Floratam St. Augustine Grass DEFINITION: Floratam is generally the best St. Augustine for South Texas. But no turfgrass fares well without proper care and maintenance. 4. Care Of St. Augustine Grass. You should, therefore, establish your lawn in mid-summer when conditions are great for the growth and spread of this grass species all over your lawn. St. Augustine grass grows best in the warmth of spring and summer, when high temperatures are normally 80-100 °F. If you don’t look after your St. Augustine grass … My initial Spring shot at the weeds is with Scotts Bonus S. - my first appplication of fertilizer. Floratam St. Augustine Grass. The grass has a superior tolerance for heat and high adaptability to limestone shores and sandy soil. Resistance to the SAD virus. Leaves grow erect from the stems that protect the stems from the sun and the roots grow downward into the soil. Floratam – This variety of St. Augustine grass is the only one that isn’t shade tolerant. The virus and bugs both cause noticeable patches to the grass which can be unsightly on your lawn. Top dressing lawn … A small site where one man shares his love for and knowledge of Saint Augustine grass lawns. to St. Augustine. BUT ALL GRASSES, ST. AUGUSTINE INCLUDED, NEED 5 TO 6 HOURS OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT DAILY. St Augustine will produce seedheads but the seeds don’t grow. What is the ideal height to cut st. augustine floratam? With its broad, lush blades and tolerance of shade and salt, St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a versatile warm-weather grass suitable for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. 2. Switching to a lawn winterizer fertilizer in the fall will condition and help the grass to cope with winter elements more readily. The SAD, or St. Augustine Decline virus is a disease that attacks St. Augustine grass and causes the blades to become stippled and mottled. Effective treatment of brown patch fungal disease on St. Augustine grass depends on the exact type of fungus. It can weaken the grass so much that more invasive types of grass can infiltrate a homeowner’s lawn. If you haven't done so already, get your FREE 2020 Pre-Emergent Guide at https://thelawncarenut.com/pages/free-lawn-care-guidesPlug Day. St. Augustine is a special kind of grass. It grows horizontal and has a lot of above ground stems. The most widely used turf species in Pinellas County is St Augustine grass. Homeowners should carefully match their yard's characteristics with the St. Augustine type's requirements. People ask what kind of grass does best in the shade, and for most of Texas, that answer is St. Augustine (fescue for the Panhandle). Floratam is also resistant to downy mildew, brown patch fungus, and gray leaf spot. It naturally forms a dense turf and also has a good salt tolerance. Advantages St. Augustinegrass produces a green to blue-green dense turf that is well adapted to most soils and climatic regions in Florida. Plugs are a great way to fill bare spots or test the performance of a turfgrass variety. St. Augustinegrass does require water to stay green during periods of drought, however it doesn't need more water than other grass species to remain green. It also had a secondary purpose in its development in being resistant to chinch bugs. This variety of St. Augustine grass was developed in 1972 to fight the St. Augustine Decline (SAD) grass virus that was going through Florida at the time. Ever. Not so fast, tallylassie, St. Augustinegrass seeds have high germination, over 70% in … What you need to know about Floratam St. Augustine sod Flora tam is a darker colored, green grass, deriving from the St. Augustine lineage of grass. Flortam St. Augustine grass was developed in 1972 in order to fight against the SAD virus (also known as the St. Augustine Decline virus) and chinch bugs. The first reason to top dress a Saint Augustine lawn is to add organic nutrients to the lawn, and the second reason is to level an uneven Saint Augustine lawn. It is resistant to SAD virus. It is more tolerant of drought, and is more resistant to brown patch fungus, take all patch fungus, downy mildew and gray leaf spot disease. Hello. So I have a pretty good sampling.) lawn care tips for saint augustine grass. Being a warm-season turfgrass, St. Augustine grows best during summer. I am afraid to try any kind of chemical on my lawn until I find out which type I have. St. It requires several days for the weeds to go away but it has been pretty effective. It is vigorous, fast spreading, with better color. St. Augustine grass is one of the most popular grasses along the Gulf Coast, known for its rich blue-green grass blades and high tolerance to heat, humidity, and salt. It is most popular in Florida among homeowners since it thrives best in the direct sunlight many Florida neighborhoods provide. Some cultivars offer increased insect and shade tolerance. St. Augustinegrass is the most commonly used lawn grass in Florida (Figure 1). seed – posted 12 May 2005 12:18. It has relatively good salt tolerance, and certain cultivars have better shade tolerance than other warm-season grass species. I am in middle Georgia and it has been a very hot, dry summer. 