Here's the Scoop on St. Augustine Lawn Maintenance

In this blog post we are going to cover one of the most commonly seen varieties of grass used in Florida lawns, St. Augustine, also known as Carpet, Wire, Buffalo, or Charleston grass.  St. Augustine is used primarily in tropical and subtropical areas and usually requires a sprinkler system.  Because St. Augustine turf is very thick and dense, it crowds out weeds and other unwanted grasses.  It has a lovely dark green uniform color year round as long as its maintenance needs are fully met.

Fun facts about St. Augustine grass include:

• It has been used for lawns in Florida since the 1890s.
• It is native to the Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean regions.
• It has a high level of salt tolerance for beach landscaping. 
• A new variety was developed in 2008 that is resistant to chinch bugs.
• It grows only in coastal regions.
• Propagation is by plug, sod, or stolon - seed propagation was only recently made possible.

The best way to describe a St. Augustine lawn is that it is like a carpet in its thickness, spreading and growing its runners of grass so that nothing else can penetrate it.  This species of grass performs well in many soil conditions with consistent fertilization and attention to its moisture needs.  We will not only install and maintain your St. Augustine lawn, but we also understand the watering necessary to maintain it.

Alternatively, if you would prefer a softer lawn that is similar to the ones found in Northern climates or on golf courses, you may want to learn more about zoysia grass. 

🦚Article by Connie Helena, author of The Green Orchid 🦚