Are you not satisfied with the growth of grass on your lawn? Do you want the St. Augustine grass in your lawn to spread quickly? In this article, we will share how to make St. Augustine grass spread quickly.
St. Augustine grass is a turfgrass that is famous for its heat and humidity tolerance. It is a warm-season grass that requires low maintenance. Below are steps to make the St. Augustine grass spread quickly.
How to make St. Augustine grass spread quickly
- Prepare the soil
A well-aerated soil is ideal for the St. Augustine grass. The soil shouldn’t be compact and be well-draining such as sandy soil.
The pH of the grass should range between 5.0 and 8.5. Slightly acidic soils help the grass in spreading quickly. If your soil has low pH then you can try adding fertilizers that are rich in ammonium nitrate. If you are unsure about anything then you can get the soil tested by professionals.
Make sure there are no depressions in your lawn as they can lead to waterlogging which can result in the rotting of grass.
- Follow a maintenance schedule
Following a proper maintenance schedule will help in the spread of St. Augustine grass quickly. The maintenance tasks should include watering, fertilizing and mowing.
Watering
St. Augustine grass requires deep watering to spread quickly. Underwatering can lead to dormancy whereas over-watering will lead to soggy grass or the growth of fungus. You can start watering the grass immediately after planting.
For the first two weeks, it is best to water at least twice per day till the roots are grown and spreading. You can reduce the frequency to half an inch of water after that and ultimately reduce it to ¾ inches of water twice a week.
Fertilizing
Fertilizers that are high in phosphorus are best for the grass to spread quickly during the initial months post-installation and during the growing period. After that, you can shift towards slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizers.
Mowing
In the growing period, it is best to mow your lawn once per week. The mowing height should be set to around 3 inches. Mowing the lawn at too low levels will prevent the rapid growth of grass.
Prevent weeds from growing
It is important to prevent weeds from growing in your lawn as they will be competing for nutrients from the soil against the St Augustine grass. Failing to prevent the growth of weeds will lead to slow growth of the grass and the grass won’t spread quickly enough.
Broadleaf weeds are the most common ones to invade the grass. You will need to use a herbicide to prevent your lawn from weeds.
Final Thoughts
St. Augustine grass is one of the best choices for your lawn. By following the steps above you will be able to make the grass spread quickly and prevent anything from slowing its growth.