I take care of my Flortram St Augustine. First, never use a product unless it specifically says it’s ok for St Augustine grass. It’s easily killed by weed killers in many fertilizers.
Water deep when watering. Your short watering times are training the roots to grow shallow. I water twice a week for one hour each time at 3AM. If the blades start folding (seen as a shadow on the lawn) add a third day of watering of 20 minutes. You’ll adjust your watering back cooler the weather, but even in winter I water 20 minutes once a week. The roots are still growing in the winter here.
Cut no lower than 3.5”. It stresses St Augustine to be cut lower.
Spread granular slow release fertilizer every 3 months. I use Scott’s for Southern Lawns.
Biggest issues will be chinch bugs and sod web worms. They can kill your grass in one week if not treated. Thereby, in summer months be PROACTIVE not reactive. Apply granular insecticide once a month June to October. Bags say they are good for entire season. Not here. I use Scott’s GrubEX or Spectrum Triazacide granular once a month.
Your irrigation system will not water your lawn if you have set the parameters or use the defaults when it’s rained within 24 hours, or so much rain within 3 days, or a high percentage chance of rain. You can change these parameters. Once a month you’ll also need a granular fungicide with all these rains. I apply it once a month during rainy season. Scott’s DiseaseX .
I have not airiated the grass the four years I’ve lived here but recently bought a manual foot one that punches plugs out and will use this season.
Good luck. St Augustine is high maintenance and temperamental. However if you stay proactive and not waiting for something to happen you’ll be well rewarded with a thick beautiful lawn.
|