3. St. Augustine Grass is most commonly found in yards all around the Gulf Coast in the United States. Here’s how to get rid of St. Augustine grass lawn fungus: 1. I have found this warning about floratam on fertilizer and other chemicals. Unfortunately, it is susceptible to several problems that can cause its leaf blades to turn yellow. We have purchased a home with a large yard of St. Augustine grass filled with a variety of weeds, clover, wild “flowers”. Homeowners have several different types of St. Augustine grass to choose from. Floratam is a vigorous, coarse textured St. Augustine grass variety. If you're looking for a dense turf that thrives in a warm, coastal climate, you can't do better than St. Augustine grass. (Sort of) 3. I see people resodding time after time hoping that this will be the year that a miracle happens. This easy to maintain wide-bladed St. Augusine performs well throughout all of Florida as it was specifically bred for Florida’s hot and humid climate. How can I tell Floratam from regular St. Augustine grass? That said, other weeds do produce seeds that grow, and it can be hard to tell the difference from a mower. Floratam is such a thriving grass and has aggressive stolons (above ground runners) that can grow laterally at 3/4 inch per day! In Florida severe damage to Floratam has been observed in lawns infested with chinch bugs. Katie. Like all grasses, St. Augustine grass has disease and pest related problems. Covering many different lawn care topics relating to most aspects of lawn care practices for St Augustine grass lawns. St. Augustinegrass establishes quickly and easily and may be planted as sod, sprigs, or plugs. Floratam grass, though a hybrid of common St. Augustine, does not carry the same cold tolerance. It is recommended for the southern Texas and Florida. St. Augustinegrass produces a green to blue-green dense turf that is well adapted to most soils and climatic regions in Florida. jalmom – posted 03 May 2004 18:50. Once you identify the exact type of fungus affecting your lawn, you can apply the right treatment for the lawn fungus. Floratam Grass is a variety of St. Augustine and was released by the University of Florida and Texas A&M University in 1973 for its resistance to the chinch bug and St. Augustine Decline (SAD) disease. Floratam St. Augustine grass is resistant to the Southern lawn chinch bug and is widely used in South Texas where the grass is adapted. The Floratam strain was developed in the 1970s as a result of two agricultural experiments in Florida and Texas, hence FLOR TAM, and has become commonplace throughout the state of Florida and beyond. St. Augustine grass is usually dormant during the colder winter and fall seasons. Floratam St. Augustine grass was released by the Florida and Texas Agricultural Experiment Stations in 1972 as a SAD virus and chinch bug resistant selection.It has since been observed to be the most drought tolerant St. Augustine & brown patch tolerant. When to Plant St. Augustine Grass. Floratam St. Augustine The most common grass in Florida, Floratam is an easy to maintain wide bladed St. Augustine that performs well throughout Florida. You can find this type of grass stretching all the way from the Carolinas to Florida, along the Gulf Coast into Texas, and in Southern and Central California. It has relatively good salt tolerance, and certain cultivars have better shade tolerance than other warm-season grass species. Look for a product labeled as a winterizer fertilizer with a guaranteed analysis of either 3-1-2 or 4-1-2. Plant St. Augustine grass during summer. St. Augustine grass is among the most widely used grasses along the Gulf Coast regions of the United States. I prefer having it longer about 5" but my lawn guy insist I cut at 4" but it leaves my grass yellow at the tip and takes a few days for it to go green again. It's easy and quick to establish the grass from sod or plugs. Plant St. Augustine grass plugs or sod in full sun, at least 90 days before your region’s first estimated fall frost, to give the grass plenty of time to establish. It is the most heat and drought tolerant St. Augustine grass; however, it is not as cold tolerant as Raleigh and other St. Augustine grasses. It has a lot of great qualities: Dark green color, thick uniform growth, easy to establish and more. For the following reasons, Floratam St. Augustine grass was found better than Common St Augustine: 1. St. Augustinegrass. Chinch bug adults and nymphs beside damaged St Augustine grass leaves. St. Augustinegrass is the most widely planted type of lawn grass in Florida, with green to blue-green color. St. Augustine Grass Types. St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a tropical grass that is the most popular turf from Florida to central Texas. Popular cultivars include the following. White grub are also a serious pest on St. Augustine grass lawns. The real question is: should you? Drought Tough Bitter-Blue – This grass is very good for shady properties. I am going to insert an image, although it is rather fuzzy. We have no idea what type it is, but have been told we must be careful about applying herbicides, etc. Top dressing lawns is another tool we can use to help our Saint Augustine turf in two different ways. Of course, it’s possible to dethatch any lawn. But it has this one huge downside: chinch bugs. Chinch Bugs are Pest of St Augustine Grass. Floratam is the most common grass in Florida. As these stems grow and creep horizontally along the surface, they form a stiff, firm mat on the soil that is easily damaged by the sun. It’s resisting chinch bugs. It’s robust, develops rapid ground cover, and has superior light. How to Treat St. Augustine Grass Fungus. 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