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Mowing
Mow lawn at 2 1/2 inches. Mow before grass gets above 4 inches.
Fertilization
Fertilize with 1/2 pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet in June and August and 1 pound of nitrogen in July. In absence of a soil test, use a complete (N-P-K) fertilizer with a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio.
Irrigation
Water to prevent drought stress. About 1 inch of water per application each week is needed for growing St. Augustinegrass. Sandy soils often require more frequent watering, i.e., 1/2 inch of water every third day.
Disease Control
Check for gray leaf spot and brown patch.
Weed Control
Apply postemergence herbicides as needed for control of summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds, such as knotweed, spurge, and lespedeza, etc.
St. Augustinegrass is sensitive to certain herbicides (e.g., 2,4-D and MSMA), so follow label directions and use with caution. Do not apply herbicides unless weeds are actively growing and lawn is not suffering from drought stress. Check for presence of crabgrass and goosegrass to determine if a preemergence herbicide is needed next spring.
Insect Control
Check for chinch bug activity in sunny locations when yellow to brownish spots or drought symptoms appear. Push a coffee can (with top and bottom removed) into the ground and fill with water. Chinch bugs will float to the surface if present. Treat only if you observe 20 or more chinch bugs per square foot.
Thatch Removal
If dethatching is necessary, mow grass to 2 1/2 inches and use a power rake with
3-inch blade spacing to dethatch. The best time to check for thatch is late in the
summer before dethatching the following spring. If thatch layer is 3/4 inches thick, dethatching is recommended.
September - November | December - February | March - May
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