St. Augustinegrass
St. Augustinegrass is the most widely planted type of lawn grass in Florida, with green to blue-green color. It’s easy and quick to establish the grass from sod or plugs.
Like most turfgrass, St. Augustinegrass does require water to stay green during periods of drought. But don’t be alarmed at the sight of brown grass in winter. St. Augustinegrass goes into winter dormancy in many parts of the state. Reduce watering and don’t fertilize in Central or North Florida during the cool months.
The most difficult pest of St. Augustinegrass are chinch bugs; they can cause a lot of damage. Affected areas appear as yellow to brown patches, and injury typically occurs first in grass that’s water-stressed or in full sun. Chinch bugs are active when it’s warm, but may cause damage year-round.
Not all brown grass indicates a chinch bug infestation (remember winter dormancy). If you suspect you do have chinch bugs, inspect the border between the brown and green grass for the tiny, black-and-white adults. If you have chinch bugs, you’ll need to devise a plan to get rid of them. Try non-chemical options like reducing thatch or minimizing fertilizer. If you choose to treat with an appropriate pesticide, do so in the spring, and follow the label instructions. If you’re not sure, contact your county Extension office for help with turf problems.
Also on Gardening Solutions
- Chinch Bugs
- Dollarweed
- Salt-Tolerant Lawn Grasses
- Planting Your Florida Lawn
- Thatch
- Tropical Sod Webworm