St Augustine grass recovery

BFOSTER – posted 30 September 2009 18:03

Due to water restrictions and a severe drought in Central Texas, I’ve watched my healthy, St. Augustine yard die a slow death over the Summer. I’m left with 2″-3″ blanket of dead grass. Should I remove this before Winter, Spring or at all?

saltcedar – posted 01 October 2009 06:05

While the dead grass is ugly it is preventing weedgermination. If the recent rains don’t cause it to regrow try a perennial Ryegrass as a cover this month for a temporary Winter lawn. Next April you can plug in Floritam St. Augustine for a droughttolerant replacement. It will need irrigation and pest control but will likely be superior to the RaleighSt. Augustine that died out.

[This message has been edited by saltcedar (edited 01 October 2009).]

Turfguy_UF – posted 01 October 2009 22:38

Bfoster. If you want a cold resistant St. Augustine to a certain degree, and drought tolerant I would go with Palmetto as long as your summer months don’t see a large amount of humidity. If you do then I would shy from that, and go with Floritam.

saltcedar – posted 01 November 2009 05:42

Palmetto is very susceptible to Grey Leaf Spot in Central Texas.