Caring for Floratam sod

[Coop63]

Our new pre-owned home has Floratam sod that needs some TLC. I have a landscape guy coming next week to lay down some new top soil and seed. Once we move in, plan to take care of the lawn myself. Coming from the North where we put down crabgrass preventer in mid April and weed-n-feed on the warm weather holidays (Memorial day, 4th of July and Labor day), aeriate and plant seed in the fall. I presume there is a general rule of thumb for central Florida?

We backup to a pond with the Village easement around to edge. Are there any environmental restrictions using weed-n-feed?

Irrigation system is set to 4 days a week, 15 minutes at 4am. I see the Village recommendation sticker on the panel, not sure if anyone follows that based on what I am reading. I know with new seed, watering should be more often. After that wondering if schedule should be set to less frequent, longer ?

Also read that it should be cut about 3-4". That seems high given that the grass blades are broad and tend to lay down.

I value the feedback on this forum, and know I will get some great responses. Thanks in advance

[metoo21]

Floratam is a variant of St Augustine. These isn't any type of St Augustine that can be seeded. Plugs only. What type of different grass is he going to be seeding? May not want to introduce a different type of grass as the coloration (green) and texture will be different.

[Coop63]

Floratam is a variant of St Augustine. These isn't any type of St Augustine that can be seeded. Plugs only. What type of different grass is he going to be seeding? May not want to introduce a different type of grass as the coloration (green) and texture will be different.

Great question I need to ask. The landscaper did come highly recommended. Thanks.

[vintageogauge]

Most of the major manufacturers offer food, herbicides, pesticides, etc. for southern lawns. Just follow the directions with a little help from an application of Millorganite early spring and late fall. Your lawn will come back with regular maintenance and wattering.

[Coop63]

Floratam is a variant of St Augustine. These isn't any type of St Augustine that can be seeded. Plugs only. What type of different grass is he going to be seeding? May not want to introduce a different type of grass as the coloration (green) and texture will be different.

According to the landscape guy he mixes soil and fertilizer with St. Augustine seed. My understanding is that Floratam is a hybrid of St. Augustine grass. I read that St. Augustine grass is hard to proliferate and why people go with the hybrid sod (Floratam), thus the plugs. Now I am wondering how effective the landscapers attempt will be with seed.

[djlnc]

"Where can I get St. Augustine Grass seed?
In short—nowhere. While some warm season grasses can be propagated via seed. St. Augustine grass can only be installed in a vegetative fashion: either by laying sod or planting grass plugs."

[metoo21]

I’d suggest googling St Augustine seed.

[thevillages2013]

If I were you I would get three different companies that fertilize/spray lawns to look at your grass and give you an estimate on a treatment plan. There are critters(chinch bugs and mole crickets) here in central Florida that will eat your grass roots if not properly treated . I would check with GreenSmiths, Dean’s and Arrow Exterminators but there are many other companies here. Arrow does mine

[Rzepecki]

University of Florida is your friend: https://turf.ifas.ufl.edu/media/hortifasufledu/turf-science/turf-science-pdfs/home-owners-guide/EH_HomeownersGuideToStAugustinegrassManagement_Fac tsheet_Final.pdf

[NoMo50]

If you truly have a St. Augustine variant (Floratam, Pro Vista, CitraBlue), there is no such thing as commercially viable seed. Any landscaper who tells you otherwise either doesn't know what he's talking about, or is a crook. Be wary.

[Wondering]

Our new pre-owned home has Floratam sod that needs some TLC. I have a landscape guy coming next week to lay down some new top soil and seed. Once we move in, plan to take care of the lawn myself. Coming from the North where we put down crabgrass preventer in mid April and weed-n-feed on the warm weather holidays (Memorial day, 4th of July and Labor day), aeriate and plant seed in the fall. I presume there is a general rule of thumb for central Florida?

We backup to a pond with the Village easement around to edge. Are there any environmental restrictions using weed-n-feed?

