Knowledge from Olle Garden Bed: About St. Augustine Grass
If you want to build a lawn in a warm climate, St. Augustine is a good choice. Although, you may want to know how quickly you can make the grass grow thicker and evenly distributed in your yard. This article will discuss how to make St. Augustine grow faster and thicker to obtain healthy and even turf. We will explain how to help promote its uniform propagation. The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
Is St. Augustine easy to spread?
St. Augustine is a great choice for warm season lawn grass. It thrives in direct sunlight, but is also resilient to shadows. But is it easy to spread? Yes, when you have the proper knowledge to maintain this grass, you can promote its growth and help distribute it quickly on the lawn.
St. Augustine grass will "spread" as it grows. To plant St. Augustine, you can use stolons - a horizontally growing stem - that travels above the surface of the earth. Crawling, often referred to as "runners," sprouts and takes root at nodes.
Once the plug is in place, Stolons help cover the lawn faster. The faster the grass spreads, the closer you are to a dense, lush lawn.
How to make St. Augustine grass spread quickly
Homeowners and lawn keepers with limited budgets often avoid the idea of drying grass because it can be very expensive. Plug is an economical choice. They are small pieces of rooted turf, which can be spread quickly and evenly with proper guidance to build thick turf.
Please continue to read the five foolproof instructions on how to make St. Augustine grass spread quickly.
- Consider the soil requirements of St. Augustine
St. Augustine grass will thrive in appropriate soil conditions to support its spread and growth. If the soil is too hard, Platycodon grandiflorum will find it difficult to take root. Therefore, be sure to ventilate the soil before laying this type of grass.
The sandy soil indicates good drainage, which is exactly what you need. Avoid clayey soil varieties.
If your lawn has uneven areas or slopes, you can grade it by adding some topsoil. Grading prevents ponding, which can lead to potential grass rot.
It is also important to test the pH of the soil. You can get help from soil testing services, or you can use DIY soil testing kits, which are readily available in any gardening store. A pH range of 5.0 to 8.5 is acceptable. The slightly acidic pH value is still conducive to the rapid propagation of St. Augustine grass. If the pH of the soil is too low, lime treatment will help improve it. Similarly, you can use fertilizer rich in ammonium nitrate to remedy the high pH value.
The flooded soil reduces the underground oxygen supply, leading to sparse growth, and even hinders the spread of St. Augustine grass. Sandy loam and clean sand are excellent topdressing options for St. Augustine grass because they allow it to breathe and help it grow quickly.
- Plug the plant in the right way
Once you have the right soil, it's time to plant plugs. For best results, plant plugs in warm months during the peak growing season.
Can you buy St. Augustine seeds instead of plugs or turf?
When planting this kind of grass, the plug is an effective and economical choice. The seeds of St. Augustine are difficult to obtain. You can go sod, especially if you are looking for a complete lawn. The problem with hypnosis is that it can be very expensive.
Plugs may require more patience, but they can spread quickly to form beautiful lawns.
There are three ways to plant plugs on the lawn. The basic rule is that the more plugs are planted per square foot, the faster St. Augustine grass will spread and cover the surface area of the lawn.
A lower plug density per square foot will not be expensive, but you will have to wait longer to see the lush grass.
How long does it take for St. Augustine grass to spread?
Seven to 14 days after planting the St. Augustine plug, you will notice that the grass begins to spread. The density of the plugs will affect how quickly you can build thick sod. You can select high-density, typical density or low-density plugs. Here, by density, we mean the spacing between plugs. The closer the plugs are, the faster they will spread on the lawn.
High density plug:
There are 6–11 inches between each plug - this type of plug can be filled quickly. Under perfect conditions, plugs are scattered on the exposed spots of the lawn in a growing season (i.e. 6-8 months).
Typical density plug:
There are 12-18 inches between each plug, which takes up to a year (8-10 months) to fully cover the yard. This takes more time to fill the bald spots on the lawn, but these areas are more cost-effective.
Low density plug:
There are 13-24 inches between each plug, which may take more than 12 months to fill the bald lawn. If you must use a low density plug, make sure that the flow of people is low.
- Keep a healthy lawn care program
You can maintain a healthy lawn care program by regularly following the recommended watering and pruning schedule. You must also use the right fertilizer at the right time.
Follow the regular watering schedule
After planting the St. Augustine plug, water it gently several times a day. If the weather is hot and dry, even water it a little more. After two weeks, you need to soak the lawn in 1/2 inch of water every day. Water several times a week until you can see that the grass is big enough. Only water when it is very hot. Ideally, the grass should build enough grass within 6 weeks.
Underwater St. Augustine may become inactive and stop spreading.
Understand the recommended height for mowing
Before you cut the grass, make it 2.5 inches long - any shorter, the grass will not spread quickly. For safety, set the mower to 3 inches. We recommend bagging or collecting your newspaper clippings to avoid too much organic matter overpowering the grass.
Newspaper clipping, if not collected, may lead to thatch, and it is not allowed to spread in the crawl room.
Use the right kind of fertilizer
Fertilizers provide the necessary nutrients for St. Augustine grass. Use starting fertilizer after inserting the plug, which will ensure a strong root system by providing the right amount of phosphorus.
Don't choose nitrogen rich fertilizer at the beginning, because too much of this nutrient will burn your grass. However, this is not to diminish the importance of nitrogen to thick, lush lawns. It is better to use nitrogen rich fertilizer after establishing solid roots.
For bald spots, slow release nitrogen fertilizer is selected.
Important: Use fertilizer only during the growing season. Using fertilizer during dormancy can cause weed problems.
- Know the right time to plant St. Augustine
The best time to plant St. Augustine is in summer, because it is the fur in warm season. Summer is the peak growth season of this special grass, which will lead to thick and fast spread.
St. Augustine is inactive in winter and autumn. If planted during this period, this type of grass will not spread quickly.
- Regularly kill weeds
When killing weeds on the lawn, we should take the initiative.
Killing weeds before they become a nuisance can prevent them from occupying the space where St. Augustine grass spreads and limit any competition for nutrients. It is suggested to stimulate the rapid spread of St. Augustine grass because the invasion of weeds leads to growth inhibition. The faster the grass spreads, the smaller the space left for weeds to fill.
To target weeds in the lawn, use pre emergence selective herbicides at the beginning. If the temperature exceeds 85 ° C, be careful not to use herbicides.
Key points
Before planting the plug, be sure to test the pH of the soil and ensure that the soil is aerated.
Avoid clayey soil and choose sandy varieties.
Follow strict lawn maintenance procedures - water and trim at the right time.
Start with fermented fertilizer, then use nitrogen rich fertilizer.
Compared with sowing, plug is an economical choice.
Plant plugs in warm months to promote healthy growth.
Choosing the right density plug depends on how much time and effort you are willing to invest in the propagation of St. Augustine grass.
In terms of weeds, we should take preemptive measures - remove them before they spread, and take up the space and nutrition needed for crawling.
If you keep in mind the points mentioned above, you can quickly build beautiful thick turf and distribute it evenly throughout the yard.