Click
photos for larger view.
 St.
Augustine is a turf grass widely
adapted to the world's warm, humid (subtropical) regions. It
is believed to be native to the coastal regions of both the
Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean. In Florida, St. Augustine
is the most common planted turf grass in urban, coastal areas.
It can be grown in a wide variety of soils, but grows best in
well-drained, fertile soils. To produce an acceptable quality
lawn, St. Augustine grass requires WATERING and FERTLIZING.
ADVANTAGES - St. Augustine grass produces a dark to blue-green,
dense turf that is well adapted to most soils and climatic regions
in Florida. It has good salt tolerance and certain cultivars
will generally tolerate shade better than other warm-season
turf grasses. St. Augustine grass establishes from sod quickly
and easily. Several different types of St. Augustine grass sod
and plugs are available from garden centers and sod installers
throughout Florida.
DISADVANTAGES - St. Augustine grass, like most turf grasses,
has certain cultural and pest problems which may limit its use
in some situations. The coarse leaf texture is objectionable
to some people. It requires irrigation to produce a good quality
turf, and does not remain green during drought conditions without
supplemental irrigation. Excessive thatch buildup can occur
under moderate to high fertility and frequent irrigation conditions.
It wears poorly, and some varieties are susceptible to cold
damage. The major insect pest of St. Augustine grass is the chinch
bug and sod
webworms.
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 Bahiagrass was introduced from Brazil in 1914
and was originally used as a pasture grass on the poor sandy
soils of the southeastern United States. Several varieties have
become available for use as lawn grasses. The ability of bahiagrasses
to persist on infertile, dry soils and their resistance to most
pests have made them increasingly popular with homeowners.
ADVANTAGES - Bahiagrass can be grown from seed which
is abundant and relatively inexpensive. Once established, these
grasses develop an extensive root system which makes them one
of the most drought tolerant lawn grasses. Bahiagrass produces
a very durable sod which is able to withstand moderate traffic.
In addition, bahiagrasses have fewer pest problems than any
other Florida lawn grass, although mole crickets can severely
damage it.
DISADVANTAGES - Bahiagrasses have a relatively open
growth habit and the tall unsightly seed heads that are produced
continuously from May through November. The prolific seed heads,
plus the very tough leaves and stems make bahias difficult to
mow. The coarse texture of several bahia varieties reduce their
visual quality. Bahiagrasses are not well adapted to soils having
high pH (alkaline soils) and grow poorly in areas subject to
salt spray. They often appear yellow in spring and fall due
to lack of iron and they can be seriously damaged by insects
called mole crickets. Bahiagrass has low tolerance to most currently
available post emergence grass herbicides. This makes weed control
difficult in bahiagrass turf.
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 Bermuda grass is planted throughout Florida primarily
on golf courses, athletic fields, tennis courts, and bowling
greens. They are primarily used in areas where fine-textured,
high quality turf is essential for sports activities, and maintenance
budgets are adequate. Bermuda grass is native to Africa where
it thrived on fertile soils. Today, most of the bermuda grass
used for turf in Florida are hybrids of two different species.
ADVANTAGES - Bermuda grass produces a vigorous, light
to dark green, dense turf that is well adapted to most soils
and climatic regions in Florida. Bermuda grass has excellent
wear, drought and salt tolerance and is a good choice for ocean
front property. It establishes rapidly and is competitive against
weeds and, depending on the variety, is available as seed, sod
or sprigs.
DISADVANTAGES - Bermuda grass has a large number of cultural
and pest problems which restrict its use in many Florida situations.
It is not suitable for most home lawns because of the need for
restricted use pesticides to control nematodes and insects.
It also requires the most maintenance for an acceptable appearance
of any Florida turf grass. Top^^^
The best way to irrigate an established
lawn is on an as needed basis. Grass blades will begin to wilt as the
moisture begins to be depleted in the soil. If 30 to 50 percent of the
lawn shows signs of slight wilting such as curled blades and a gray
appearance it is then time to water with 1 inch of water, the turf should
fully recover within 24 hours. Then wait until the turf shows signs
of wilting again before watering.
