St. Augustine sod is a Florida favorite often known as “carpet grass.” It creates a coarse texture with thick grass blades that grow into a round shape at the top.
You may decide to choose St. Augustine grass for your yard due to its combined heat tolerance and shade tolerance. It’s important to identify best care practices so that your sod can thrive all year long.
Choosing the Right Type of St. Augustine Lawn
St. Augustine is available in five main varieties. Work with your local sod farm to make sure you select the best type for your property:
- Floratam grows best in full sun to thrive. This isn’t the right choice if you have a shady yard.
- Bitterblue prefers sun but can grow well in partly shady areas if needed.
- Seville St. Augustine sod grows well in the partial shade, too. Be aware that this variety as well as Bitterblue is more prone to disease.
- Citrablue St. Augustine is the newest St Augustine on the block. It is known for its deep blue-green color, partial shade tolerance, less mowing, and better disease tolerance. This variety is a great choice for the Florida landscape.
- Scotts ProVista St. Augustine is another new St Augustine variety most noted for its ease of care with half the mowing of most St Augustine’s, more complete weed control, and partial shade tolerance.
Watering and Mowing Your St. Augustine Sod
Your St. Augustine grass will require different care based on the season. Overall, it should be mowed to about 2 to 4 inches in height.
You’ll find yourself needing to mow less in the fall and winter. It helps to leave St. Augustine blades higher in the cooler months to encourage deeper route growth.
In terms of watering, St. Augustine needs 1 inch of water per week. This includes rainfall, so irrigate less during rainy weather.
Fertilization for St. Augustine Sod
Fertilization is critical to healthy, long-lasting sod since it gives your lawn the nutrients that it needs. For St. Augustine lawns, in particular, select fertilizer with high nitrogen content during the growing season, then a more balanced fertilizer through fall and winter. Be sure to apply early in the morning and water thoroughly afterward.
For more advice on best sod care practices, contact Council Growers Sod in Tampa. Our sod experts have decades of experience to help you manage your sod for beautiful, attractive results.