Need shadey grass advice!

by Legacy post · 2016-05-11

bassadict69 – posted 27 May 2009 16:19

We just moved into another house that needs some major yard work…it has almost no grass even though the yard is 30 something years old.

The area is kind of sandy with LOTS of shade. I am wanting to find out what the grass is that I do have & whether or not it is the best for this area (N.W. Louisiana) as well as good for shade.

Here is a pic of some of the scattered grass it has…can someone identify it?http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/bassadict69/Weeds/P5270046.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/bassadict69/Weeds/P5270047.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/bassadict69/Weeds/P5270048.jpg

[This message has been edited by bassadict69 (edited 27 May 2009).]

Turfguy_UF – posted 28 May 2009 15:38

You have St. Augustine grass.

There are many cultivars of St. Augustine that are available. The question is what are your conditions up there?

How cold do you get in the winter? Can you show a picture of the shaded areas?

Once you know this you can choose the cultivar to fit your needs.

I would suggest ‘BitterBlue’ culitvar for what you have specified so far.

Check this link: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LH010

Has a list of cultivars and explains St. Augustine grass in a little better detail.

TurfGuy

bassadict69 – posted 28 May 2009 17:48

I will try to get more pics.

It is a lake lot with quite a few trees on the whole property. I will take pics as soon as I am home during the day.

Our winters are pretty mild. Hardly ever any snow, and temps avg in the upper 20’s to 30’s for lows.

bassadict69 – posted 28 May 2009 17:49

Is there anything I can do to help it spread?

Turfguy_UF – posted 29 May 2009 14:18

Well it really depends on the type of St. Augustine you have. And it is really hard to just spot ID different types of St. Augustine. If there are really good patches say 5′ x 5′ you could take plugs from those areas, and place them in areas that are similar growing conditions, and water them like new sod, and slowly you could get better coverage. But this is a very slow process and requires a lot of fertilizer.

TurfGuy

bassadict69 – posted 29 May 2009 14:37

I do have a couple of areas with some fairly thick grass such as around some ditches & some lower areas…I am assuming it is the same grass. I am sure I could plug some from those areas.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/bassadict69/Weeds/P5270050.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/bassadict69/Weeds/P5270049.jpg