Spring Recovery: How to Revive St. Augustine Grass

If you live in a warm, humid climate like Florida, chances are you have lush, green St. Augustine grass on your property—but only if you provide it with the proper care. It is a favorite option among homeowners, recognized for its dense growth and ability to thrive in high heat and intense sun. While it can tolerate drought stress to some extent, it still requires dedicated maintenance to keep it dense and healthy.

As spring arrives, you may see your St. Augustine lawn looking lackluster. This is common after winter dormancy, but now is the perfect time to start your recovery efforts. You have at least two options: stimulate the growth of your existing lawn so it fills in the bare patches naturally or install new sod to restore damaged areas in a shorter period. Sod installation is often the better choice for larger damaged sections, areas where grass isn't growing back, or when you want a fast, uniform fix without waiting for natural regrowth.

Understanding St. Augustine Grass and Its Growth Habits

St. Augustine grass is among the most widely used turfgrass varieties in Florida and other warm, humid regions. It is characterized by its broad, coarse-textured blades, bright blue-green color, and dense growth pattern that naturally crowds out weeds.

This warm-season grass spreads through above-ground runners (stolons), allowing it to fill bare areas under the right conditions. While it has good drought tolerance, it prefers regular watering and thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soil, ranging from pH 6.0 to 7.5. However, St. Augustine grass can be prone to thatch buildup, soil compaction, and certain lawn diseases without proper maintenance.

Is Your Grass Dead or Dormant?

Before taking action, it's important to determine whether your St. Augustine grass is dead or just dormant. In early spring, lawns may still be waking up from winter dormancy, and grass blades can appear yellow or brown. However, dormancy is temporary, whereas dead grass will not recover. To check for dormancy:

How to Check If Your St. Augustine Grass Is Dormant or Dead

1. Examine the Color and Pattern of Browning: Dormant grass typically turns yellow or light brown, but the discoloration is often uniform across the lawn. If brown spots appear in irregular patches while other areas remain green and healthy, the issue may be disease, pest damage, or dead grass rather than dormancy.

2. Perform the Tug Test: Pull on a few grass blades. If they resist and remain firmly anchored in the soil, the grass is likely dormant. If the grass pulls up easily with little to no resistance, it may be dead, often due to root damage caused by pests, disease, or soil issues.

3. Inspect the Root System: Healthy, dormant grass will have firm, white to light-colored roots, even if the blades appear brown. On the other hand, dead grass will have dry, brittle, or dark brown roots, indicating that it has stopped growing.

4. Water and Monitor Growth: Apply about half an inch of water and observe the lawn over the next 7 to 10 days. Dormant grass will start to green up as temperatures rise and watering resumes, while dead grass will remain brown and brittle.

5. Check for Soil Moisture and Compaction: If the soil is hard and compacted, it may be preventing dormant grass from accessing water and nutrients. Aerating the soil can help stimulate regrowth. Dry, excessively sandy soil may indicate that the grass has suffered from drought stress, while consistently soggy soil can contribute to root rot and disease.

By carefully assessing your lawn’s condition using these methods, you can determine whether your St. Augustine grass needs time to recover or if you need to take more aggressive steps, such as installing sod.

5 Effective Strategies to Revive St. Augustine Grass

Restoring a St. Augustine lawn requires a combination of proper watering practices, soil improvements, pest control, and targeted lawn care strategies. Here are some measures to restore your St. Augustine lawn to life.

1. Identify the Cause of Damage and Address It

Brown patches don’t always mean your grass is beyond repair. The key is identifying the underlying issue and taking corrective action. The most common causes of decline in lawn health include:

Pest Infestation

St. Augustine lawns are prone to pests like grub worms, which feed on the roots and cause patches of grass to die. Meanwhile, if you notice brown areas that spread outward while the grass in the center remains dry and brittle, chinch bugs may be the cause rather than dormancy.

Grass Diseases

Fungal diseases, such as brown patch and take-all root rot, thrive in warm, humid conditions and can cause significant damage. They often appear as yellow or brown circles on the lawn. Applying a fungicide early in the season can help control outbreaks and prevent their spread.

