brown patches in St. Augustine

fayeneworleans – posted 02 September 2002 12:14

I have some brown grass in the St Augustine in the back yard. Does anyone have any suggestions to get rid of it. We also have thin areas under an oak tree.

George – posted 30 September 2002 07:11

St. Augustine need sun and lots of it. It’s thin under your oak for the same reason it’s thin under my maples, less sun. My lawn was beautiful and weed free when I installed in back in ’86. Now, beacuse of the shade, it’s thinning. Not much you can do but water and feed and hope for the best (or cut down the oak).

Bill-SC – posted 30 September 2002 08:09

St. Augustine is one of the grasses that is shade tolerant – some cultivars more than others. I have had good luck growing it in shade. Close to the oak trees it will probably help to aerate and add a little compost. Be careful not to cover the roots or make major changes. Oak trees suck up a lot of moisture and nutrients. Good luck.

Will-PCB – posted 30 September 2002 16:22

You can also place some lime under it, and as a side note … I get an axe and chop the surface roots even with the shade umbrella around my trees. My St. Augustine grows thicker in the shade than it does out of the shade.

Go figure.