, use a mower with a bagger to collect the clippings and remove the dea… St. Augustine is one of the prettiest carpet style grasses that can be grown in Texas. This way, fertilizer isn’t wasted on grass that’s not yet active. When your grass gets an over-abundance of phosphorus then it can become depleted of zinc, and iron. With proper nutrients and weekly mowing, St. Augustine gives dense, medium-green lawn that is lovely to behold. St. Augustine growing in moderate to heavy shade should be fertilized in the spring and fall only, at a rate of 1 1/2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Read the precautions on the label and use the product according to label recommendations. Early Spring (February to April) It is a given that your lawn will awaken from its winter sleep as hungry as a bear coming out of hibernation. Homeowners on Aug 10, 2019. Unlike other types of grass, St. Augustine is not usually planted by spreading seeds. When you buy fertilizer the label will have numbers on it, like 15 - 5 – 10, or 10 – 3 – 10. Nitrogen is the most critical compound in fertilizer for North Texas lawns. St augustine sod laid in primarily bermuda yard lawnsite st augustine sod laid in primarily bermuda yard lawnsite plantanswers plant answers floratam st augustine gr the getting rid of bermuda gr in st augustine lawns newsradio how to lay sod st augustine gr diy for beginners part 3 you st augustine gr for houston tx sod delivery 77099. There are some fertilizers that contain slow release nitrogen. (5,000 ÷ 1,000) x 6.6 = 33 pounds of fertilizer. Doug Welsh, Texas A & M professor and extension horticulturist, recommends in his book, "Texas Garden Almanac," to wait to apply fertilizer until after this warm-season grass quits growing -- usually in October. DAILY HEADLINES. With broad leaves and thick roots, it provides a hardy, weed-resistant ground cover. Posted Mowing:Mow the lawn slightly lower than the regular summer mowing height. If your lawn measures 5,000 square feet, you will need 33 pounds of fertilizer 15-5-10. in Lush growth will occur, and a lawn cut will be required once a week. You want to apply the fertilizer in the spring when there is no longer a chance of a frost. 100 ÷ 15 = 6.6, Then determine the size of the area for fertilization. Phosphorus is the formulation number of the medium. grub worm, brown patch, ant, mosqueto, Weed control, Sick tree diagnostics and … Texas Common, Raleigh, Seville, Palmetto, and Floratam are some varieties of St. Augustine commonly used in the south. At that time, apply a low-nitrogen and potassium fertilizer, for example, 5-10-10. The best time to fertilize your grass is late in the spring. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to fill in an existing lawn, St. Augustine grass should be planted in early spring or late summer. The grass developed from this research proves effective, but needs a bit more fertilizing than Zoysia grass. You want to apply the fertilizer in the spring when there is no longer a chance of a frost. Next, determine if you want a high, medium or low maintenance site. Continue the fertilization program started in the spring, applying 1 to 1½ pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet every 8-10 weeks. St. Augustinegrass is tolerant to saline irrigation and The decision is yours. On sandy soils, you can expect to fertilize monthly during the growing season with fertilizer applications every 6 weeks on clay soils. This will generally be about three weeks after your grass starts to turn green in the spring. Additionally, a good rule of thumb is to wait until about 3 weeks after it’s begun turning green. Moreover, to prevent yellowing caused by ferric (iron) chlorosis, apply liquid or granular iron fertilizer throughout the growing season. Caring for St. Augustine grass. For successful, low maintenance lawn care, breeds like this one are a wise choice for North Texas homeowners. There are good times and bad times when it comes to fertilizing St. Augustine. Laying St. Augustine sod is best done in early spring at the beginning of the growing season when adequate rainfall can benefit irrigation methods. Then you should continue to fertilize your grass every 8 weeks. Plan to apply an approved herbicide by the end of this autumn. See HGIC 1201, Fertilizing Lawns for specific fertilizer recommendations. The label may list the first number as, “ammonium sulfate”, that means nitrogen. For instance, it’s important to apply a second round of fertilizer later in the spring, when your grass is in its maximum growth period. For example, if you are using a 15-5-10 fertilizer, then you need 6.6 pounds per 1,000 square feet. • Fertilize the new grass after the second mowing using an all-nitrogen food with half or more of that nitrogen in slow-release