Unhappy with the way your St. Augustine lawn is looking? You’re not alone. St. Augustine sod is the single most popular grass choice for residential and commercial lawns in Palm Beach County, Florida and is even a requirement for some HOAs and cities. Its natural resistance to saltwater and high tolerance against heat and humidity make this warm weather turf grass a perfect choice for South Florida. St. Augustine grass is unsuitable for areas where temperatures are regularly below 55 degrees. Below this temperature your St. Augustine sod grass goes dormant and stops growing. It may even appear to look dead. But as long as the temperature is the only factor in play, it should return once the weather warms up.
There are several primary types of St. Augustine sod grass that include: Floratam, Palmetto, Bitterblue, CitraBlue, ProVista and Seville. If sugarcane mosaic virus is a concern to you, then you should avoid Floratam and put the Bitterblue and Palmetto types at the top of your list for new St. Augustine sod. The State of Florida suggests using Palmetto type St. Augustine sod.
Unfortunately over fertilization, fungi, drought, weeds, chinch bugs and other pests can turn your Palm Beach County St. Augustine sod grass lawn into an unsightly mess. But there is hope.
Rejuvenating Your St. Augustine Grass Lawn
- Have Your Soil Tested First – The only way to properly understand what nutrients are lacking in your soil is to perform a soil test. In South Florida, it is generally recommended to have soil with a neutral pH between 5.5 and 7.0. Soil tests can also detect diseases that can’t be determined by the naked eye
- Have a Soil Amendment Done if Needed – A soil amendment is anything added to your soil to improve its condition, whether it be nutritional content, pH levels or draining ability.
- Dethatch St. Augustine Sod Grass – Dethatching can aid in proper drainage that preventing water from pooling which leads to fungal growth and disease that can be devastating to you St. Augustine lawn. Dethatching can also allow pesticides to get down to where they are most effective at the soil level
- Make Sure Lawn Pests are Not the Problem – Palm Beach County is home to many lawn pests that can damage your St. Augustine grass including chinch bugs. Understanding which pest or pests is making a meal out of your St. Augustine lawn is the first step in determining what action to take.
- Proper Weed Control – Use the correct pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides to control unsightly weeds from overtaking your South Florida St. Augustine lawn.
- Proper Irrigation – Make sure your St. Augustine lawn is receiving the proper amount of irrigation. St. Augustine sod grass is not drought tolerant
The best way to maintain a healthy St. Augustine lawn in Palm Beach County is with regularly scheduled lawn treatment service that includes fertilization, weed control and pest control. Ensure your St. Augustine sod grass is receiving the proper irrigation and lawn maintenance along with these essentials and you should be enjoying a beautiful, lush, green St. Augustine lawn year-round.
Why not leave your lawn treatment problems to the professionals. Our locally owned and operated company can keep your St. Augustine lawn looking great with complete professional lawn fertilization and pest control service. We have been treating West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and Jupiter, Florida residential and commercial lawns for decades and have the experience to get the job done right.
Eco-Friendly and Pet Safe Lawn Fertilization & Pesticide Products Available
We offer natural, environmentally friendly and pet friendly lawn weed control products as an option to our clients. Our experienced technicians can discuss your concerns and the options available to you.
How to Get Rid of Chinch Bugs in St. Augustine Grass
What chinch bugs lack in size, they make up for in their voracious appetite for sod grasses. In Palm Beach County the most common type of chinch bug is the Southern chinch bug, which seems to have a fondness for St. Augustine grass and have been known to cause millions of dollars in damage each year. Chinch bugs are one of the most notorious lawn pests in South Florida and can destroy your beautiful St. Augustine lawn in no time at all, so early detection and treatment are paramount.
Catching Infestations of Chinch Bugs Early is Key to Limiting Damage to Your Lawn
Chinch bugs are a sucking insect that damage your Palm Beach County lawn by injecting individual blades of grass with their poisonous saliva. The damage causes loss of nutrients and water to the grass blades which leads to a yellowing and dying off of large patches of your lawn that may be mistaken for a disease or drought damage. Chinch bugs reproduce quickly and have been around long enough to have developed a strong resistance to many natural and chemical pesticides. But again, when detected early chinch bugs are fairly easy to remove and control.
Controlling Chinch Bugs in Palm Beach County St. Augustine Lawns
- Some DIY yard enthusiasts swear by Dawn or other dish washing liquids as an effective chinch bug control measure. A simple mixture of water and detergent will suffocate the pests without harming your lawn or other ornamental landscaping. But this method can be unrealistic for large infestations.
