skip to main content

Texas Gardening

Weedy St. Augustine Grass!! Help!

16 years ago

I just bought a new property in Deep East Texas and the lawn is all St. Augustine but for every blade of grass, there's a weed!

I hate chemicals but will consider herbicide to retrieve this pretty yard.

Suggestions??

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

lou_spicewood_tx
16 years ago
Mow regularly at 4 inches. Water deeply (1-2 inches) when needed. Spray blackstrap unsulfured molasses with ortho dial sprayer every few months and fertilize with soybean meal at the rate of 15lbs per 1000 sqft. You can get it cheap at animal feed store. Just don't tell them what it's for...

Oh yeah, one time application of compost at the rate of 1 cubic yard per 1000 sqft. Simply dump in various spots with wheel barrow and use leaf blower till all have been flitered into the ground.

Should be much better in 2 years without ruining soil biology...
elphaba_gw
16 years ago
COMPOST, DEFINITELY! -- though I'm waiting till chance of frost is over. We are in Houston. I will plan our compost application around the end of March -- may not be necessary to wait, others may know better but I apply compost twice a year, spring and fall. We have the best lawn on the block and water the least. We also always mow no shorter than 3 inches.
I may try Lou's tip about the molasses and soybean meal. Always fun to dink around with the lawn. Let us know how yours turns out.
Related Discussions
Help, in Need of Wisdom regarding St. Augustine Grass!!
Q
Comments (2)
I'm no authority on southern type grasses so what I suggest comes more from seasonal visits to your State than anything else. But....grass is grass, no matter where it grows and grass is not unlike any other plant....a lawn is just many plants growing together. You say you have a sprinkler system and your lawn gets plenty of water. "Plenty". That envisions lots of what that word means. As far as the type...maybe St Aug likes more than other grasses but up north we go by the rule..generally accepted as sufficient....one inch per week whether by rain or hose. You should understand that too much of anything is ..by definition...too much. Even a good thing. Grass has roots and if given care to bring it about grass roots should be deep so they can stand up to what is thrown at them; drought, heat, shade, drowning, poor mowing, or no mowing. I think St Augustine grass performs better when left to 3" to 4" high...shorter does allow more heat to penetrate into the soil and dries it out. Too much water can bring about the same condition as too little...the roots gow short and makes the grass open to attack. Too little water does exactly the same thing. Along with less moisture grass is subject to attack from pests and disease and loss of nutrition from not being fed. You didn't say whether you have given your lawn any fertilizer, or if you do, when do give it. To green up a lawn sufficient nitrogen in the fertilizer will bring this about. To make it grow its best the other two elements...phosphurus and potash (potassium) along with the other minor elements encourages grass to grow and keep it healthy. I noticed when I was in Florida this past winter practically every mention of fertilizer contained NO PHOSPHURUS in its contents of the bag. Nitrogen, yes....potash, yes.....but no phosphurus or very little. The bags were listed as having 20/0/10....along those lines.... I suppose that says that Florida soils contain sufficient phosphurus and doesn't need any further help in that way. Soils being what they are....one soil is not the same as the other. Plants use the elements in what soils they are given. To say one area doesn't need this or that...is suggesting the whole State has the same make-up. Without a soil test, how is one to know. Phosphurus is vital for healthy roots and where it matters, rich blooming. So one has to obtain better advice about the soil you have, in particular in your lawn, so that you can make informed decisions whether to give it phosphurus. You can do a soil test yourself or send samples to a local laboratory....undoubtedly Florida State University has an extension service that does this or you can enquire about a private lab to have it done. Since you are new to the area I do suggest this be done. Extension services by State funded colleges are listed in your telephone directory under "STATE" government or under the university itself. A phone call can quickly inform you whether the service is performed and how you go about delivering a sample.
...See More
St. Augustine grass dying- Please help
Q
Comments (1)
Where do you live? What is your watering regimen (frequency and duration)? Can you take a picture of the edge of the remaining grass from a distance of 3 inches? I need to see the blades of green grass and blades of any yellowing/browning grass up very close. You're getting plenty of light. St Aug grows very well in full shade as long as it gets light from somewhere. For example it will grow poorly under the low canopy of a magnolia tree but it will grow fine under the canopy of any tree with bottom limbs 6 feet high or more.
...See More
St. Augustine Grass, First Time Home Owner, Please Help :'-(
Q
Comments (19)
We had scotts lawn service come out and they've treated the lawn for weeds twice, fertilized twice and aerated the lawn. However prior to doing any of that, the lawn still looked exactly as it does in my pictures. We've also had 10+ inches of rainfall and it continues to rain all this week. They mentioned no sign of chinch bugs or disease. Perhaps I should check the pH and apply Lime if necessary? This post was edited by VinceFLA904 on Wed, May 22, 13 at 17:12
...See More
Help! my St. Augustine grass is dying
Q
Comments (2)
The grass is dry. That can happen from not enough moisture or from rotten roots not letting the water up. Are you getting puddles of water in the dry areas? Puddles can allow fungal rot to set in. If no puddles then the areas are not getting enough water. That could be due to sprinklers not adjusted right, runoff from hydrophobic soils, sandy soils allowing moisture to run through, or simply the idea that you need more than 1 inch per week this time of year. My guess is your sprinklers are not adjusted right. That's more of an educated guess because I can see what appears to be a circular shape on the grass in your big picture. Mid way up from center to the right side of the picture is a nice colored circle(ish) green. Outside of that is the dry area. If you put cat food cans perpendicular to the circle and turn on the sprinklers, you will probably see that the cans are not filling evenly.
...See More
lou_spicewood_tx
16 years ago
Hi elphaba,

