The only thing I can think of is weed and feed. I use it and try to be careful not to get any in my planting bed, just on the lawn. I suggest you get it all out even the places the grass doesn't grow. Use Round Up there, they make a brush killer that is stronger, and then mulch that area instead. It may take several times to get it under control.

I had the same problem, and I can tell you now that Roundup won't even kill it completely, because if one little node survives, it will come back. I know St. Augustine is probably what was there when you moved in, but as far as being water-wise, it's not. Our water supplies are drying up, and most of that is going to lawns and golf courses. The runoff from all these chemicals put on lawns is getting into our aquifer and into the waterways carried down to the water, which is causing red tide on the Gulf side. Why not just replace the lawn with ground cover and do something environmentally sound? Florida is not the North. A perfect lawn is not and environmentally sound solution down here.

I'm not well-versed in that species, nor Florida gardening in general, but I can tell you that so-called "weed and feed" is absolutely the worst way to apply herbicides to a lawn. You get convenience but think about it: each tiny granule of herbicide is X percent active ingredient, Y percent some kind of filler material. In order to work, enough of these granules must stick to the foliage of the weed species you're trying to eliminate, and it's just crazy inefficient at doing so. You can take the same herbicide-that is, the same active ingredient-in liquid form, spray it right where it's needed, and it will immediately go to work.

I hope I'm explaining this adequately. It has nothing to do with Florida, but is true wherever one would wish to get rid of weeds in turf. I'm not even a big turf fan but I do recognize that many folks want a nice lawn, and I'm ok with that. I cringe at the amount of excess phosphates, herbicidal chemicals, etc. that are going into waterways in places like Florida
(and Wisconsin too!) and by using the proper, much "hotter" liquid formulation, you will be actually using far less actual chemical, losing far less to the environment, and getting much better results. Please hit us back if this isn't well-explained. I know a ton and a half about such issues, and only hope to help you get it right.

+oM

Hoping this doesn't sound too cheeky, but maybe nature is trying to tell you something; isn't this kind of callisia sold as a groundcover? Maybe you could try giving in to the inevitable & stop the suffering...

I was wondering that too, Carol. But I'm not sufficiently well-versed in FL horticulture to know the answer without looking it up. And didn't have time to do that. In any case, if one must use broadleaf herbicides in their lawn, the liquid formulation is way, way better. Weed n Feed is a scam as far as I'm concerned.

+oM

Thanks all! I've been pondering a lot of these same issues. I thought about giving up and just letting the Callisia take over. It is, after all, very attractive.

But then it dies during the wet season, and I'm left with a wasteland. It kills everything, allows all kinds of pest bugs to breed like mad (which then spill over onto my beds), and then when it dies back during the hot and wet summer, I end up with exposed soil. The rain washes the topsoil away, and all I have left is sand. The callisia comes back eventually, but its ugly, and unpleasant to walk on.

Also, I have a dog with allergies. Some suggest that dogs are allergic to callisia, which I haven't been able to show yet, but that concerns me. So I worry about Bella's health (she's a miniature dachshund).

I'm no fan of herbicides - that was part of how I ended up here with the callisia taking over. I refused for years to use any chemicals on my yard. If I do go this route, I'll spot apply Roundup only on dry, sunny days.

Is there any chance that something about the soil is allowing the callisia to outgrow the St. Augustine (which yes, was here when I got it, and very neglected)? If a soil amendment could fix this over the long run, and without herbicides, I'd much rather go that route.

Thanks everyone! This is my first post, and I really appreciate all the info and support!

I'm doubtful of that, but as I always say, I'm simply not well-versed in FL gardening. But I am extremely well-versed in gardening generally, and for that to be true, well, it's just an extremely rare situation, that soil differences would make that much difference. Sometimes, allowing your turf to go a little taller, ie. mowing higher, can favor the turf over weeds. BTW, is this Callisia a native species? I'm not a natives-only purist, but I do take such things into account when making decisions about such matters. And I saw reference to the pet-allergy thing too.

+oM

ps.....Just looked it up and no, this one is not native to FL.