St Augustine in sand
jamieknotts – posted 06 April 2008 13:02
I live on North Padre Island Texas, where the soil base is PURE sand. When I bought my house, the builder had laid sod down right on top of the sand in my back yard. It rooted and has grown in ok, but so have the weeds and Bermuda and other unknown types of grass. I have been able to control the weeds (for the most part)by mowing, but I want to root out the other types of grass. What can I do to have a thick lawn of St Augustine. I have applied Scott’s Weed & Feed, which has mad the lawn very green, but the St Augustine doesn’t seem to be spreading as I would like for it to.
RickV – posted 19 April 2008 13:20
When I put down my St Augustine my yard originally had been sodded with bermuda amd was not doing to well in the areas of my yard which don’t get full sunlight. I first hit the bermuda with Roundup and then about 2 weeks later I tilled it before putting down Bitter Blue SA. The Bitter Blue was sand grown and my yard like yours is PURE sand. I fertilize with Scott’s Bonus S every spring it has I believe Atrazine in it which helps keep any bermuda that I didn’t originally get rid of with the Roundup and Tilling from coming back. I have had my St Augustine Bitter Blue for about 2 years now and my yard looks great.
[This message has been edited by RickV (edited 19 April 2008).]
Almaroad – posted 28 April 2008 04:46
Both of you need to apply a good 15-0-15 to the St. Augustine every 6 weeks. St. Augustine needs Nitrogen. If you have a change, buy Lesco’s water soluble 23-0-23 and spray it on, otherwise use the granular fertilizer. Also, it will require some micronutrients such as iron,manganeese, and magniusm. These can be bought at a good lawn care center.
Alex_in_FL – posted 23 May 2008 08:02
If you have a sand base make sure you use a slow release fertilizer. I suggest the Lesco 16/4/11 with iron and micro nutrients. Old yards typically do not need Phosphorus (the middle number) but since you have sand you probably need some level of phosphorus.
The atrazine will keep the Bermuda in check.
landscapelifer – posted 18 June 2008 19:31
weeds and invasive grasses go where there are favorable conditions. Your best defense is a thick, solid lawn. You can only attain by proper maintenace practices. Water deeply, 3/4 to 1 inch of water when it wilts. Mow 4″ high with a sharp blade and at a time when you won’t be removing more than 1/3 the leaf blade. You can only be rid of invasive Bermuda Grass with round -up non-selective herbicide. Bermuda grass is not listed on the weeds/grasses controlled of an Atrazine Label and I beleive it because I’ve used it extensively and I’ve never seen it kill Bermuda grass. If you have bermuda grass soil conditions too dry for st Aug. Irrigation is the key in you situation. I like the Lesco products. 16-4-8 is cool. I also like their 24-2-11 blend. Slow-release nitrogen is a key factor for quick draining sandy soil. (Go expensive, cheap fertilizers suck)
I almost forgot Do Not over water. Floratan /Seville all strains of St. Augustine are suseptible to fungus from over…
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