while putting down compost twice a year is nice, it is not really necessary. All you really need is one time followed by soybean meal and molasses to keep up the soil biology that you introduced to the soil from the compost. Just a lot cheaper and less work that way. Plus compost is too expensive to be using regularly for most homeowners unless you have large land to have enough organic materials to produce enough compost to cover the entire area.

Frost in Houston? It's classified as zone 9, not 8. I grew up there and my mom still has a house there so I go there every once in a while to do major yard chores. Doesn't seem like her area gets frost at all. Her lawn is very green apparently from greensand that I put down over thanksgiving. Looks like spring right now with roses and azaleas blooming right now. I also had used soybean meal but greensand seemed to have dramatic effect on the front yard while the backyard that didn't get greensand isn't as green. it has 20% iron by weight plus loads of micronutrients.
elphaba_gw
16 years ago
Thanks for the info, Lou. My front yard is quite small if I exclude the driveway and sidewalks (approx 30 X 20 (maybe less), we live in a very urban part of Houston. Since it is so small, compost expense isn't too bad (especially since I make most of it myself) but still sounds like it would be good for me to migrate to soybean meal (or greensand).
lou_spicewood_tx
16 years ago
It sounds like the Height inside the loop off Ella or somewhere around there? I assume somewhere inside the loop based on your description. I suppose that size makes it easier to stomach more expensive organic products in Houston like Southwest Fertilizer off chimney rock (i think) or Wabash feed store off Washington not far from Memorial park. I grew up right outside the loop and 290. I used to run at memorial park all the time. Still my favorite place to run. Why do you put your zone 8? It's zone 9 up to Conroe area. Granted, it has been since 1980s when we had a lot colder weather... It's cyclical for the most part. I'm sure it will come back sooner or later. I'm not really sure where you'd get greensand for cheap. I got them from Lowe's up here but I never see them in Houston. They are different from each other.
elphaba_gw
16 years ago
Guess I was using the temperature chart to determine zone 8. My pipes burst about 10 or 15 years ago when we had freezing weather for several days so I thought 15 to 20 degrees hardiness wasn't that far off (it was that cold for a couple of days at least, BRRRR). I'm amazed that it appears that Austin is even in Zone 9. Guess Global Warming might be affecting this zoning to some extent. (I live a little north of Rice U.)
lou_spicewood_tx
16 years ago
Actually, the hardiness zone is back to where it was before 80s. The 1960s hardiness zone looks to be same as the new one now. I personally don't think it has to do with 'man made' global warming. It's just normal cyclical pattern, probably most likely to do with solar activities. Mars has been getting warmer as well and as I recall, there's no people living there. Extra carbon dioxide isn't really that bad anyway. It makes plants grow more and do better with less water! :)

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS A Formerly Weedy Lot Now Brims With Edibles and Honeybees

By Mitchell Parker

Photographers transform their barren backyard into an oasis filled with fruit, vegetables, honey, eggs and more

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Great Grasses for a New Lawn

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Learn about maintenance, wear tolerance, ideal climate and more for these top turf choices to pick the right one for you

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Top California Native Plants, Trees and Grasses

By Debbie Ballentine

Enjoy a fuss-free, water-wise garden in the Golden State by growing plants naturally in tune with the climate and wildlife

GRASSES How to Rock a Lawn

By Mitchell Parker

Weekend Project: The key to healthy grass begins with the soil. If turf works for you, here’s how to fix it and keep it looking its best

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 7 Low-Maintenance Lawn Alternatives

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Turf isn't the only ground cover in town. Get a lush no-grass lawn with clover, moss and other easy-care plants

EARTH DAY The Case for Losing the Traditional Lawn

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Work less, help the environment and foster connections by just saying no to typical turf

MOST POPULAR Meet a Lawn Alternative That Works Wonders

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Carex can replace turfgrass in any spot, is low maintenance and adjusts easily. Add its good looks and you’ve got a ground cover winner

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard

By Laura Gaskill

End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain

GARDENING GUIDES Give Your Turf the Fall Tune-up It Deserves

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Treat your battered lawn to a little TLC this fall, and it will reward you with lush, healthy grass come spring

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Your Mini Guide to Great Garden Edges

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Get the scoop on trenches to the skinny on bender board, to help keep your garden beds as tidy as you like

Sponsored

More Discussions

Placing the TV on the wall and designing the artificial stone behind t

1

How cold is too cold for bare root bagged roses?...

12

Costco bareroots in TX -- 2 plants $16

2

cleaver invasion

2

Crossvine oddness

4