Fact Sheet ENH-73 1995 Yearly Calendar for St. Augustinegrass Care and Culture1 L. B. McCarty and John L. Cisar2 St. Augustinegrass is a fast-growing, warm-season GENERAL MAINTENANCE turfgrass used extensively in Florida. It grows well on most well drained soils. For optimum quality, The level of lawn maintenance is dependent on adequate irrigation and fertilization are required. St. turfgrass quality desired, time, and money available Augustinegrass is tolerant to saline irrigation and (Table 1). These factors will regulate the amount of brackish water, and is the best shade tolerant grass fertilizer and pesticides applied each year. Persons suitable for Florida. Since most St. Augustinegrass requiring minimal maintenance for their lawns should cultivars are quite sensitive to freezing temperatures, have a low fertility program and apply pesticides only other turfgrasses may be more appropriate in the on a curative basis only. This consists of two fertilizer northern and panhandle areas of Florida. Also, St. applications per year at the rate of 1 pound of Augustinegrass is coarse (wide) in leaf texture and has nitrogen per 1000 square feet per application (e.g., poor wear tolerance, which may be undesirable for 6.25 pounds 16–4–8 = 1 pound nitrogen, 0.25 pound some purposes. P2O5, and 0.5 pound K2O per 1000 square feet). The first application should follow the onset of spring Cultivars of St. Augustinegrass differ in their green-up, and the last should be timed for late resistance to plant pests. Only the cultivars Floralawn summer in north Florida and early fall in south and Floratam are tolerant to the southern chinch bug, Florida. A high-maintenance lawn in Florida would a common turfgrass insect. Another insect, sod receive 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per webworm, and the fungal diseases brown patch and year applied in 1-pound increments during March, grey leaf spot can also cause damage. May, July, and September. In south Florida, an additional application of fertilizer may be required in As discussed in this section, proper lawn early winter due to the extended growing season and management practices are the best means of avoiding sandy soils. Although nitrogen is the element most plant pest problems and obtaining high quality commonly applied to turfgrass, other essential turfgrass. If problems continue, contact your local elements, plus micronutrients, should be part of a Cooperative Extension Service office for assistance. fertilizer maintenance program. For all maintenance For further information on available cultivars and levels, a minimum of two treatments of a complete establishment practices, refer to lawn establishment fertilizer such as 16–4–8 or 12–4–8 should be made and maintenance sections. Local growing conditions per year in order to supply the other essential and resources available may require growers to elements of phosphorus and potassium. Complete slightly deviate from these guidelines. fertilizers (N–P–K) containing micronutrients such as 1. This document is Fact Sheet ENH-73, a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. This information is included in the Florida Lawn Handbook, SP-45. For a copy of this handbook, request information on its purchase at your county extension office. First published: May 1991. Revised: January 1995. 2. L. B. McCarty, associate professor, Commercial Turf Specialist, Environmental Horticulture Department, Gainesville; John L. Cisar, associate professor, Turf Specialist, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. For information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences / University of Florida / Christine Taylor Stephens, Dean Yearly Calendar for St. Augustinegrass Care and Culture Page 2 manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), sulfur (S), magnesium manganese deficiency. For iron deficiency, spray (Mg) and boron (B) should also be considered, ferrous sulfate (2 ounces in 3 to 5 gallons of water especially if micronutrient deficiencies are expected per 1000 square feet) or a chelated iron source (refer for the lawn site. Other applications can be just a to the label for rates), to temporarily enhance color. nitrogen fertilizer source or fertilizer with nitrogen Iron applications every 6 weeks will help maintain and potassium (e.g., 15–0–14). Additional green color and, unlike nitrogen, will not promote applications may be required to encourage turf excessive topgrowth. On high pH soils (>7.0) or recovery from environmental stress or pest damage or where high pH (>7.0) water is applied, manganese to encourage rapid coverage for a newly sprigged or deficiency may also become