- Chinch bugs can be difficult to treat through heavy thatch where they like to hide, so a proper de-thatching may be necessary for effective treatment. De-thatching your St. Augustine lawn also reduces the likelihood of a return infestation.
- Not all insects are bad. In fact some are a great natural enemy to other insects that can cause more damage. Our logo is a lady bug beetle, which is a natural predator of chinch bugs and other lawn pests.
- Unfortunately, once the infestation has reached the point where you really notice it an insecticide treatment will probably be needed to cure you chinch bug problems.
Why not leave your chinch bug problems to a professional. Our locally owned and operated state certified pest control company can keep your St. Augustine lawn looking great with complete professional lawn pest control service. We have been treating West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and Jupiter, Florida residential and commercial lawns for chinch bugs and other pests for decades and have the experience to get the job done right.
We offer natural, environmentally friendly and pet friendly lawn weed control products as an option to our clients. Our experienced technicians can discuss your concerns and the options available to you.
How To Control Creeping Beggarweed in St Augustine Grass in South Florida?
Creeping beggarweed, scientifically known as Desmodiumincanum, is extremely hard to manage once it has become ingrained in your St. Augustine turf grass. Creeping beggarweed is a broadleaf weed whose seeds are known as hitchhikers because they “stick” to your socks, shoe laces, pants and other clothing and get stuck in your pets fur. The seeds or hitchhikers are then transported to new areas where the seeds create a new creeping beggarweed infestation. They can also reproduce from the weed’s stolen or a piece of its impressive taproot. Creeping beggarweed also produce a pinkish purple flower in the summer.
Even manually pulling creeping beggarweed can be problematic because of its strong, large taproot. Just a tiny piece of the root can grow into a new weed. The best way to control creeping beggarweed in your Palm Beach County lawn is to use a quality post-emergent herbicide that is safe for St. Augustine sod grass.
* Unlike many South Florida weeds, pre-emergent herbicides are largely ineffective on creeping beggarweed because its large taproot can tolerate them and be used to propagate new weeds.
Post-emergent Herbicides Safe for St. Augustine Turf Grass are the Best Way to Control Creeping Beggarweed in Palm Beach County
Roundup® is a herbicide product that will kill just about everything green, so be careful when using this product as it will damage your lawn and ornamental landscaping plants as well.
Creeping beggarweed, just like other weeds, competes with your lawn’s sod grass for nutrients and irrigation. So once again the healthier and thicker your lawn is, the harder it is for creeping beggarweed to prosper in the first place. Professional lawn treatment that includes fertilization service and pest control combined with weed control is the best way to maintain a healthy, beautiful lawn in Palm Beach County.
Why not leave your creeping beggarweed problems to the professionals. Our locally owned and operated company can keep your lawn looking great with complete professional lawn treatment that includes weed control service. We have been treating West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and Jupiter, Florida residential and commercial lawns for decades and have the experience to get the job done right.
We offer natural, environmentally friendly and pet friendly lawn weed control products as an option to our clients. Our experienced technicians can discuss your concerns and the options available to you.
What are the Different Types of St. Augustine Sod?
St. Augustine grass is the single most popular choice for sod in Palm Beach County and it is even a requirement for some HOAs and cities. St. Augustine grass has a wider blade and is not as soft as many types of grass you might be used to up north, but its resistance to saltwater and other factors make it a perfect choice for our area.
Floratam and St. Augustine are sometimes thought of as the same thing, but Floratam is actually a type of St. Augustine grass. But it is not your only choice.
The Six Primary Types of St. Augustine Sod Grass in Palm Beach County:
- Bitterblue St. Augustine Grass
- CitraBlue St. Augustine Gras
- Floratam St. Augustine Grass
- Palmetto St. Augustine Grass
- ProVista St. Augustine Grass
- Seville St. Augustine Grass
These St. Augustine grasses all vary in sun tolerance, irrigation and maintenance needs and the best one for you depends on your particular situation. If sugarcane mosaic virus is a concern to you, then Bitterblue and Palmetto are both varieties of St. Augustine grass that are more resistant and the state of Florida even suggests using Palmetto type St. Augustine sod.
No matter what type of St. Augustine grass you decide on for your Palm Beach County lawn, our locally owned and operated company can keep it looking great with professional lawn fertilization and weed control service. We have been treating West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and Jupiter, Florida residential and commercial lawns for decades and have the experience to get the job done right.
