St Augustine
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St Augustine
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We can renovate that old worn out turf or help fill in those bare areas. Our services include full Sod renovation & installation. We do require the necessary working Irrigation system before any install is performed. Call for a Free Consultation. After establishment the success of St. Augustine grass as a lawn grass depends largely on management. Mowing, fertilization and supplemental watering are required to maintain a dense, green, weed-free turf of St. Augustine grass St. Augustine will survive in wide variety of soil conditions. So long as fertility and drainage are adequate, St. Augustine grass tolerates a wide range of soil types. St. Augustine grass grows satisfactorily at a pH range from 5.0 to 8.5, but develops a chlorotic appearance (Yellowing) in highly alkaline soils (above pH 7.5). It does not tolerate compacted or waterlogged soil conditions. St. Augustine grass is highly tolerant of soil salinity, producing satisfactory growth at high salt levels. Bermuda grass will tolerate only slightly higher salt levels. The best time to establish is during the spring or early summer months. This enables the grass to grow in before cooler weather begins, when growth will be reduced. This fast-growing, warm-season grass is used thru out Florida. It grows well on most well drained soils. Requires adequate irrigation and fertilization. St. Augustine is tolerant to saline irrigation and brackish water, and is the best shade tolerant grass suitable for Florida. Cold Sensitive yet not a real issue in Brevard County. St. Augustine has a wide coarse texture, it's not to good for active lawns (poor wear tolerance) and has pest control issues which necessitate a proactive pest control program. During the
fall, mowing height should be raised at least 1/2" to increase total leaf
area of the turf. The increased leaf area will help the grass accumulate energy
reserves to get through the winter. The greater leaf area will also help prevent
weed invasion during the dormant season. Late fall
fertilization of St. Augustine grass helps maintain color and density of the
lawn into the winter and promotes early recovery of the grass in the spring.
Thus, to extend the length of time a St. Augustine lawn is attractive, the lawn
should receive about 1 pound of nitrogen every 30 to 60 days from early spring
through late fall.
Thatch: is the accumulation of dead but undecomposed grass stems, crowns, roots, and other organic debris at the soil surface. Thatch tends to build up over a period of years to form a mat, sometimes up to an inch deep. Thatch over 1" is recommended for renovation in Late Spring, the best time to check is Mid-June when growth is peaking. Measure with a sharp trowel or sample probe.
Should I be Concerned? ==> Well, thatch can restrict water reaching the soil, thus the new growth rhizomes or runners grow in the thatch layer, rather than in the soil, due to the insufficient water reaching the soil, we tend to see this as a "scalping" issue when we cut, we cut this top layer . It also tends to restrict pesticides & herbicide to reach the soil, it creates a haven for insects. This can be attributed to improper management practices such as over fertilizing, over watering, and infrequent mowing often increase thatch buildup, using a small push mower & now varying the pattern. What can I do? ==> Thatch removal should be considered necessary when thatch thickness exceeds one inch. The best thing is to call a professional service. What is recommended is "Vericutting" which is a cutting method is very labor intensive with experience as a "Weekend Warrior" can KILL a Lawn ! "Power Raking" is another method which starts with cutting & bagging the lawn as low as possible, than running the power rake to pull up debris to the top which is later bagged or raked and removed. St. Augustine unlike Northern is prorogated either thru sod or plugs, which are small pockets of sod laid out until the turf grows in. Lawns which are renovated thru Sod is more expensive yet yield a more uniform lawn and is laid out and done, while plugs takes +10 weeks to fill in. A variety of St. Augustine Sod is available.
Sodded lawns are expensive, costing anywhere from 14 cents per sq. ft. to as much as 50-60 cents per sq. ft. - And that cost does not even include the site preparations. Cost of a Sodded lawn is about 10 times more expensive than a sprigged or plugged lawn, but the Results show the benefit of these cost, as it produces instant lawn.. Sod itself costs in the range of 8-30 cents sq. ft. depending on sod kind and variety and the quantities you will purchase. Duda is the local sod farm for our area, yet pallets can be bought else where when only 1-2 are needed .... a pallet covers 400 sq. ft. Quality of sod unfortunately can vary considerably from provider as the best sod is only 24 hrs fresh cut and not sitting on a truck all week.
Full Sun:
Floratam: is an improved St. Augustine was released jointly in 1973 by the University of Florida and Texas A & M. Floratam is the most widely produced and used St. Augustine.
Thrives under a wide range of soil and environmental conditions present in Florida, and performs best in full sun. Heavy shade is best planted in ground covers. Is relatively resistant to chinch bugs and the St. Augustine Decline Virus. This tolerance to chinch bugs is highly desirable since chinch bugs are developing resistance to available insecticides. The most vigorous of the St. Augustine grasses. It establishes and spreads rapidly, while producing a thick, healthy turf that subdues weeds and other grasses. An attractive, plush carpet of dark green turf, adding value and beauty to any landscape design.
Shade Tolerant: may require 4-6 weeks wait time
Seville: is a semi-dwarf, St. Augustine grass used in residential lawns throughout the southeastern United States.
Has excellent compact horizontal growth due to its semi-dwarf composition, and it requires less mowing than most grasses. Vericutting (detaching) may be required periodically. Has uniform texture, rich dark green color and shorter, narrower leaf blade give it a distinctive plush appearance. Seville is proven to be one of the highest-ranked, shade-tolerant St. Augustine grasses, it also grows well in full sun. Heavy shade, however, should be mulched or planted in ground covers.
Palmetto: a selection from a Florida sod grower in 1988, exhibits good color retention, dense growth patterns, rapid growth rates, shade tolerance and disease resistance with few problems.
Palmetto's fine texture and dark green color give it an impressive overall appearance. Grows rapidly along the soil surface, forming a dense, healthy turf. Performs well in moderate shade and has outperformed many other shade-tolerant grasses in many instances. Palmetto also thrives in full sun. Heavy shade, however, should be mulched or planted in ground covers.
Bermuda: Just a short note on some of the fine soft texture turf. Golf Coarses & Athletic fields are planted with Bermuda grass. We only maintain a few of these type of grass as they require a "reel" mower to be cut short below 1/2".
Bermuda grass forms a lush, low-growing, smooth playing surface. From the true roll of a golf ball to the abuse of a football game, Bermuda grass is the turf to play on. Holds up under traffic and recovers rapidly from damage or injury. If maintained properly, Bermuda grass will bounce back season after season. The fine texture, low-growth habit and dark green color add up to a beautiful-looking turf. Bermuda grass responds to regular watering and fertilizing.
For
Further Detailed Information Visit the University of Florida Link. Credit is given to the UF/IFAS the BEST Web Site on Florida Landscape Maintenance |
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Thank You For Giving Us the Opportunity to Serve You! Phone: (321) 454-0906
Fantasy Lawns Inc. SM Merritt Island - Florida - 32954-2250 e-mail: Info@fantasylawns.com Fantasy Lawns Inc. is a Service Mark Registered Name in the State of Florida and may NOT be Copied or Used The information contained in this web site is subject to
change without notice.
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