evident. Lower the soil plugged lawn. pH by applying 15 pounds elemental sulfur per 1000 square feet prior to grass establishment. Once the FEBRUARY - MAY grass is established, up to 5 pounds of elemental sulfur may be added per 1000 square feet, if it is Mowing immediately irrigated in to prevent burn. Using ammonium nitrate or sulfate as a fertilizer source will Proper mowing practices are essential for also help to temporarily reduce soil pH. Apply maintaining a quality lawn. Mow the lawn at 3 inches manganese as a fertilizer with micronutrients or as as needed on low-maintenance lawns or 2½ inches on straight manganese sulfate (MnSO4) bimonthly at 0.41 higher-maintenance lawns. Mowing at a lower height pound per 1000 square feet (18 pounds per acre) to will encourage shallow rooting, which is less tolerant relieve deficiency symptoms if present. Submit a soil to drought and nematode pressure. Remove no more sample yearly to your local county Cooperative than the height of the leaf blade with any mowing Extension Service office to determine the soil pH, (e.g., for a lawn to be maintained at 3 inches in nutrient levels present, and if any deficiencies exist. height, mow when the turf reaches 4 to 4½ inches). Rotary mowers are typically used to maintain home Irrigation lawns. Over time, impact of the rotary blade with St. Augustinegrass will dull the mower blades. Mowing Normally, fall through spring is the driest period with dull blades will shred leaf blades, extend the of the year. Therefore, irrigation is required to recovery period of the grass, and lower the aesthetic replace water lost via evapotranspiration. For water quality of the lawn. Use only a sharp, balanced conservation, irrigate to prevent drought stress on an mower blade and return clippings on the lawn unless as-needed basis. Irrigate when the turf begins to wilt, the amount is excessive (e.g., clumping occurs). If turns blue-gray in color, and/or recovery from foot or clippings are excessive, allow them to dry in the sun tire tracks is slow. Apply enough water to rewet the and then scatter them by remowing, blowing, or soil rootzone and then wait until the turf shows signs raking. of drought (e.g., wilting) again before the next irrigation (usually every 7 to 14 days in winter, 3 to 4 Fertilization days in April-May, depending on soil type and maintenance practices). For most Florida soils, no Two weeks following spring regrowth more than ¾ inch of water is necessary for each (approximately March in north Florida, February in irrigation period to rewet the top 8 to 12 inches of south Florida), apply a complete fertilizer such as the root zone. To determine the amount of water 16–4–8 at the rate of 1 pound nitrogen per 1000 being applied, place several coffee cans around your square feet (e.g., 6.25 pounds 16–4–8 per 1000 square irrigation system. Turn on the system for a specific feet). The numbers refer to percent nitrogen, time period. Measure the depth of water in each can, phosphorus (P2O5), and potassium (K2O), respectively, and take an average. The time required to achieve an in the bag. A complete fertilizer contains all three average of ¾ inch depth of water is the time period major nutrients. For example, a 50-pound bag of one should use for each irrigation period. The length 16–4–8 contains 16% nitrogen or 8 pounds total of the irrigation period to apply this ¾ inch can stay nitrogen. For a 1-pound nitrogen per 1000 square constant year round; only the frequency between foot rate, this bag will cover 8000 square feet. For irrigations should change. Therefore, irrigation higher-maintained lawns, apply 1 pound nitrogen per programs set by automatic timers do not need to 1000 square feet again in May. On high pH (>7.0) operate on a daily schedule. They need only to soils or where high pH water is applied, yellow operate after the turf begins to show signs of drought appearance may be an indication of iron or and then be programmed to apply an average of ¾ Yearly Calendar for St. Augustinegrass Care and Culture Page 3 inch of water. Overwatering encourages nutrient ounces of detergent soap per 2 square feet in leaching, increased pest problems, shallow rooting, suspected damaged areas. Mole crickets will surface and, of course, water waste. For further information in several minutes. refer to the chapter on "How to Calibrate Your Sprinkler System" in this publication. Check with your local county Cooperative Extension Service office for positive mole cricket Weed Control identification and latest control recommendations. When applying any pesticide, read and follow all label The best approach to weed control is a healthy, instructions.