I need a new lawn!
ChrisPagel – posted 24 March 2009 16:38
I live as far East and as far North as you can go in Florida (Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island). Last summer I lost my back yard & some of the front to chinch bugs. I had St. Augustin. I have been told to try centepede (sp?). What are the pros & cons of each? Are there other options?
Almaroad – posted 25 March 2009 03:22
Centipede is a pain and requires constant attention:No sun–it diesNo water–it diesWrong Fertilize–it diesToo High pH–it diesToo Low pH–it diesToo Much Fertilize–it diesWrong Potassium Source–it diesWalk on it–it diesWrong herbicide–it diesToo Much Right herbicide–it diesToo cold–it diesMow it too close–it dies
I’m replacing with St. Augustine–With the right insecticide namely plain old Wettable Seven and good dry grass only watering deeply, clinch bugs can be controlled. St. Augustine is much more tolerant to salts, mostly chlorine from the potassium in most fertilize. Centipede will die if potassium in fertilize is derived from Chlorine. Special potassium nitrate derivatives are required for centipede. Not so with St. Augustine. On the coast, soil is highly alkaline (pH around 7.0+), St. Augustine will tolerate this–centipede likes acidic around 6.2 which is difficult to maintain. Stick with an old strain like Palmetto and begin early in the season with you insecticide and fungicides.
I almost forgot Do Not over water. Floratan /Seville all strains of St. Augustine are suseptible to fungus from over…
I am from the north and it has taken me five yrs to learn and undertand seville lawns. No 1…
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