sprigging st augustine

josuch – posted 10 August 2005 10:53

Hi guys,

I’m new to the forum. I’ve just moved into a newly built house. The builder provided Bermuda grass that mostly died when they did not water it. That’s ok, because I wanted to plant St. Augustine anyway. So that’s what I did when I moved in 3 months ago. Keep in mind I’m the only house on my street so I have nothing but fields with weeds on either side of me and it looks like it’ll be that way for awhile, at least through the winter months. My St. Augustine is doing wonderfully. I sprigged it as soon as I moved in. It’s spreading like wildfire. However, here is the problem. Although I’m hoping by the end of next summer it’ll be fully grown in, what do I do in the mean time??? The weeds growing up between the sprigs are out of control. I pull them daily but my back is killing me. Is there some kind of weed control that will kill the weeds and not harm my St. Augustine??? I have a tiny bit of the Bermuda that survived but other than that I have dead Bermuda, beautiful St. Augustine and very aggressive weeds. Before the St. Augustine really started to take off I just used Roundup for the in between spots but now I’m really stuck becaue of the St. Augustine vines. I don’t want to kill them!!! Please someone help me!!!! And then what do I use when my St. Augustine grows in all the way??? All the weed killers say “do not use on St. Augustine.”

Thanks in advance,Jennifer

josuch – posted 10 August 2005 12:13

I heard image works but then I hear it doesn’t work!!

I just need help!!!

Tungsten33333 – posted 11 August 2005 10:58

Practice organic yard care from now on.

To control weeds, it’ll take a while before your SA establishes. to do this, keep the cutting height to no lower than 3 inches tall. Water very infrequently and very deeply to encourage deep root system. Weeds love frequent watering. Put out corn GLUTEN meal to help prevent the germination of the weed seeds. I heard that its 40lbs per 1000sqft for maximum effectiveness. I dont know where you are so apply them in sept and again in feb and again in may. You dont need to fertilize since corn gluten meal is high in protein (9-0-0 for nitrogen. Make sure you also apply regular corn meal to prevent brown patch or fungus related problem every 3-4 months. If you use fungucide products, you will totally screw things up. To start organic yard care program, start with one cubic yard of compost per 1000 sqft. Spread thinly everywhere. Then apply regular corn meal and corn gluten meal. Make sure to water them in well. You will have healthy yard for many years to come.

josuch – posted 12 August 2005 14:41

Thanks Tungsten33333

I’m in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area so how often and how long should I water. I’ve heard a lot of good things about organic gardening. Where do get corn GLUTEN meal? Regular corn meal? I that the kind you get from the grocery store? What is and exactly how do I start the compost? Is it stuff you buy from the store? or the homemade stuff?? I’m sorry I’m just have no idea where to start with organic treatments!! Please help!!

Thanks,Jennifer

Friend – posted 12 August 2005 15:23

you might look at www.dirtdoctor.com

QWERTY – posted 12 August 2005 23:22

www.dirtdoctor.com is a good place.

one cubic yard of compost per 1000sqft is a lot to make your own. You might want to have someone dump on your driveway if you can afford it. Make sure they are screened! You dont want rocks, branches,etc on the yard! Not cheap. That’s for sure but that will definitely make your soil a lot better! If you do it right, you probably wont need to put out new compost again as long as you feed microbes with protein based grains (soybean, alfalfa, corn gluten, etc) and the microbes will break them down. The process might take a bit longer than the chemical stuff but it’ll stay a lot healthlier!