I am looking for some additional tips specifically for ST Augustine Lawns. I neglected a centipede lawn for four years and paid dearly for it this spring with large patches of fungus and grub infestation.
You can throw down cornmeal, although I wouldn't waste the time right now. Organic lawncare isn't really important when you're laying down Class 3 fungicides. Just monitor your grass to see if it kicks the disease (it will look worse before it improves though so keep that in mind).
The LCN is obviously a good resource, but there are much more targeted resources applicable to you, including Randy Lemonn (very helpful website), a comprehensive gardening book with a ton of lawncare resources put out by the River Oaks Gardening Club of Houston, and the lawncare books put out by Dr. Howard Garrett aka The Dirt Doctor.
Do not apply sand until the grass roots are established. You don't want to smother it right now.
Do not apply peat moss for the exact reason you said.
DO apply an Iron supplement. I would suggest a hose-spray iron supplement like Ironite. Because you are watering so much, the iron is going to leach out of the grass at a rapid rate. I can tell because I see slight discoloration. It's a sort of hidden secret to remedy this you apply iron.
I would also apply a soil activator like Medina. Do this twice a week for at least a month or two.
And finally, you're doing it right so don't overthink it. And whatever you do, don't just do shit for the sake of doing it. You're already working hard on your sod project and I understand the desire to just sit at the computer and try to think up other shit to make it grow faster and get established, but it takes time brother and you've got to nurture it like a child because St. Augustine is the most finicky grass I've ever dealt with.
The LCN is obviously a good resource, but there are much more targeted resources applicable to you, including Randy Lemonn (very helpful website), a comprehensive gardening book with a ton of lawncare resources put out by the River Oaks Gardening Club of Houston, and the lawncare books put out by Dr. Howard Garrett aka The Dirt Doctor.
Do not apply sand until the grass roots are established. You don't want to smother it right now.
Do not apply peat moss for the exact reason you said.
DO apply an Iron supplement. I would suggest a hose-spray iron supplement like Ironite. Because you are watering so much, the iron is going to leach out of the grass at a rapid rate. I can tell because I see slight discoloration. It's a sort of hidden secret to remedy this you apply iron.
I would also apply a soil activator like Medina. Do this twice a week for at least a month or two.
And finally, you're doing it right so don't overthink it. And whatever you do, don't just do shit for the sake of doing it. You're already working hard on your sod project and I understand the desire to just sit at the computer and try to think up other shit to make it grow faster and get established, but it takes time brother and you've got to nurture it like a child because St. Augustine is the most finicky grass I've ever dealt with.
