How to Grow Saint Augustine

St. Augustine grass is a warm season turf grown extensively throughout the southern United States. Gardeners can plant this grass in shady areas of the yard as long as it receives at least four hours of full sunlight. This grass type requires more water than grasses such as Bermuda to keep from going dormant. Planting generally begins in the early spring, when ground temperatures have warmed up or the last threat of frost has passed.

Shovel
Soil test
Lime
Tiller
Sulfur
Starter fertilizer
Rotary seed spreader
Lawn roller
Nitrogen
Masonry trowel

Instructions

- 1
  Dig a 6-inch hole six months before planting St. Augustine grass to check the soil's pH range. St. Augustine grass must be planted within a pH range between 5.0 to 8.5 to absorb the soil's nutrients. Follow the soil test's directions. Spread lime over acidic soil that is under 5.0 or apply sulfur to alkaline soil over 8.5. Wait three months to retest your soil.
- 2
  Apply a starter fertilizer at the time of sodding to contribute nutrients in the soil for developing strong St. Augustine root systems. Use 10 lb. starter fertilizer with a NPK amount of 10-20-10 per 1,000 square feet. Work the starter fertilizer into the first 2 to 4 inches to soil.
- 3
  Moisten the soil. St. Augustine grass is established by seed or sod depending on the variety that you choose. To sod lawns, butt the edges of the sod together and work from the outside of the yard to the inside. Stagger the rows to prevent creating a seam. Grass seed can be distributed by pouring seed in a rotary seed spreader. Distribute 1/3 to 1/2 lb. seed every 1,000 square feet.
- 4
  Fill a lawn roller halfway with water. Push the lawn roller over the sod or seed to establish adequate sod or seed to soil contact.
- 5
  Fertilize again six weeks after establishing sod or three months after planting grass seed. Use 1 lb. nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

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