How Do I Plant St. Augustine Grass Seeds in Florida?

Its ability to adapt to almost any type of soil and thrive in hot and humid weather has made St. Augustine grass the most common grass planted in the state of Florida according to Florida State University. Native to the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean, St. Augustine grass is a warm-weather grass that grows well in the shade and has a higher salt tolerance than many other types of grass. This grass isn't drought tolerant and will need to be watered in extended periods of no precipitation. St. Augustine grass is usually planted as sod, or sections of already established grass, and seeds are not easily accessible.

Shovel
Rake
Compost
Manual grass spreader
Roller
Grass fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Loosen the ground with a shovel to a depth of 12 inches. Break up any large clumps of earth. St. Augustine should be planted in the late spring or early summer in Florida.
- 2
  Remove weeds, rocks, fallen leaves or any other objects from the area when you'd like to plant St. Augustine grass. This will assure proper distribution of the seeds and give your grass a healthy head start.
- 3
  Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost over the ground and work into the earth with a hula hoe or metal rake. Rake smooth.
- 4
  Broadcast an even layer of St. Augustine grass seeds with a manual spreader, lightly going over the area first in one direction and then again perpendicular to the first application.
- 5
  Press the seeds into the ground by going over your planted seeds with a roller. This will assure the seed comes into contact with the soil, giving it a better chance to germinate.
- 6
  Water lightly, but thoroughly moisten the soil. Avoid over-watering as runoff will carry the grass seed with it. Keep the soil consistently moist but not wet until the seeds germinate. In Florida's hot climate, this may mean watering in the morning and again in the evening.
- 7
  Spread a lawn fertilizer over the grass once it's established at a rate of 1 lb. per 1,000 square feet. Water well after fertilizing to assure the nutrients seep to the roots of your grass.

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