Expert Insights on Floratam St. Augustine Grass Care

Of all the grass varieties used in Florida lawns, Floratam St. Augustine is a standout. With its lush, carpet-like appearance, Floratam brings a rich green color and medium-to-coarse texture that adds beauty to any landscape. But its appeal goes beyond looks—Floratam is a versatile warm-season grass that adapts to the exceptional challenges in Florida, from high salt levels in coastal areas to intense sunlight. Unlike many other varieties, it also performs well in moderate shade and can handle foot traffic, making it an excellent option for beauty and durability.

As one of the most widely used St. Augustine grasses, Floratam is celebrated for its hardiness in various soil types and its dense growth habit, which helps naturally deter weeds. Nevertheless, maintaining a healthy, green lawn requires proper care to prevent decline. Here, we'll explore expert-recommended insights into caring for Floratam St. Augustine to keep it vibrant and resilient.

Get to Know the Most Common St. Augustine Grass Variety

Floratam St. Augustine grass is immediately recognizable by its thick, lush growth and broad, medium-coarse leaf blades. Its vivid green color and dense coverage give it a strong visual appeal, creating a uniform look in any yard. Floratam spreads horizontally, helping it form a thick turf that resists weeds and holds up well to moderate foot traffic. This growth habit also helps Floratam stay relatively low-maintenance, as it naturally spreads and fills bare patches over time.

As a warm-season grass, Floratam thrives in full sun, requiring about 6-8 hours of sunlight daily for optimal growth. While it can tolerate some shade, too much may cause it to thin out. Floratam is also salt-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for lawns in coastal regions. It adapts well to various soil types, though it prefers a slightly acidic soil—between 5.0 and 7.0. Although optional, periodic soil tests can provide valuable insights into pH and nutrient levels. This information allows you to apply the necessary fertilizers and soil amendments to create optimal growing conditions.

Common Concerns with Floratam St. Augustine Grass

While Floratam is a resilient and attractive option, it does have some potential downsides. Awareness of these issues allows you to address them immediately before they worsen.

One key challenge is pest susceptibility. Floratam is vulnerable to chinch bugs, one of the most damaging pests for this grass type. Chinch bugs feed by extracting sap from the grass blades and injecting a toxin that disrupts water movement in the plant, leaving the lawn looking dry and patchy even with sufficient watering. Regular monitoring and prompt treatment are essential to prevent or address chinch bug infestations effectively. Additionally, white grubs threaten Floratam. They feed on the root systems, weakening the grass and creating unsightly brown patches across the lawn.

Another potential issue is weed invasion. Although Floratam has a dense growth pattern that naturally deters most weeds, weak or thin areas may allow some weeds to take over. Proper weed control measures and soil health practices like aeration and dethatching can help maintain the density of your Floratam lawn and bolster its resistance to weeds.

With proactive care, Floratam St. Augustine grass can provide a durable, visually appealing lawn that can withstand these challenges.

5 Best Tips to Maintain a Healthy St. Augustine Lawn

As Floratam faces potential challenges like compacted soil, drought stress, and susceptibility to certain pests, proper maintenance is key to keeping your lawn lush and green.

1. Mowing

Regular mowing is essential for keeping Floratam St. Augustine grass healthy and resilient. Aim for a mowing height of 3-4 inches. Compared to other warm-season grasses, this slightly longer height helps improve shade tolerance by allowing more leaf surface to absorb sunlight in partial shade. This height also encourages deeper root growth, improving moisture and nutrient access and making the grass more resilient to pests and diseases.

Follow the one-third rule by never cutting more than a third of the grass height at a time. Mow often enough to maintain your lawn at an optimal height. Regular mowing also helps prevent weeds from establishing and encourages denser growth, effectively crowding out invasive plants. Check out this article for more insights on why mowing height matters in grass.

2. Watering

Established Floratam lawns require about 1–1.5 inches of water per week, ideally spread over 1–2 watering sessions to encourage deep root growth. While Floratam has moderate drought tolerance, it performs best with consistent moisture during dry spells, especially in warm, sunny Florida. Deep watering practices improve resilience and reduce the risks associated with overwatering, such as gray leaf spot—a fungal disease that thrives in overly moist conditions. Avoid shallow watering, which encourages surface rooting, making the lawn more susceptible to drought and pests.

3. Fertilizing

Floratam St. Augustine grass requires essential nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—in macro quantities for healthy growth. As soil nutrients naturally deplete over time, regular fertilizing replenishes these elements. During the growing season, applying a balanced fertilizer provides the necessary nutrients for a lush and resilient lawn. Adequate nitrogen is particularly important, as it sustains vibrant green color and encourages strong growth.

Always follow the application rates and frequency specified on the fertilizer packaging to avoid over-fertilizing. Alternatively, consider a soil test to determine your lawn's specific nutrient needs, allowing you to customize your fertilizer schedule for the best results.

4. Weed Control

With its thick growth habit, Floratam suppresses many common weeds naturally. However, weeds may occasionally appear, particularly in weak or sparse areas. Consider using pre-emergent herbicides in early spring to prevent weed seeds from germinating. Spot-treat or manually remove existing weeds as they appear. Maintaining healthy, dense turf makes it difficult for weeds to take hold and spread.

5. Improving Soil Conditions

Healthy, well-aerated soil is essential for a healthy lawn, as compacted soils can limit water, air, and nutrient movement to the roots over time. Annual aeration, which involves creating small holes in the soil, helps relieve soil compaction and allows essential elements to reach deeper, encouraging stronger root growth. Meanwhile, dethatching is the process of removing excessive buildup of organic materials from the soil. It further improves soil health by reducing the thatch that can block water and nutrients from reaching the roots. Both processes promote a healthier root system, creating a more resilient and lush lawn.

When to Lay St. Augustine Grass Sod

Timing is key when establishing a new lawn. Although spring is often the default choice, laying Floratam grass sod in the fall can also be effective, particularly in the temperate Florida climate. Milder fall temperatures translate to less heat stress on new sod while remaining warm enough to give your lawn enough time to establish before winter dormancy. With fall lawn care, your new grass has time to settle in and spread, leading to a healthier, fuller lawn by spring.

As opposed to traditional seeding, using Floratam sod accelerates the establishment process. With sod, you'll enjoy faster results—nearly instant coverage, better resilience to pests and diseases, and the satisfaction of a healthy, dense, well-rooted lawn in a short period.

Key Takeaways

Floratam St. Augustine is an excellent option for anyone seeking a lush, durable lawn that tolerates some shade in Florida. Its adaptability to various soil and climate conditions and its aesthetic appeal make it a top pick for homeowners.

Bethel Farms offers high-quality Floratam sod for installation, whether you're looking to start or repair a Floratam lawn. Browse our catalog for more varieties of sod grass for sale, or read our blog for more expert guidance and lawn care tips.

Interested in learning more about St. Augustine grass? Check out our in-depth look at another resilient option for your lawn—ProVista St. Augustine Grass.