Irrigation system is set to 4 days a week, 15 minutes at 4am. I see the Village recommendation sticker on the panel, not sure if anyone follows that based on what I am reading. I know with new seed, watering should be more often. After that wondering if schedule should be set to less frequent, longer ?

Also read that it should be cut about 3-4". That seems high given that the grass blades are broad and tend to lay down.

I value the feedback on this forum, and know I will get some great responses. Thanks in advance
Floratam is ST. Augustine, which, in my option, is a weed. Horrible to cut and walk on. Cinch bug issue as well. You are wasting your money if you think you can care for it like you did up North. Hie a lawn service and someone to cut it.

[Miboater]

As far as your irrigation you may be watering too much or too little depending on the sprinkler heads you have. I have the Hunter MP heads and it takes about 50 minutes to get the recommended 1/2 inch of water. From the utube videos I've watched and from what I've read it recommended watering every 3 days in the summer with a 1/2 inch. I would start there and adjust as needed but do the tuna can test to see how long it takes to get the 1/2 inch.

I would also adjust your start time so when your schedule finishes it run about 7 or 8am. Letting water sit on your lawn too long without sunlight will leave the grass susceptible to fungus like grey leaf spot and others. That's why it's recommended to let your lawn dry out for a day or two. Also with this daily rain you may not need to use your irrigation system for weeks.

With St Augustine you do want to mow it as high as possible. Doing this will get you lawn thick and will help keep weeds at bay. This St Augustine is a totally different type from my old Kentucky blue grass up north so throw out everything you know about northern grass and start over again.

There's a utube channel called The Lawn Care Nut that I recommend. He lives outside of Tampa so he mostly shows St Augustine and Zoysia tips and is a great way to gain some info on this grass.

[Ptmcbriz]

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.

[sowilts]

Floratam is ST. Augustine, which, in my option, is a weed. Horrible to cut and walk on. Cinch bug issue as well. You are wasting your money if you think you can care for it like you did up North. Hie a lawn service and someone to cut it.
I over seed with Bermuda. It fills in the gaps. Go to Lowes, Home Depot and ask the reps that deliver the lawn fertilizer.

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Our new pre-owned home has Floratam sod that needs some TLC. I have a landscape guy coming next week to lay down some new top soil and seed. Once we move in, plan to take care of the lawn myself. Coming from the North where we put down crabgrass preventer in mid April and weed-n-feed on the warm weather holidays (Memorial day, 4th of July and Labor day), aeriate and plant seed in the fall. I presume there is a general rule of thumb for central Florida?

We backup to a pond with the Village easement around to edge. Are there any environmental restrictions using weed-n-feed?

Irrigation system is set to 4 days a week, 15 minutes at 4am. I see the Village recommendation sticker on the panel, not sure if anyone follows that based on what I am reading. I know with new seed, watering should be more often. After that wondering if schedule should be set to less frequent, longer ?

Also read that it should be cut about 3-4". That seems high given that the grass blades are broad and tend to lay down.

I value the feedback on this forum, and know I will get some great responses. Thanks in advance

1. DO NOT use weed n feed at all. If weeds bother you, treat them as they appear. The timing of weed control with weed n feed almost impossible.
2. 4x a week should be fine temporarily for newly installed sod, but not as a rule. The type of sprinkler head determines how long to water. Longer run times less often makes for deeper roots to help protect during drought and cold. Use a working rain sensor or run irrigation only when needed.
3. Yes there are environmental restrictions for ANY chemical use near water.
4. Fertilize 2x year October/April with a slow release nitrogen. I use Lesco 8-2-12 purchased at One Source in Leesburg. There’s also another product that is recommended by UF/IFAS that they sell.
5. Become friends with the local master gardeners. They offer invaluable, impartial advice, whereas providers push to sell you stuff you may not need.
6. Minimum cutting height is 2 1/2”; set your mower at the highest setting. Long healthy grass will help crowd out weeds. Floratam seed is not available nor does it “reseed.”

[Altavia]

+1 for G.R.I.T.S recomendations. Especially the Lesco 8-2-12.