We offer natural, environmentally friendly and pet friendly lawn fertilization and weed control products as an option to our clients. Our experienced technicians can discuss your concerns and the options available to you.
What is the Best Treatment for a South Florida Lawn?
With its tropical climate and plentiful rainfall, South Florida has ideal conditions for growing many things…including a beautiful lawn. But Palm Beach County is also home to many lawn pests and the same conditions that can make your lawn thrive are also ideal for weeds to flourish. So what is the best treatment to keep your lawn lush and green while keeping unwanted weeds and pests from ruining your sod grass?
Tips For a Beautiful Palm Beach County Florida Lawn
- Pick the Right Sod Grass – Sod grasses including St. Augustine, Zoysia, Bahia, and Bermuda are all popular choices and thrive in Palm Beach County, Florida, but there are many subtle differences in pest tolerance, disease tolerance, drought tolerance and fertilization requirements. And if St. Augustine sod grass is a requirement in your community look into a variety that is resistant to Sugarcane Mosaic Virus like Palmetto type St. Augustine sod.
- Irrigation – Even though the sunshine state gets plenty of rainfall each year, proper irrigation is an important step in maintaining a healthy South Florida lawn. To encourage strong root growth, it is advised to use plentiful infrequent watering over frequent light watering.
- Lawn Fertilization – Proper fertilization is crucial to feed your Palm Beach County lawn essential nutrients that may be missing in the sandy soil of South Florida.
- Soil Testing – The only way to properly understand what nutrients are lacking in your soil is to perform a soil test. Soil tests can also detect diseases that can’t be determined by the naked eye
- Weed Control – Weeds crowd out the desirable sod grass and can spread seeds that will quickly multiply if left unchecked. A quality pre-emergent herbicide should be applied to prevent weeds from multiplying while post-emergent can be used carefully on existing weeds.
- Pest Control – Palm Beach County is home to many lawn and landscaping pests that cause millions of dollars in damage a year in damage to sod grasses. Most of these pests can be easily treated, but early detection is essential to limit loss. A professional lawn pest control company can manage any problems too big for you to handle on your own.
In summary, the best treatment for your South Florida lawn is a combination of proper fertilization, weed control and pest control. Combined with proper irrigation, disease management and lawn maintenance, these simple things will give you a beautiful, lush, green lawn that you can enjoy year-round.
Why not leave your lawn treatment problems to a professional. Our locally owned and operated company can keep your lawn looking great with complete professional lawn fertilization and pest control service. We have been treating West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and Jupiter, Florida residential and commercial lawns for decades and have the experience to get the job done right.
We offer natural, environmentally friendly and pet friendly lawn weed control products as an option to our clients. Our experienced technicians can discuss your concerns and the options available to you.
How To Control Doveweed in St Augustine Grass in South Florida?
Doveweed, or Murdannianudiflora, is a common broadleaf weed in South Florida that thrives in moist, wet areas of your lawn and landscaping and can be one of the more difficult lawn pests to get rid of. Areas of your lawn that have poor drainage or leaking irrigation lines are particularly susceptible to doveweed infestations.
To control doveweed in your South Florida St. Augustine sod grass it is recommended you use a pre-emergent herbicide containing prodiamine. When applied properly pre-emergent herbicides prevent the weed’s seeds from germinating and spreading to new areas. Smaller infestations can be dealt with by spot applying an appropriate post-emergent herbicide that is safe to use around St Augustine sod grasses. Severe infestations of mature doveweed are extremely difficult to deal with and it might be best to call in a professional. In the worst cases complete removal and re-sodding may be advisable.
Pre-emergent Herbicides Containing Prodiamine are the Best Way to Control Doveweed in St. Augustine Turf Grass in Palm Beach County
Roundup® is a herbicide product that will kill just about everything green, so be careful when using this product as it will damage your lawn and ornamental landscaping plants as well.
Doveweed, like all other types of weeds, will compete with your lawn’s sod grass for nutrients and water. So once again the thicker and healthier your lawn is, the harder it is for doveweed to gain a foothold in the first place. Professional lawn treatment that includes fertilization service and pest control combined with weed control is the best way to maintain a healthy, beautiful lawn in Palm Beach County.
Why not leave your doveweed problems to the professionals. Our locally owned and operated company can keep your St. Augustine lawn looking great with complete professional lawn treatment that includes weed control service done by highly trained technicians. We have been treating West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and Jupiter, Florida residential and commercial lawns for over 25 years and have the know-how to get the job done right.