form. A good annual schedule for fertilizing is about every 8 weeks, but there are some specifics to keep in mind. In Texas, St. Augustine grass is one of the most popular of the turfgrass, or carpet grass, varieties. Such accumulations can lead to iron and zinc deficiencies. Houston enjoys a perfect climate for growing grass. Your new sod needs a fertilizer that contains very little phosphorus. If you use one of these products you will fertilize every 10 weeks, but you have to increase the amount of fertilizer you use. This optimizes the amount of nutrients it will soak up. If your yard has 6,000 square feet and you buy a product with 10 as the first number, then you need 60 pounds of that fertilizer to feed your grass. Water the turf deeply to achieve the right amount of water your turf needs. Depending on the season you install your grass, you may be transitioning to the beginning of spring with the Spring Fertilizer Box. If you want a high-maintenance lawn, use the maximum amount of fertilizer specified in the bag. To maintain a lawn that’s right for you, it helps to decide how much time, money and effort you are willing to spend managing it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bermuda grass is drought tolerant and supports heavy traffic, while St. Augustine grass is best used as a decorative lawn and tolerates a lot of shade. For optimum quality, adequate irrigation and fertilization are required. Thus, there is no “one size fits all” for appropriate lawn care measures. We can often skip the fertilization which falls at the height of Summer. St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a warm season grass grown throughout the southeastern sections of the United States. There’s no need to apply any fertilizer until after it has grown enough to warrant mowing. Every homeowner has different goals with regards to achieving an ideal landscape, and what that looks like for them. The irrigation needs will be more significant and the potential for diseases, such as brown spots, will increase. St. Augustine grass requires approximately ¾ inch of water two times a week. However, one additional application in July will be adequate in most situations. If you, however, have not analyzed the soil, use a complete fertilizer with a ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 3-1-2. Saint Augustine grass needs a little more attention than most other roll on lawns do, and this is for two reasons, the first as already mentioned is that the new St Augustine sod will have no root system, which puts it at a disadvantage over other roll on lawn types. Stop putting fertilizer on the grass in September and resume your schedule the following spring in late February, or in early March. This way, fertilizer isn’t wasted on grass that’s not yet active. Use a slow-release 4-1 … That means it gets very thick so it feels like a carpet beneath your feet, and it does not grow tall quickly, so you get to mow less frequently. This is due to its superior shade tolerance relative to other warm-season grasses as well as its deep rooting potential and drought tolerance. If you installed your sod in the summer, you may need to transition to the Fall Fertilizer Box. Turfgrasses growing in sandy soils require more frequent applications of nitrogen than those growing on clay soils. When to Fertilize. Without soil test information, it is advisable to use ½ a fertilizer containing only nitrogen (21-0-0, ammonium sulfate) or having a low phosphorus content; for example: 03/06/21 or 15- 0- 15 to reduce the possibility of excessive accumulation of phosphorus in the soil. For Examples: 15-5-10, 21-7-14, etc. When your grass gets an over-abundance of phosphorus then it can become depleted of zinc, and iron. Are you worried about the development of winter weeds? The two most popular Houston grass species are Bermuda grass and St. Augustine grass. It grows well on most well drained soils. These products stop weed sprouting and kill emerging seedlings. If you buy a product that is labeled 15 – 5 – 10, then you need to use 6.6 pounds of product on 1,000 square feet. Homeowners should remember that irrigation is an important factor in nutrient loss from turfgrass, said Bryan Unruh, an environmental horticulture associate professor and leader of the Jay study. If the sod appears to lack sufficient nutrients (yellow coloration and spindly growth), … Frisco Lawn Pros The same can be said if you follow the New Lawn Starter Box schedule above. Follow the instructions on the label for the application rate. Extended periods of hot and dry weather, St. Augustine grass might start to die. To calculate the amount of product needed per 1,000 square feet, replace 50 percent in the spring formula. 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