St. Augustine Grass
Although St. Augustine grass is a popular warm season choice, it is different than many of the other choices when it comes to maintenance. In fact, this grass choice is actually rated moderate to high when it comes to amount of upkeep required. The other concern is that it is not as adaptable to soil conditions as other warm season choices.
For St. Augustine grass to do well, the soil conditions must be fertile and there must be drainage present. This grass likes regular watering best as long as that drainage is in place. As is fairly common with other warm climate grasses, this choice does not do well with exposure to cold weather or drought conditions.
St. Augustine Facts
St. Augustine is a medium to dark green warm-season turf that is grown all over Texas, down to Florida and in many of the Gulf states as well. This turf thrives on sunlight and grows best in USDA growing zones 8-10.
It is known for having a blueish hue and will turn even bluer when it needs water. This turfgrass is able to hold its color longer in winter than other warm-season grasses.
This turf grows faster than other turfgrasses because it has rhizomes, growing underground and stolon’s spreading above-ground. This is a quality that causes St. Augustine to be the chosen turfgrass for many people.
Below You’ll Find a List Detailing the Pros and Cons of This Grass.
Pros
- Grows well in many types of soil
- Shade tolerant
- Heat resistant
- Salt resistant
- Spreads densely
- Competes well with weeds
Cons
- Cannot grow in waterlogged soil
- Does not like cold weather
- Can only withstand light foot traffic
- Susceptible to chinch bugs
Keep in Mind
If you have a shady area in your yard, St. Augustine grass may be the right choice for you. There are many cultivars currently available and they all have different best qualities.
St. Augustine will need to be properly watered and fertilized in order to spread quickly and grow densely.
It’s a practical decision to contact an educated lawn care specialist that can advise you on which variety will work best for your specific lawn.