Dormant Period

• All warm-season grasses, including St. Augustinegrass, go dormant during cooler fall and winter weather. St. Augustinegrass has a longer dormancy period compared to other warm-season grasses. It starts going yellow at the first fall frost. The grass remains in dormancy until the soil temperature reaches an optimal 53 to 59 degrees in the spring. When grown along the warmer Gulf Coast areas, St. Augustinegrass usually retains its color through fall and winter.
  
  

Description

• St. Augustinegrass is coarsely textured and spreads with stolons producing roots at the nodes. The grass is favored in sod production given the highly fibrous roots. The grass blades are folded in the bud shoots and petioles or stalks of leaf blades are short. Its color is medium green and the wide blades are boat shaped at the tips. The creeping growth habit helps to produce a low, thick turf that naturally discourages weed growth.
  
  

Growth Requirements

• The grass is best adapted to regions with mild winters and hot summers. St. Augustinegrass grows well in a variety of well-draining soils with a preferred pH of 5.0 to 7.5. Overly alkaline soils with pH of 7.5 or more produce chlorosis or yellowing. The grass is poorly tolerant of waterlogged ground or compacted soil. St. Augustinegrass has high water and fertilizer needs and grows optimally in full sun. In hot regions, the grass has high tolerance for shaded sites.
  
  

Advantages

• Although a favored grass for hot regions, St. Augustinegrass has certain disadvantages. The dense growth habit makes it prone to thatch buildup requiring annual dethatching. The high water requirement makes it poorly tolerant of drought. The long dormancy of St. Augustine and late spring green up also limits its use in areas with cold winters.