How to Plant & Prepare St. Augustine Grass in Florida

Spray a non-selective herbicide over your planting area to kill any existing vegetation. Apply the herbicide two to three weeks before laying your St. Augustine sod to ensure that the herbicide had has ample time to be washed away. For best results, follow the application instructions included with your herbicide product.

Cover the surface of your entire planting area with 50 lbs. of hydrated lime and 20 lbs. of 5-10-15 fertilizer, per every 1,000 square feet of planting area. Top the hydrated lime and 5-10-15 fertilizer with a 1-inch layer of well-rotted compost. Use a shovel, spade, garden fork or tiller to work the hydrated lime, fertilizer and well-rotted compost into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil.

Rake the surface of the soil at your planting area to a smooth finish. Remove any organic debris such as rocks, sticks or hard clumps of earth. Fill in any uneven spots with soil so that you can lay your St. Augustine grass sod on a flat, even surface.

Water your planting area generously one to two days before laying your St. Augustine sod. Apply enough supplemental irrigation to moisten the soil to a depth of 1 to 1-1/2 inches.

Lay your St. Augustine grass sod pieces end-to-end over the prepared and moistened planting area. Stagger every other row of sod to prevent the seems from lining up. Fit the edges of the sod pieces together tightly to avoid gaps in your St. Augustine lawn.

Go over the entire planting area with a water-filled lawn roller to ensure that the roots of the sod make good contact with the soil.

Water your newly-laid St. Augustine grass sod with a minimum of 1 inch of water immediately after planting. Continue to water your new lawn daily with as much water as is necessary to keep the top 1 inch of soil evenly moist. Reduce the irrigation frequency and amount to a 1/2 inch of water every three days for the next two weeks. After two weeks, provide your lawn with at least 1 inch of supplemental irrigation each week.