Poor Soil Quality

Compacted soil, excessive clay, or a lack of nutrients can weaken your lawn. If your grass struggles to grow, a soil test can help assess nutrient levels and soil pH. Based on the test recommendations, adding organic matter, aerating the lawn, and addressing deficiencies will help improve the lawn's health.

Overfertilization

While fertilizer is essential for a healthy lawn, too much can do more harm than good. Excess nitrogen burns the grass, leading to dark patches and dead spots. Use fertilizers in moderation and follow recommended application rates to avoid overfeeding your lawn or, worse, causing fertilizer burn.

2. Follow Proper Watering Practices

Watering is a crucial factor in lawn recovery, but overwatering and underwatering can damage St. Augustine grass equally.

• Overwatering can lead to root rot, fungal diseases, and weak grass.

• Underwatering can cause the grass to dry out and become brittle, making it more vulnerable to stress and damage.

The recommended amount of water is 1-1.5 inches per week, spread across one to two watering sessions. A deep, infrequent watering schedule encourages deep root growth and a more resilient lawn. During extreme heat, provide supplemental watering to prevent drought stress. Also, ensure your lawn has proper drainage to prevent excess moisture pooling.

3. Improve Soil Health for Better Lawn Recovery

Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving St. Augustine lawn. The following measures can help improve your soil, stimulate more vigorous root development, and facilitate better nutrient absorption.

• Add organic matter – Incorporate compost or peat moss to improve soil structure and nutrient retention.

• Aerate the lawn – Compacted soil restricts air, water, and nutrient flow to the roots. Use a core aerator to relieve soil compaction and improve circulation.

• Dethatch if necessary – A thick thatch layer can prevent water and nutrients from reaching the soil. Remove excess thatch to encourage healthier growth.

Although optional, testing your soil will help determine if any additional amendments, such as lime or sulfur, are necessary to balance pH levels.

4. Repair Bare Lawn with Sod Installation

If certain areas of your lawn are too damaged to recover naturally, sod installation is the quickest way to restore a uniform, healthy lawn. Sod provides an instant fix for patchy or dead areas and helps prevent weeds from taking over.

• Cut out the damaged grass and prepare the soil by loosening it.

• Lay fresh St. Augustine sod, ensuring good contact with the soil.

• Water the newly installed sod thoroughly and keep it moist for the first two weeks to encourage root establishment. Read this guide for more new sod watering tips.

With proper watering and care, the new sod will integrate seamlessly with the rest of your lawn.

5. Implement a Long-Term Lawn Care Routine

Once your St. Augustine grass has recovered, maintaining a regular lawn care routine will prevent future issues. Key maintenance practices include:

• Mowing correctly – Keep the mowing height at 3.5 to 4 inches to promote deeper root growth and shade out weeds.

• Fertilizing appropriately – Apply a balanced fertilizer to provide essential nutrients during active growth, typically in late spring through summer, when St. Augustine grass is actively growing and can efficiently absorb nutrients.

• Weed control – Use pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weed growth and spot-treat any existing weeds.

• Pest monitoring – Regularly inspect your lawn for signs of insect damage and apply targeted pest control treatments as needed.

By following these best practices, you can keep your St. Augustine grass lush, resilient, and healthy year-round.

Final Thoughts

Restoring a St. Augustine lawn after winter dormancy or damage requires patience and proper care. By identifying the underlying issues, improving soil health, and following best practices for watering, fertilization, and pest control, you can help your lawn regain its lush green appearance.

For homeowners looking for a quick and effective solution, Bethel Farms provides high-quality St. Augustine sod grass for sale, including popular varieties like CitraBlue, ProVista, Palmetto, Floratam, and Seville. These options offer excellent disease resistance, shade tolerance, and vibrant color. For smaller repairs, these varieties are also available as grass pods, allowing for a seamless recovery and gradual lawn restoration. Investing in fresh sod delivers a healthy lawn with a strong root system, allowing you to enjoy a beautiful, thriving yard for years to come.

Visit Bethel Farms today to find the best St. Augustine variety for your lawn needs!