How To Care For St. Augustine Grass
If your yard is comprised mostly of St. Augustine grass, there are some things you should know. St Augustine is the most common grass type in Metairie, LA, and a popular grass throughout the south and warmer regions in general. St Augustine is a medium to low maintenance grass type and there are some things you should know if it is the grass type in your lawn. To help keep your lawn looking perfect the lawn care professionals at Cutting Edge Tree and Lawn have comprised a comprehensive guide on how to care for your St. Augustine grass. If you check out all the tips below your green thumb might turn a little bit greener. If you need any help, or just would like to ask a question please feel free to reach out to us anytime.
Do I Have St. Augustine Grass?
The first step in taking care of your St. Augustine grass is identifying the type of grass you have or identifying which type of grass is most dominant in your mixed lawn. Most yards in Metairie LA are a mixed. This means that there are several different types of grasses that make up your lawn. When Identifying St. Augustine grass, the green, flat, broad grass blade is a dead giveaway. The width of the blade is little less than the width of your pinky finger. Another dead giveaway is when looking at the root system. St Augustine grass grows horizontally via a runner system. The runner system grows horizontally while the grass blades shoot out from them vertically. This allows St. Augustine grass to easily grow in the direction of a water supply. This also allows the grass to grow extremely fast in shaded conditions. Pure or dominant St. Augustine lawns are usually described as a thick lush green carpet. The grass blades can grow very close together if cared for properly giving your yard an amazing look.
How To Maintain St. Augustine Grass
- Water
Like most living organisms, St. Augustine grass requires water to survive. Your St. Augustine lawn should receive at least 1 inch of water per week to maintain its healthy look. If the grass’ blades are turning a dull or brown color, it is time to water. The best time to water any grass type is between sunrise and 10am. To keeo your St. Augustine grass looking the best it possibly can, you should water it at least two times per week.
- Mowing
Regular cutting your grass is healthy for your lawn as it promotes new healthy growth. St. Augustine needs to be cut at least once a week in the summertime and every other week in the cooler seasons. You should never cut St. Augustine grass too short because it will get dried out by the sun. The optimum height for St. Augustine grass is about 3 inches. Also, when mowing your lawn make sure the lawnmower blades are sharp to avoid stressing your grass. Dull blades can lead to disease and ugly browning.
- Weed Control
Every lawn on the cover of magazines has one thing in common… No Weeds! Making sure that your yard is weed free is crucial to the grass health and overall look of your grass. Weeds can steal much needed nutrients from your lawn. They can also block out sunlight killing your grass if they get too rampant. It is a good idea to either pull weeds or apply an herbicide at the beginning of every spring to ensure optimum grass health.
St. Augustine Mixed Lawn
If you have a mixed lawn that is mostly St Augustine, you should also learn about the other types of grasses in your yard as well to keep your lawn looking awesome. Below a list of Lawn maintenance articles for the most common types of grass you will find in Metairie LA:
Call A Lawn Care Professional
Now that you know the basics of a St. Augustine lawn, you can maintain your lawn yourself. But, before you conduct any spring grass maintenance, summer grass maintenance, or winter grass maintenance, you should always consult a lawncare professional. Not everyone has the time or patience to tend to their lawn every week, and that is OK! At Cutting Edge Tree and Lawn, we can help you take back your leisure time or focus on your business while we take care of your lawn care needs. Contact us today to discuss any lawn care needs you may have. You can also call us to find out more about our available services or to schedule your next lawn care service.