Be aware the new areas have a sand base with less than 6" clay + soil and then sod on top so make sure you're not getting a lot run-off with longer watering cycles.

You may need to break watering up into several shorter cycles with time inbetween to let the water soak in.

[tophcfa]

According to the landscape guy he mixes soil and fertilizer with St. Augustine seed. My understanding is that Floratam is a hybrid of St. Augustine grass. I read that St. Augustine grass is hard to proliferate and why people go with the hybrid sod (Floratam), thus the plugs. Now I am wondering how effective the landscapers attempt will be with seed.

The subcontractor that T&D used to re sod our lawn after a pool build told me they will only use Floratam sod. It is a St. Augustine hybrid jointly developed by the university’s of Florida and Texas A&M, hence the name Floratam.

[Normal]

I wouldn’t put any seeding down. It makes for some strange and ugly looking lawns. The colors likely won’t match, and most grass doesn’t take the heat like St. Augustine.

[RICH1]

CRABGRASS KILLER will
wipe out your lawn... You are not up North ..

[Mleeja]

Preen offers a crabgrass killer for St. Augustine lawns. I order it from Home Depot as it is not carried in the stores. Does a good job.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Preen-15-lbs-Lawn-Crabgrass-Control-Covers-5-000-sq-ft-2464064/308249265

[Ptmcbriz]

Technically, St Augustine is a type of crabgrass, so beware when needing a weed killer. The only weed killer I use is Atrazine which is made for only St Augustine lawns. You mix a batch up in a half gallon sprayer and before you mow, go around and spot spray any weeds in your grass. It kills the weeds but not your St Augustine lawn. I buy it on Amazon.

[Pondboy]

You got some good info here. Especially the link from the agricultural office at the Univ of FL.

Read that twice to fully understand what they are saying.

Key points to make grass grow are water, food (fertilizer), light (sun) and mowing height. Either too much or too little of those and you will have issues.

If you’re in a new area and want a good lawn, you really need to care for it yourself. Lawn care companies can only put down 2 lbs of nitrogen by law. In the poor soil we have, in a new area, your grass could use 3-4 lbs to thrive. Sandy soil leaches nutrients quickly, a liquid fertilizer has no chance of staying in the soil a long time. Pellets are the way to go. Using a low nitrogen fertilizer like Millorganite in between “big” feedings will help your lawn stay healthy.

Mowing height is critical for success, low cut heights open up the area for weeds to take hold. In thick turf, they (the weed) will be challenged to put down a good root system. I do a weekly walk about to either hand pull or spray the weeds during the growing season.

While you’re doing your research on line for turf, start looking at irrigation system maintenance. It’s inevitable that you will need to raise a head or make an adjustment to it sooner or later, if not already. I’d look at You Tube for some tutorials.

If you’re interested in water conservation, evaluate your irrigation controller to see if it fits your needs. We have a newer “Hunter” controller. I bought the module that connects it to WiFi so that I can control it from my phone. I monitor the weather and can shut it off remotely based on rainfall. It’s really convenient. Lots of info on this forum and You Tube on that option. There are other irrigation controllers available that offer a more “hand off approach” to water conservation, but what I have works for me at this point.

[Miboater]

The subcontractor that T&D used to re sod our lawn after a pool build told me they will only use Floratam sod. It is a St. Augustine hybrid jointly developed by the university’s of Florida and Texas A&M, hence the name Floratam.

In our area they installed Scott's ProVista St Augustine. It supposedly grows slower than Floratam but the main benefit is that you can use glyphosate to kill weeds and it won't hurt the grass.

Our house backs up to a preserve and has a common area on one side so I get a whole variety of different weeds. The hardest ones to kill are torpedo grass and common bermuda which were a struggle. I thought I had Floratam but talking to a Greensmith tech who told me that I has ProVista. Once I found out I started using glyphosate once every couple months and it kills everything but the ProVista.

When we had our pool built I specified that they use provista.

[Ozzello]

THERE IS NO ST AUGUSTINE SEED!!!

Take care of your soil's poor pH 1st, before doing anything, or you are wasting your time,