How to make St Augustine Grass to Spread Faster? [Step by Step Guide]

St Augustine grass can tolerate salt and even drought conditions up to an extent. How to make St Augustine grass spread faster? There are several tips to maintain your lawn of St Augustine grass to make them spread faster. This article outlines the methods to help the St Augustine Grass to Spread Faster.

St Augustine grass can spread above and below ground. It has stolons that vegetatively propagate. It enables the grass to spread horizontally. St Augustine grass will have longitudinal growth after 7 to 14 days if the conditions are right. From planting the grass at the proper time to mowing regularly. The appropriate care of your lawn will make your grass spread faster. 

St Augustine Grass

St Augustine Grass is a warm-season grass that needs a temperature of 23 to 37 degrees Celsius to have healthy growth. It is a turfgrass belonging to the family Poaceae. The plants in the family have monocotyledon, and they are flowering plants. St Augustine grass grows flowers and seeds when no mowing happens for extended periods. The grass grows through stolons above the ground. It is easy to grow St Augustine through vegetative propagation. The seeds of the grass can take longer to develop. Hence, they are difficult to find in the market. The scientific name of St Augustine grass is Stenotaphrum secundatum. This genus has seven different species in it. 

The grass is a perennial grass. Therefore, many ranches and pastures grow St Augustine grass. The most favorable soil for St Augustine grass is sandy soil with a wide pH range of 5 to 8.5. The Raleigh is a cultivar that grows in clay soil and cold conditions. St Augustine is a moderate drought-tolerant grass. This grass can sustain well in salty conditions as it is native to coastal regions. The grass has shade tolerance and can grow well with 5 hours of sunlight.

Depending on the cultivar and conditions of the atmosphere, the spreading of St Augustine varies. Sapphire St Augustine grass is the one that spreads fast through the stolons. There are various essential points to take care of for the growth of St Augustine grass. The steps like testing the soil or providing it with appropriate nutrients affect plant growth. Though St Augustine is low maintenance, it will need some care from time to time. If grass gets favorable conditions, it will spread very fast and effortlessly. Most people ask if St. Augustine grass can grow in shades?, know here. 

Following are the ways to make the grass spread faster.

How to make St Augustine Grass Spread Faster?

St Augustine grass has high lateral growth and spreads speedily on the ground. There are some tips to take care of St Augustine grass, making the conditions suitable for the grass to grow. The following are the things to consider.

Know how to thicken St. Augustine Grass here. 

Soil Type

St Augustine grass can grow in various soils, but the grass can potentially grow on sandy soil. They need proper irrigation and drainage in the ground. If the water stays inside the earth for a prolonged period, it may cause fungal infection in the grass. A soil test to check the pH is necessary before planting St Augustine’s grass.

The pH suitable for St Augustine grass is 5 to 8.5. Although, the grass can spread fast if the pH of the soil is slightly acidic. Acidic pH determines the presence of minerals. St Augustine grass needs soil with nitrogen content. Hence, adding fertilizer or compost to the earth before planting can be advantageous. The use of sulfur and lime can also affect pH levels. You can use this treatment to balance the pH. 

Time to Plant

The season in which you plant the grass has a lot to do with the growth of the grass. St Augustine is a warm-season grass. Hence, if you plant it in summer or spring, it will grow well. The months between March to June is a perfect time to plant. It must grow properly before winters because they need convenient circumstances during the establishment phase. In addition, grass goes dormant in the fall and winter, making it unable to grow during those seasons.

Maintenance

Regular watering, fertilizing the lawn, and mowing must have a schedule. Your backyard needs weekly maintenance and constant observation while the grass is growing. After planting for a few weeks, you must water the lawn every day. Observe the weed development and remove them as soon as they grow. The above addresses are some of the significant points to remember for the fast-spreading of the grass.

Fertilizer

There are several factors to concentrate on when we choose a fertilizer. Whenever you buy fertilizer, there is a mention of the N-P-K ratio. The amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium is essential to decide what fertilizer one must choose. Nitrogen is responsible for increasing the growth rate.

St Augustine grass requires fertilizer with a high ratio of Nitrogen. Nitrogen fertilizer of 3 to 5 pounds per 1000 square feet every year is adequate for fertilizing the lawn. The growth of the grass also depends on the type of fertilizer, i.e., liquid, granular, or water-soluble. It will help us understand the fertilizer application methods and amounts of fertilizer you will need. 

More than required nutrients can act as toxic for the grass. A slow-release fertilizer in the soil is the best fertilizer for grass growth. These fertilizers reduce the danger of chlorosis and toxicity, aiding the development of healthy microbes in the ground. Homemade compost can be advantageous as well. You can prepare compost through various methods like vermicompost or pit compost. Fertilizing as per the requirement will result in easy lateral growth.

Removing Weeds

Plametto, CitraBlue, etc., are cultivars of St Augustine grass that show dense cover, which prevents weeds from growing. Besides, weeds can be a prime hindrance to grass development. These weeds can either be broadleaf or grassy. Depending on the type of weeds, you must use herbicides. Some of the common broadleaf weeds are chickweed, henbit, and more. Examples of grassy weeds include bermudagrass, poa annua, crabgrass, etc. By recognizing the weed, you can select the right weedicide.

It is exhausting to remove Bermudagrass if it grows like a weed in your St Augustine lawn. However, preventing weed development is a better option. Mowing the field and maintaining it reduces the chances of weed development. Mowing regularly at the proper height is therefore beneficial. Remove the grass clipping after cutting to avoid weed seeding again to the grass.

Watering the turf on time as per the season is crucial to prevent weeds. Additionally, fertilizing the backyard in an adequate amount will influence grass development. If the grass grows densely, it will reduce the likelihood of weeds developing.

Watering

Within 14 days, the grass would begin to propagate, and it would need to water once or twice a day. After the root develops into the soil, you can reduce the watering. Watering the grass in sufficient quantities is healthy for grass growth. Note the need for watering and watering St Augustine grass accordingly. 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water once or twice a week is usually enough for the St Augustine grass. 

Mowing High

The more the grass spreads, frequent mowing gets even more necessary. The grass grows through the stolons above the ground, and hence, you should mow the grass high. For the first time, trim the grass at a high of 2 to 4 inches. Later, you can lower the mowing up to 2 to 2.5 inches. 

Spread of Runners of St Augustine Grass

The St Augustine grass covers the ground with stolons. As the runner spreads over the earth, it develops roots below the surface and blades above it. The grass grows on the crown on the surface of the lawn. There are nodes on this stolon that develop roots and shoots. 

Sunlight 

Besides all the other factors, sunlight also plays a vital role in grass spread. Depending on the variety of St Augustine grass, the need for sunlight differs. St Augustine grass is turfgrass that needs proper sunlight. However, it performs well in the shadow region compared to other warm-season grass. The grass needs 4 to 6 hours of sun rays on average. It will require maintenance based on the amount of sunlight the grass receives. 

After reading this, if you want to know a comparison between St.Augustine and Bermuda Grass, click here.

Conclusion

St Augustine grass is resistant to much stress and grows soon. For best growth, the grass needs a suitable habitat. Several factors affect grass development. Some of these parameters include nutrients, temperature, and more. Cultivating the grass with proper care will result in significant growth.

St Augustine grass is easy to plant and maintain. When you follow all the tips in this article, your St Augustine grass will spread quickly, covering the entire lawn. Go to your backyard now and see if you can change one or two techniques to increase the lateral growth of the grass.