Captiva vs. Palmetto Sod

General Characteristics

• St. Augustinegrass has wide blades and appears coarser than most other types of warm season grasses. It spreads by above ground runners called stolons, which are susceptible to damage from foot traffic and other wear. It grows quickly during the summer, slows down in the fall, goes dormant and turns brown in the winter, and then gradually greens up in the spring. Although it tolerates high temperatures, it will turn brown if it does not get enough water.

Specific Characteristics

• Captiva is a darker green than palmetto, which is emerald green. While both varieties have a soft texture, Captiva appears finer than Palmetto. Both are moderately resistant to diseases, but Captiva is more resistant to insects. Palmetto is more resistant to damage from wear and can be used in parks and sports areas, but captiva recovers from damage faster. Both hold their color longer in the fall before going dormant than bermudagrass, centipedegrass, or other varieties of St. Augustinegrass. Both are often evergreen in the deep south.

Growing Conditions

• St. Augustinegrass will grow in almost any type of soil, except boggy soil. It needs three or four hours of direct sun for the best growth, but both varieties have very good shade tolerance. Palmetto is more cold tolerant than captiva and can withstand frost. Due to a massive root system, captiva is more drought tolerant than Palmetto. St. Augustinegrass requires large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer to grow dense enough to crowd out weeds and undesirable grasses. Thatch builds up on St. Augustinegrass lawns, making it difficult to mow unless dethatched regularly.

Initial Maintenance

• For best results, wet soil to a depth of 1 inch before installing captiva or palmetto sod. After installation, irrigate about an inch a day for 2 to 3 weeks, thoroughly wetting the sod and the soil to a depth of 3 inches. When the root system is well developed, change to the irrigation schedule for continuing maintenance. Mow within 7 to 10 days and bag the clippings to encourage top and root growth and to remove debris from the lawn. Take care not to cut the grass so short that the stolons or roots are damaged.

Continuing Maintenance

• St. Augustinegrass needs ¾ to 1 inch of rain or irrigation each week to wet the soil to a depth of 3 inches. The amount of water needed will depend on the soil type, amount of sun, temperature and season. Mow captiva to a height of 2 to 3 inches with a rotary or reel mower every 14 days during the active growing season. Mow palmetto to a height of 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches high with a rotary mower every 7 to 10 days during the active growing season. Mow as needed during the rest of the year.