I think I killed my Floratam. Please Help!

Matt – posted 07 December 2002 09:32

I recently purchased a home with a brand new St. Augustine lawn (6 months old.)

I noticed some weeds in the back yard so I went Home Depot and purchased Bayer Southern Lawn weed killer.

The package said it was for St. Augustine, but after I spayed it on the back yard, I saw in samll print “Not for use on Floratam varieties.”

Everything seemed to be ok for about a week and then I noticed sections of the grass were dying.

Sections of the grass are ok, while others are starting to wilt and die.

Is this reversable? Will it grow back? Or have I totally killed my grass?

Could this also just be due to the winter months?

Thank you very much for you input!

Will-PCB – posted 07 December 2002 23:53

Matt,

Unfortunately there is no product that is an antidote for herbicide damage that I know of. Either way, its late in the year for sodding, so ride out the Winter with your grass. Start a good healthy maintence routine with your lawn, and let nature heal it’s own.

Good luck!

-Will

seed – posted 10 December 2002 15:30

Matt, you should not expect to see sudden death of St. Augustine unless you have had temperatures below freezing, probably at least below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It is likely that your lawn has experienced herbicide injury, and I agree with Will about the benefit of waiting and watching. Unfortunately, phenoxy herbicide injury to St. Augustinegrass can linger for two to three months. The label I have found for Bayer Southern Lawn Weed Kiler is 7.3% 2,4-D, 3.0% mecoprop, and 0.8 dicamba, on an acid equivalency basis. That’s not a bad ratio, as 2,4-D by itself is not as harsh on St. Augustine as mecoprop, in my experience. But it is high in total analysis of active ingredient, and the bottle is designed to treat 16,000 square feet, per 32-ounce bottle. You might have overapplied. Wait.

Phil