We offer natural, environmentally friendly and pet friendly lawn weed control products as an option to our clients. Our experienced technicians can discuss your concerns and the options available to you.
How to Keep St. Augustine Grass Looking Good in South Florida?
One of the most common sod grasses for South Florida lawns is St. Augustine grass, scientifically known as Stenotaphrum secundatum. St. Augustine grass is a warm weather grass that is popular in our area because of its natural resistance to saltwater and high tolerance against heat and humidity. The most common varieties of St. Augustine sod grass include: Floratam, Palmetto, Bitterblue, CitraBlue, ProVista and Seville with each having their own benefits and drawbacks. If sugarcane mosaic virus is a concern to you The State of Florida suggests using Palmetto type St. Augustine sod. St. Augustine turf grasses spread via stolons and create lush, dense mats that help push out noxious weed infestations. But St. Augustine lawns aren’t immune from problems and keeping it looking its best requires a little TLC.
Before beginning any treatment plans for your Palm Beach County St. Augustine lawn, get a soil test. St. Augustine sod grass needs the proper nutrients and drainage to truly thrive and it doesn’t do well in highly compacted soil. Check your soils pH level. Ideally this should range between 5.0 and 7.5. If your soil doesn’t meet these requirements and you still want to grown St. Augustine grass, a soil amendment may be required.
After you know your soil is a good match for St. Augustine sod grass, it is matter of proper sunlight, fertilization, irrigation and pest control to keep it looking its best. St. Augustine sod grass is not drought tolerant, but too much irrigation can lead to different types of lawn fungus.
St. Augustine Grass Tips in South Florida
- St. Augustine sod grass thrives in the hot sun of Palm Beach County and the parts of your lawn under shade will not be as prosperous as full sun areas.
- To encourage deep root growth your St. Augustine lawn should be watered deeply for fewer days rather than lightly everyday.
- Irrigate your St. Augustine lawn in the morning instead of the night to aid in proper evaporation and avoid pooling water
- Fertilize St. Augustine grass with slow-release nitrogen rich fertilizers
- Keep an eye out for destructive lawn pests like the southern chinch bug
Why not leave your St. Augustine lawn treatment to a professional. Our locally owned and operated company can keep your South Florida lawn looking great with complete professional lawn fertilization, pest control and weed control service. We have been treating West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and Jupiter, Florida residential and commercial lawns for decades and have the experience to get the job done right.
We offer natural, environmentally friendly and pet friendly lawn weed control products as an option to our clients. Our experienced technicians can discuss your concerns and the options available to you.
Best Fertilizer for St. Augustine Grass in South Florida
Proper fertilization of your Palm Beach County St. Augustine grass is essential for healthy growth and strength. Fertilizer replenishes essential nutrients in your soil including: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which is what the NPK numbers represent on the label. These nutrients are your lawn’s food and ensure strong root growth, leading to a thicker and stronger lawn more resistant to disease and drought. It also helps prevent weed growth by reducing bald spots where weeds can gain a foothold.
St. Augustine grass has different nutrient requirements than other grasses. In addition to the proper NPK levels it may be recommended that calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc and sulfur could also be beneficial for strong root growth. St. Augustine sod grass also does well with slow-release fertilizers which give out a steady supply of nutrients over time. But the best fertilizer for St. Augustine grass in South Florida will vary depending on your soils nutrient levels, so a soil test is needed to determine specific fertilization needs.
A Soil Test is the Single Best Way to Determine What Nutrients Your Soil is Rich With and Which Ones are Lacking
And make sure the lawn fertilizer you choose has 2% or less phosphorus content or you will be out of compliance with Florida law.
There are also many different organic fertilizer options for St. Augustine sod grasses that may work well depending on your lawn’s nutrient needs. Fish emulsion is an organic fertilizer option made from fish waste that is is rich in nitrogen, but many people find the smell of fish emulsion products not to their liking. And even with organic fertilizer options you still should have a soil test. If it already contains high levels of nitrogen, applying too much fish emulsion can cause nitrogen “burn” just like non-organic fertilizers.
Why not leave your St. Augustine lawn fertilization to a professional. Our locally owned and operated company can keep your West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington or Jupiter, Florida lawn looking great with professional lawn fertilization service. We have been treating West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and Jupiter, Florida residential and commercial lawns for decades and have the experience to get the job done right.
We offer natural, environmentally friendly and pet friendly lawn fertilization and weed control products as an option to our clients. Our experienced technicians can discuss your concerns and the options available to you.