St. Augustine & shade

FLA JOE – posted 06 September 2003 11:48

Live in NE Florida and have a yard which gets very little direct sunlight (big oaks). What types or brands of St. Aug grass do well in shade? The last place I lived had lots of shade and Pursley Seville St. Aug did very well…. do they still grow and sell this brand?

Gary – posted 09 September 2003 07:45

I have had great luck in the shade with “Raleigh” brand St Augustine grass.

redbird – posted 10 September 2003 05:28

If you are in NE Florida you are near me (SE Georgia). I was struggling to decide between St. Augustine and the new Empire Zoysia earlier this year (I went with the Empire – so far, so good). Anyway, my local landscape contractor discussed the decision at great length – until he was sick of answering questions and just wanted me to decide, LOL! He was a strong St. Augustine proponent, and the St. Augustine that he had the best luck with (best color, few bug troubles, no fungus troubles) was Palmetto. He swears by the stuff. He said that he occasionally had troubles with customers who battled fungus on newer sod installations and blamed him (wanted to stiff him or not pay the full amount) and he had adopted a policy of recommending Palmetto or warning them that they were “on their own.” He says that he has never had a problem with this cultivar and that it has great shade tolerance. If I had not decided to be a rebel and go with the zoysia, this is what I would have installed. The lawns in my area with this cultivar are gorgeous. Check out the Sod Solutions website for photos.

Mike

BR549 – posted 10 September 2003 20:00

ALL St.Augustine grasses require direct sunlight.No if ,ands or buts.Some varities less than others.Palmetto probably can survive on less than most,but still needs several hours a day.Also remember than trees give off harmful products {such as tannic acid} that will injure or kill any type of turf.We just do not find that most customers are happy with the results of St.Augustine under trees.

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 10 September 2003 22:33

Nice handle. Not many people know that Hee Haw won Emmy Awards for technical achievement. They filmed the entire year’s worth of material in a week so the performers could have a life. The only full time employees were the director and editor. Figuring out how to do that before computers was the achievement.

I think the emphasis in that last post is a little too strong. I live in a 1930’s era neighborhood with 500 houses under a heavy canopy of live oaks that goes for a mile in all directions. Squirrels can enter at one end and walk out the other without ever touching anything but trees.

Virtually every house in my hood has a very nice St Aug lawn. Those facing south get full sun. Those facing north get no full sun. All the grass seems to be doing well. I get filtered sun 12 months a year. I would guess the filter factor is 70% or more.

Since we’re also remembering what harm trees do, remember that trees also bring up minerals from deep down in the soil, deposit the minerals in the leaves, and drop them on the surface of the turf to be recycled every year. When fallen leaves are removed, you might be left with nothing but residual tannin. When the leaves are mulched back into the turf, you get the benefit of the minerals where Mother Nature intended them to be. In ten years it doesn’t seem like anything makes any difference to the St Aug. It loves the shade.

Sir Skrip – posted 18 September 2003 10:35

Just thought I’d let you know, I am in Southern California and it is hot here. My St. Augustine LOVES the shade! I have noticed that anywhere the grass does not have shade, it is drier and shorter. Where I do get shade even 1/2 the day, the grass is very long, thick and a beautiful green. St. Augustine in my opinion loves the summer heat, but with shade even more. With direct sun even with constant watering, is almost impossible to keep as green and the shaded area.