Weeds gill 19.jpg Utilizing sod or plugs, St. Augustine grass must be established vegetatively. (CHRIS GRANGER) QUESTION: Is there a disadvantage to planting St. Augustine grass seeds as opposed to plugs or sod? Local nurseries and big-box retailers stock a wide variety of grass seeds, but only St.
- Augustine plugs.
- Is this merely a matter of convenience, or are there other motives? – Rob Molaison ANSWER: In general, St.
- Augustine grass does not produce viable seeds like other types of grass.
- This is the reason why seeds are unavailable.
- With sod or plugs, St.
- Augustine grass must be established vegetatively.
April and May are ideal months for laying sod or planting plugs to establish a new lawn or repair a St. Augustine lawn that has been damaged. Dan Gill is a member of the LSU AgCenter’s horticulture department. Enjoy reading about beautiful gardens? Sign up for NOLA.com’s weekly home and garden newsletter, and you’ll receive the most recent tips from Dan Gill as well as stories about the region’s most beautiful landscapes.
How long does it take for St. Augustine seeds to germinate?
Roots typically take seven to fourteen days to establish. After that, water your lawn once per week unless it receives ample rainfall. Newly-planted St. Augustine grass lawns require protection as they establish themselves.
St. Augustine Grass Growth Rate – Given sufficient water and space, this grass grows quickly. Once St. Augustine has been planted and has begun to grow, it will take between 7 and 14 days before it begins to spread. With the correct spacing of plugs or sod, you can expect complete coverage of the desired area within one growing season.
What effect does Epsom salt have on Saint Augustine grass?
What are the advantages of using Epsom Salt on a Lawn? – Knowing the facts about the Epsom salt on your lawn can be helpful in a number of ways, but the benefits will explain why using Epsom salt can help improve your landscape. Magnesium is an essential nutrient for plant growth; therefore, Epsom salt can help to improve the quality of your soil by supplying it with this nutrient.
Epsom salt can help your plants grow by supplying them with the nutrients they require to flourish. Prevents grass blades from curling and maintains a green appearance – Since Epsom contains magnesium and magnesium is a component for producing chlorophyll, it prevents grass blades from curling and maintains a green appearance.
The same nutrient helps the leaf blades of your plants repair themselves and prevents grass blades from curling. If your soil is too dense, Epsom salt can help to improve drainage and aeration, which is beneficial to your lawn’s health. Epsom salt can aid in weed control by making it more difficult for weed seeds to germinate and grow in your lawn.
Can St. Augustine seed be planted over existing grass?
If you convinced your client in the fall to overseed their warm-season grass with a cool-season turf to keep their lawn looking good during the winter, don’t overlook the upcoming transition back to the client’s permanent lawn. Overseeding allows customers to maintain a dense, green lawn throughout the winter months.
- It is commonly used on golf courses and athletic fields to reduce damage from foot traffic and weed invasion during winter dormancy, but homeowners have also been known to request this service.
- Experts are divided on whether zoysia grass can recover from overseeding, while there is consensus that Bermuda grass can tolerate overseeding.
Some contend that zoysia grows too densely to allow ryegrass to penetrate and germinate in the soil. It is not recommended to overseed St. Augustine lawns because it can be difficult to achieve good seed contact without scalping and damaging the existing lawn.
- In general, annual ryegrass and perennial ryegrass are the two most common options for overseeding cool-season turf.
- Each variety of ryegrass has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Annual ryegrass is a fast-growing, light-green grass that requires frequent mowing.
- It is the most affordable option for residential and commercial properties with acceptable turf quality.
The color of perennial ryegrass is dark green. Although more expensive, it can produce the lush, high-quality turf a customer may desire. Newer cultivars of this ryegrass have resulted in its spring persistence and competition with greening Bermuda grass. 
Bermuda Grass vs. St. Augustine Grass The first step in selecting any species of turfgrass is determining your USDA hardiness zone. You can find out by visiting the website and entering your ZIP code. St. Augustine grass performs well only in zones 8 through 10, whereas Bermuda grass thrives in zones 7, 8, 9, and 10.
- If you live along the Gulf Coast or in other warm coastal regions, St.
- Augustine grass is the superior option.
- Bermuda grass is more tolerant of occasional frost if you live in parts of Tennessee, North Carolina, Central California, Oklahoma, or Arkansas. Both St.
- Augustine and Bermuda grasses require a substantial amount of watering, but St.
Augustine requires nearly twice as much as Bermuda. Therefore, it is important to consider if you live in an area with water conservation policies or that frequently experiences droughts. Bermuda grass, on the other hand, requires very little water during its dormant season and is drought-resistant if properly maintained.
- St. Augustine grass is very tolerant of shady areas when it’s grown in a suitable climate and when it’s grown in a suitable climate.
- Bermuda grass, on the other hand, is only suitable for applications in direct sunlight.
- While it thrives in direct sunlight, it grows less vigorously in shady areas.
- Shutterstock/tammykayphoto Regarding the installation of a brand-new lawn, the choice between the two grasses is based on personal preference and installation speed.
It is simple to establish Bermuda grass by seeding an area. If you’re not in a hurry to have a lawn and enjoy watching the grass grow, this will be significantly less expensive than sod. St. Augustine grass cannot be reliably grown from seed, so laying sod or plugs is your best option; however, the results are instantaneous.
- Overall, St.
- Augustine grass will necessitate more frequent maintenance for mowing and trimming.
- In comparison to other grasses, St.
- Augustine tends to develop thatch quickly.
- This is one of its major flaws.
- While most lawns only require de-thatching in extreme cases, some areas of St.
- Augustine will require it nearly annually.
Bermuda grass requires slightly less upkeep, but do not be deceived. The more frequently you mow, the thicker it will become, and it can quickly become unmanageable if neglected. Annually, St. Augustine grass requires three to six pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn, whereas Bermuda grass requires only one to four pounds.
St. Augustine grass will likely require less frequent compost top dressings than Bermuda grass, which generally requires a much richer soil condition. St. Augustine grass is highly resistant to salty conditions and sandy soils, making it an ideal choice for homes in coastal regions with poor topsoil conditions.
Bermuda Grass vs. St. Augustine Grass
Can St. Augustine seed be spread over existing grass?
If you convinced your client in the fall to overseed their warm-season grass with a cool-season turf to keep their lawn looking good during the winter, don’t overlook the upcoming transition back to the client’s permanent lawn. Overseeding allows customers to maintain a dense, green lawn throughout the winter months.
- It is commonly used on golf courses and athletic fields to reduce damage from foot traffic and weed invasion during winter dormancy, but homeowners have also been known to request this service.
- Experts are divided on whether zoysia grass can recover from overseeding, while there is consensus that Bermuda grass can tolerate overseeding.
Some contend that zoysia grows too densely to allow ryegrass to penetrate and germinate in the soil. It is not recommended to overseed St. Augustine lawns because it can be difficult to achieve good seed contact without scalping and damaging the existing lawn.
- In general, annual ryegrass and perennial ryegrass are the two most common options for overseeding cool-season turf.
- Each variety of ryegrass has its own advantages and disadvantages.
- Annual ryegrass is a fast-growing, light-green grass that requires frequent mowing.
- It is the most affordable option for residential and commercial properties with acceptable turf quality.
The color of perennial ryegrass is dark green. Although more expensive, it can produce the lush, high-quality turf a customer may desire. Newer cultivars of this ryegrass have resulted in its spring persistence and competition with greening Bermuda grass.
