New Growth – Shriveling Blades

Rfoleyrx – posted 13 March 2004 21:43

Hi all

I have Floratam St. Augustine in an area that had …”frost damage” – interesting topic for another time. Anyway, the new grass blades sprouting up are becoming thin and shriveled – almost looks like someone burned the very top of them with a flame. I have since fired a well-known lawn treatment company (Friday). I am wondering if anyone has seen this before.

Thanks for your help!

Rick

ted – posted 14 March 2004 13:46

you’re either seeing what’s called “tip burn” by a little too much nitrogen or the remnants of your frost problem. you lawn care company had nothing to do with the frost, i assure you. it should resolve itself when you mow it.

Rfoleyrx – posted 15 March 2004 00:01

actually its been mowed several times. the burn areas are new..and my yard was the only yard in the city to be affected by the “frost”.

i am wondering what it looks like when floratam type st.augustine is treated with the wrong feed. i seem to remember seeing a warning on a bad of fertilizer “NOT FOR FLORATAM”… just a thought

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 15 March 2004 09:38

If they told you you had “frost damage,” they’re more full of manure than I thought!!

I’ve gone through 9 degrees F and ice storms and never seen any damage to St Augustine. Once it’s dormant, it’s kind of hard to damage, but even if it is not dormant, it doesn’t get frost damage.

You were right to let them go. Who knows what they put on your lawn to cause the tip burn. I’m an organic kind of guy and would start using corn meal at 10-20 pounds per 1,000 square feet to recover your yard. I use it 4 times per year.