Localized dry areas or hotspots should
be watered by hand or by a separate sprinkler to those spots only and
not the whole lawn. This method of watering works for any soil type
and environmental condition. Proper watering practices will help maintain
a lawn that requires less mowing and has little thatch buildup. Proper
watering will also help develop a deep root system, and plants less
susceptible to damage by pest and environmental stresses. Top^^^
Proper mowing practices are important
in maintaining an attractive lawn. Both height and frequency of cut
need to be adjusted for the level of turf management. Under high levels
of management, St. Augustine grass can be maintained at a 2-inch height.
Mowing at this height and frequency requires more fertilizer and water
to maintain an attractive lawn. It should be noted that mowing at this
low height could cause problems in turf quality and predispose turf
to more pest problems. Under moderate to low levels of management,
St.
Augustine should be cut at 3-4 inch height. This will help the grass
develop a deep root system and give a better appearance to the turf.
Remove no more than one third of the height of leaf blades with any
mowing. Mowing too high or infrequently can cause a thatch buildup.
The secret to mowing at 3 inches is to water the lawn only when there
are signs of moisture stress (See Watering).
This will keep growth to a minimum and reduce the rate of thatch buildup. Top^^^
Maintaining a good quality lawn requires
a properly planned fertility program. A low maintenance St. Augustine
grass lawn should be fertilized twice a year, once in the spring and
once in the fall. Apply a complete fertilizer such as a 16-4-8 or 24-5-11,
follow label for application rates. A moderate maintenance level should
receive a complete fertilizer four times a year March, May, July, and
September. When this fertility level is combined with proper watering,
the result may be a good quality lawn with minimal thatch buildup.
A
high maintenance St. Augustine grass lawn should have no more than six
applications per year. Fertilizer applications should be spaced out
evenly preferably every other month. A complete fertilizer should be
used every application. High fertilization rates may produce a faster
buildup of thatch than low rates, also the amount of mowing and watering
increases with the amount of fertilizer. Careful planning is necessary
to grow the type of lawn desired. CONTACT US to plan your lawns fertilizing program. Top^^^
Several insects and related pests are common in St. Augustine grass,
Bahiagrass and Bermuda grass. Southern chinch
bugs, spittlebugs and bermuda grass mites suck plant juices. Mole
crickets, white grubs, and hunting
bill bugs live in the soil and damage the grass roots. Sod
webworms and armyworms eat the grass leaves. Large populations of these insects have become
resistant to some over the counter insecticides. We have alternative
insecticides to solve this problem. We also have provided you with pictures
and text about some of the problem insects which could damage your lawn.
For diagnosis and treatment recommendations please CONTACT
US for more information, questions or comments. Top^^^
DISEASES
Gray leaf spot and brown patch are the two major disease
problems of St. Augustine grass. Brown patch occurs in warm, humid weather
and is encouraged by excessive nitrogen. Gray leaf spot occurs during
the rainy season and is primarily a problem on new growth. Fungicides
can control both diseases. CONTACT US for
diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Top^^^
Weeds can simply be defined as unwanted plants growing out-of-place.
The proper identification and an understanding of growth habits of
weeds are important in understanding the biology and best control
strategy. Knowledge of whether or not weeds were previously present
in a particular area will also help you prepare for control procedures
in the future. Proper management practices can eliminate most weed
problems. If weeds are a persistent problem, herbicides labeled specifically
for ST. AUGUSTINEGRASS, BAHIAGRASS and BERMUDAGRASS can be used for weed control. For diagnosis and treatment recommendations CONTACT US for more information, questions
or comments. Top^^^
OTHER PROBLEMS
A number of other things can damage
the quality of a lawn. To insure a good St. Augustine Grass lawn CONTACT
US for a complete inspection and diagnosis. |
