Need advice on Floratem

denbri31 – posted 08 August 2007 17:30

Hi, could someone please tell me what type of fertilzer to use on Floratem and how oftern. I just recently laid new grass (4 months) and there are a lot of spots that are yellow and some brown spots. I’m new at taking care of grass so I’m not sure what to do. Could someone please help me save my grass? Thanks.

Almaroad – posted 08 August 2007 17:48

You may have over fertilized it, you may have overwatered it. The brown spots may be “Brown Patch” from a fungas–Use “Immunox” Where are you located? Try a little liquid “Iron” available at Lesco’s or a granular. It should green back up is a couple of days but will not last. How much water are you using per week? These are general without knowing much. Try all of them.

denbri31 – posted 08 August 2007 18:34

Hi, thanks for you response. I live in Tampa. How often should I water? I think I water about 2-3 times a week for about 45 minutes. How do I figute out if it is fungus? I have not fertlized the grass yet, I’m not sure what to use on the grass.

quote:Originally posted by Almaroad:You may have over fertilized it, you may have overwatered it. The brown spots may be “Brown Patch” from a fungas–Use “Immunox” Where are you located? Try a little liquid “Iron” available at Lesco’s or a granular. It should green back up is a couple of days but will not last. How much water are you using per week? These are general without knowing much. Try all of them.

hankhill – posted 08 August 2007 22:05

A picture is worth a 1000 words. Let’s take a look. How often towater depends upon the temperature. With no rain and temperatures inthe 90’s, watering twice a week should be OK, but 45 minutes seemslike a long time (at a 2x per week schedule) unless it’s a rotor. Puta pan down in several spots on the lawn and measure the depth ofliquid that builds over 5 minutes.

If you’re putting down an inch in a single watering, you shouldprobably go to a 1x per week schedule. I can’t do this because I have10 stations, so it would take too long to put down 1 inch in a singleshot.

[This message has been edited by hankhill (edited 08 August 2007).]

swflawn – posted 09 August 2007 04:34

Im in Sarasota so I know the basic weather you are having. This part of Florida when it is hot and you arent getting much rain and especially if your sod is only 4 months old you should water no less than 4X per week. St, Augustine cant go 4-5 days with out water this time of year (July-September) without going into stress. Stress is what starts all of the problems (chinch bugs, brown spots, bermuda, carpet-crab grass etc.).

swflawn – posted 09 August 2007 04:39

To water 4X per pick 2 days to water and do a AM/PM start time. Run the rotors longer because they put out less water per square foot in the same time as the pop-ups that dont rotate. You may follow our watering scedule through out the year if you would like at lawngevity.com

swflawn – posted 09 August 2007 04:50

Hot dry weather, fungus here is not a major problem. Chinch bugs are. You will need to apply an insecticide this time of year more than once to control chinch bugs. Fertilize only if your color is poor or if you have damage that needs to grow in. Fertilize again at the end of the rainy season is best. Dont use a weed and feed until after temps average no higher than 85 degrees (after october 15th).

Almaroad – posted 09 August 2007 08:25

denbri: You really need to do a soil test on the lawn. That will tell you. Dig a little soil (about 1/2 cup and put in a shoe box) step off about 50′ do again, Second row–step off 25 get the sample, step off 50′ and repeat. Depending on yard size collect about 10 samples and mix–use latex gloves. Take this to the county extention service and tell them you need the analysis for St. Augustine. Cost will be about $6.00 or so. Results be mailed to you. I’d suspect that it will call for 15-0-15. St. Augustine needs about 1 lb of nitrogen/1000 sq. ft. per 45 days until September. Go with this for now since it’s late: Measure your yard and fertilize with about 1/2lb of 15-0-15/K. Water it in and follow the pie pan advise mentioned above. Roy

denbri31 – posted 11 August 2007 13:14

quote:Originally posted by denbri31:Hi, could someone please tell me what type of fertilzer to use on Floratem and how oftern. I just recently laid new grass (4 months) and there are a lot of spots that are yellow and some brown spots. I’m new at taking care of grass so I’m not sure what to do. Could someone please help me save my grass? Thanks.

ElectricFlyGuy – posted 06 October 2007 21:07

I use and prefer Scotts W/ Atrazine. I have used this, and watch my St. Augustine turn dark green and thrive. First, I mow, I fertilize and then I water. Don’t over water, as St. Augustine grasses can ‘drown’. If you look at some of the ditches where water collects, you will find dead St.Augustine grass there also. If you have very good draining soil, you should be fine. I water my lawn twice a week at 1/2 hour per each of my 6 stations and my lawn is loving it. Scotts W/ Atrazine has a ‘guarrenteed not to burn’ logo also. I won’t use anything else. The atrazine fights off the other BAD grasses and weeds. Thanx, Scott

quote:Originally posted by denbri31:Hi, could someone please tell me what type of fertilzer to use on Floratem and how oftern. I just recently laid new grass (4 months) and there are a lot of spots that are yellow and some brown spots. I’m new at taking care of grass so I’m not sure what to do. Could someone please help me save my grass? Thanks.

Alex_in_FL – posted 27 October 2007 21:31

After 4 months you shouldn’t need to water 4 x per week. Two or three times is plenty (I live near Orlando).

Grab some of the problem area and take it to the local extension agency (and a picture or two). They can help you and it might cost $5 and then it might even be free.

Alternatively, do this, put out some powder insecticide and then hose it in with a bottle or two of immunox (the kind you hook to a hose). Skip watering for 2-4 days. This will cost you aobut $20-$40 and take about one or two hours of time.

[This message has been edited by Alex_in_FL (edited 27 October 2007).]