Weak Palmetto St Augustine

14 years ago

Can anyone help please?

I have planted approx 9,000sq ft of Palmetto St Augustine. I live in East Tx (zone 9). I have varying elevations with sandy soil in some areas and dense clay in the lower areas. I planted the Palmetto 3 years ago. It grew great the first year. The second, it contracted a disease that damaged parts of it (the Extension Agent said it was too much Nitrogen accompanied by allot of rain). The disease affected about 20% of the yard. Last year, I fertilized with 15-5-10 and it made a comeback, although slowly. This year, the grass is responding and doing great (thick, green, lush) in some areas, but in some areas, it is thin, yellow, and doesn't grow tall (just weak runners). I suspected that my soil was bad in these areas (compacted as well as PH or nutrients lacking) I have never seen an earthworm in this yard). So I had a soil analysis done by Texas A&M. I'm not an expert by any means, so I'm not exactly sure where to start. The organic matter is only 1.6%. I know that should be higher, but not sure how to do that over 9,000ft of yard.

PH = 6.6 (good for this area is 6.2)

Conductivity = 94

Nitrate-N = 3 (very low)

Phosphorous = 10 (very low)

Potassium = 108 (Low)

Calcim = 479 (Good)

Magnesium = 87 (Good)

Sulfur = 13 (Good)

Sodium = 266 (Low)

Iron = 23.6 (High)

Zinc = .65 (Good to High)

Manganese = 18.5 (Very High)

Copper = .23 (Good)

Limestone requirement = 0.00lbs/1000sqft

Organic matter = 1.6%

Any help would be appreciated. I have a large investment in the yard and am trying to make it the best. I'm afraid if I don't make changes, the whole yard will suffer (my neighbors had the same setup as me and their yards have detoriated badly(they've given up)). I just want a healthy yard (I love working in it).

Help. Thks

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Comments (3)

texas_weed
14 years ago
OK this is pretty simple. Ignore the OM content, it will improve as time goes on if you properly maintain the grass and mulch mow. 2 to 3% is excellent for yards. You will never achieve 4 to 6 % needed for gardens.

Bottom line is you need more balanced fertlizer as your NPK levels are low. Is this area sandy or clay? If sandy soil use 15-5-10 at a rate of 6 pounds of product per 1000/ft2 every 30 days, retest soil in fall and look at PK levels again. Ignore nitrogen levels as it will always be low.

If heavier clay soil is the problem area use 15-5-10 except half the amount of product of 3 pounds. Restest again in fall.
sebastonz
14 years ago
A fellow east texan having St Augustine issues. Where about are you bob?

T-weed, you said in heavy clay soil use that fert at half the rate? Why? Also if you apply half the rate, does that mean you fert again 2-3 weeks later at half the rate again? Does this apply to organic fert applications as well?
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texas_weed
14 years ago
Sandy soils do not hold nutrients very well, where heavy clay soils do. Saint Augustine is not a heavy feeder like Bermuda and will develop thatch, insect, and disease problems if over fertilized. Frequency does not change.IMO fertilizer is fertilizer whether it be organic or synthetic.

David Hall has a pretty good system of using major holidays as a schedule.

Weak Palmetto St Augustine

Comments (3)

texas_weed

sebastonz

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