04/08/2026
New shipment of St. Augustine just arrived! Get the best picks before the weekend rush. 🚛💨
High-grade sod. Low-stress maintenance. 📉
St. Augustine Grass: The Ultimate Care Guide
Congratulations on your new lawn! St. Augustine is a premium, lush, and salt-tolerant grass perfect for our warm climate. Follow this guide to ensure your investment thrives and stays "neighborhood envy" green.
1. Watering: The Foundation of Growth
Proper hydration is the difference between a crispy lawn and a carpet-like oasis.
• The "Establishment" Phase (First 2 Weeks): * Water daily for about 15–20 minutes per zone.
• Goal: Keep the sod and the soil beneath it consistently moist (but not a swamp) to encourage root knitting.
• The Maintenance Phase (Week 3 and Beyond):
• Transition to deep, infrequent watering. Aim for 1 inch of water per week, delivered in 2–3 sessions.
• Best Time: Always water in the early morning (4 AM – 8 AM). This allows the blades to dry during the day, preventing fungal diseases.
• Signs of Thirst: If the grass blades begin to "fold" or turn a dull bluish-gray color, it’s time to water.
The First Cut: Wait until the roots have firmly attached to the soil (usually 14–21 days). Give it a "tug test"—if the sod doesn't lift, you’re ready to mow.
• Optimal Height: Maintain your mower at 3 to 4 inches.
• Why? Taller grass develops deeper roots and provides shade to the soil, reducing evaporation and w**d germination.
• The Golden Rule: Never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade in a single mowing. Scalping St. Augustine stresses the plant and invites pests.
• Blade Maintenance: Ensure your mower blades are sharp. Dull blades tear the grass, leaving jagged brown edges that are susceptible to disease.
• Clippings: Leave the clippings on the lawn! They decompose quickly and return valuable nitrogen to the soil.
Tip Avoid Heavy Traffic: Stay off the new sod as much as possible for the first 3 weeks while the root system settles.
• Watch the Shade: While St. Augustine is shade-tolerant, it still needs at least 4–6 hours of filtered light to stay thick.
• Fertilizing: Wait at least 30–60 days after installation before applying your first round of nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Don’t forget your fertilizer! Your grass need it !
For St. Augustine and other high-performance southern grasses, "Super Turf" fertilizers usually refer to high-nitrogen, slow-release formulas designed to promote deep green color without causing excessive growth surges or "burning" the lawn.
Super Turf fertilizers
• Iron (Fe): Essential for that deep, "blue-green" St. Augustine look without forcing growth.
• Manganese (Mn): Especially important in the Gulf Coast region to prevent yellowing (chlorosis) in alkaline soils.
• Magnesium (Mg): Helps with photosynthesis and overall plant health.
The "Water-In" Rule: Always water the lawn immediately after application. This "activates" the fertilizer and moves it off the grass blades and down to the roots to prevent chemical burn.
• Timing: Apply once the grass is fully out of dormancy and has been mowed at least twice. In our climate, this usually means a late spring, mid-summer, and early fall application.
• Measurement: Use a broadcast spreader. "More is not better"—over-fertilizing St. Augustine can lead to Thatch buildup and attract pests like Chinch bugs.
