How to Revive St Augustine Grass

The St Augustine grass is characteristic of a rich grass green color, the blades of the turf are soft, and healthy with rounded tips. The lawn grass will typically remain dormant in the cooler months, and pick up again when spring sets in.

Once laid on the ground, the lawn grass will not grow dense and thick on its own, meaning that proper care and maintenance procedures must be instituted, for it to achieve the perfect cosmetic finish.

Individuals aiming for the dense lush green covering will have to put in more effort and invest in the right fertilizer meant for the specific type of turf. The mower used to cut the grass must incorporate sharp blades and the grass must be watered consistently.

Common St Augustine grass problems 

Some man-made and natural conditions encourage the deterioration of the St Augustine grass. For example, failure to use insecticides in the lawn will deteriorate the health of the St Augustine grass, because insects such as the southern chinch bug, will feed on the grass and consequently damage your lawn.

Applying fertilizer to the St Augustine grass when it is too hot is not advisable because it will leave the lawn with bald patches, caused by burning, and fungus will develop when the turf is overwatered.

Thatch that has been left to grow too thick in the lawn will also kill the grass, and while weeds are a concern for other types of grass, they will rarely thrive when growing close to the St Augustine grass. However, if they become a menace, it would be best to remove them by hand.

How to revive the St Augustine Grass 

Allow time for the grass to grow

St Augustine will easily succumb to foot traffic, thus parking, playing, and constantly walking on the grass will not encourage growth. Lawn owners should, therefore, allow some space for the grass to grow and which also involves keeping pets off the turf.

Check and improve your lawn soil conditions

The soil in your lawn plays host to St Augustine’s grass, to which we must ensure that the ph is below 7.5; for proper growth, the soil should also not be compacted or waterlogged. So, before replanting the grass, the PH of the soil should be tested, and after a successful analysis in the lab, you will be informed of the nutrients that are missing, and the steps to take, to restore the same.

Work the ground

Your St Augustine turf could be dying because of too much thatch, which restricts water, fertilizer, and air from getting through to the soil. Most people might argue that they are returning nutrients to the soil, which is fine but then the thatch shouldn’t be too much to deny the roots access to the relevant nutrients.

Check and improve on the moisture content

Depending on your area’s weather conditions, you might want to supplement the poor rains with tap water. Just like any other plant, St Augustine will need up to ¾ inches of water at least twice every week, and which when summed up will make about 1 ½ inch of water weekly.

Lawn owners, might also, want to increase the frequency of irrigation during the hot summer periods but should spread out the irrigation periods, to 3 occasions within the week.

Most importantly is that the water must soak into the ground, and a test must be carried out to check if the water has reached a safe depth of about 6 inches. Any resistance on the ground after watering means that more water is needed.

Be careful with the mowing height

Mowers can do a good job of uprooting your grass by the roots, so if you are still learning how to use one, better let a professional mow the lawn for you. Ideally, the St Augustine grass should be mowed to a height of either 2 ½ or 4 inches, the above is subject to the management regime and site. The growing conditions also play a big role in the growth of the turf, given that some people grow the grass in shady areas and others in sunny areas.

Mowers and mower blades

The mower and the mower blade are two distinct pieces of equipment that complement each other. The best mowers, for the St Augustine grass, have been detailed in the table below, and lawn owners must, therefore, ensure that the blades used with the mowers are sharp.

Eliminate pest and insects

Well there is no two way about this, insects and pests will make a dwelling in any thick and thriving turf and in the process feed or destroy the blades by biting or feeding on them. Pesticides formulated for use on the St Augustine grass must be used and at the right frequency.

Most pesticides are applied with a time interval of either 4 or five months, which in the long run helps keep your pets and other household members safe.

Use Fertilizer

St Augustine needs fertilizer to thrive; the application will, therefore, be done at least three times during the summer period. The best way to go about fertilizer application is by first testing the soil to determine the missing nutrients, but if getting the soil tested proves impossible then a complete fertilizer should be used with a ratio of 3-1-2.

Mower	Type	Model
Earthwise	Push mower	1715-16EW
Troy Bilt	Riding lawn mower	382cc
Green works 16inch	Corded lawn mower	24142
Greenworks	Dethatcher	27022

Conclusion 

Re-instituting the proper care processes is the only viable way to revive your lawn grass and achieve dense, green, and healthy grass blades. Lawn owners must also know that caring for the lawn is not a one-time thing rather an ongoing process that calls for adherence to a strict schedule.

FAQ’s 

1. How do I make my St Augustine grass dense? 

Ensure to water the turf consistently and use the relevant fertilizer in the right amount

2. How do I make my St Augustine grass spread faster? 

Ensure that you plant the grass on the right soil type, one that is well-fertilized, aerated, and watered.