resod or repair?

Emcoggins – posted 26 December 2003 17:34

My lawn needs serious help. Poor maintenance and an overpopulation of earthworms have left it bare, full of weeds and lumpy. One half has remnants of St Augustine and many weeds, the second half has a fairly healthy carpet of Bermuda.Should I resod completly or try to let the healthy Bermuda spread to the St Augustine side? I have no hope in repairing whats left of the Augustine. I am in NW FL, with sandy soil, some shade and full sun areas. Thanks

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 05 January 2004 13:22

Maybe I can give you hope of reviving the St Aug.

1. Water infrequently and deeply. In sand that probably means watering twice a week during the hottest part of the year and for a half hour to an hour each time. The idea is to grow your roots as deeply into the soil/sand as possible. Many weeds cannot tolerate being dry at the surface and will die out right away.

2. Set your mower at the highest position. This will allow the St Aug to shade out the weeds and weed seeds. There is no reason to ever lower your mower with St Aug. Tall grass will use less water and will grow deeper roots. Short grass cannot grow deep roots. Tall St Aug grows more densly while tall bermuda thins out allowing the St Aug to move in. Once the St Aug moves into the bermuda, it will shade out the bermuda leaving you with a St Aug lawn. Conversely, if you want to encourage the bermuda, get a reel mower and set it to 1/2 inch high. That will discourage the St Aug but probably not kill it out.

3. Fertilize ONLY THE ST AUG with something every other month. This will weaken the bermuda and strengthen the St Aug. I like to use organic fertilizers, but if you don’t then get what you like using. If you are not currently using anything, I suggest corn meal at 10-20 pounds per 1,000 square feet every other month. Get it at a feed store for about $6.50 per 50 pound bag.

There are a few broadleaf weeds that even St Aug cannot force out. You may have to pull some weeds or spot spray with a chemical. If you spot spray, try household vinegar first. Overspray might kill the St Aug. I prefer pulling.