[Saidwest]

Hello all!

I am a new home owner In North Texas right outside of Terrell. The house came with St Augustine. It was beautiful and lush last year. I believe that I didn't water enough in the winter. Spring comes around and I have some brown spots and a lot of thatch. No worries I thought they would grow in and green up. Here we are in May and now I still have some brown spots where growing is not that strong and has weeds. I did a soil test and I was low on nitrogen. Added some Miloganite and I'm now waiting. I will attach pictures of the trouble area. Any tips on getting St Augustine to that nice lush turf look. The bottom picture is the worst area

 

[SCGrassMan]

Cut it low, remove the thatch. Hit it with some fast release fertilizer, and water the crap out of it. Just my $0.02

 

[BakerGreenLawnMaker]

I agree. If you cut it low, but don't scalp it, and like @SCGrassMan said hit it with some good ole fast fert, you should see it really thicken up by end of May beginning of June.

 

[Saidwest]

What brand of fast release fert do you all recommend? So low cut, detach, then fast release fert.

 

[Ecks from Tex]

Cut it low, remove the thatch. Hit it with some fast release fertilizer, and water the crap out of it. Just my $0.02

This exactly. I had to do the same thing last month to my St Aug because it was struggling after an extremely cold winter and a weed attack after Hurricane Harvey.

I did what SC recommended and it's starting to recover nicely.

You can use any fast release at a big box store, but if I have the choice I like Fertilome lawn food with Iron.

 

[SCGrassMan]

Yeah I like the Scotts rapid greenup or whatever, they have it at costco right now for $29.99 for like a 50 pound bag or so. I think its just scotts starter fertilizer with iron added.

 

[CenlaLowell]

I'm in Central Louisiana and I have been dealing with this as well. I've cut low and fertilized. I wonder why it happened in the first place?

 

[Saidwest]

Update: thank you guys for your help. The yard has recovered nicely. I forgot to post pictures.

 

[Ecks from Tex]

Update: thank you guys for you help. The yard has recovered nicely. I forgot to post pictures.

Good work dude! Nice lawn

 

[LowCountryCharleston]

I'm having the same issues too with my St. Aug. Why does it help to cut it low and how low do you cut it. I typically cut mine at 4 inches. It's already had one app of Milorganite and one of the Bio Stimulant Next products over the past few months.
Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[CenlaLowell]

I'm having the same issues too with my St. Aug. Why does it help to cut it low and how low do you cut it. I typically cut mine at 4 inches. It's already had one app of Milorganite and one of the Bio Stimulant Next products over the past few months.
Any input is greatly appreciated.

I cut mine at 2 inches, then every week there after I raised it up 1/2 inch until I hit my 4 inch spot.

 

[Saidwest]

Update: thank you guys for you help. The yard has recovered nicely. I forgot to post pictures.

Good work dude! Nice lawn

Thanks man! I'm completely happy. First home. First time taking care of my own grass so I was a little ignorant in the beginning. I'm loving it now

 

[Saidwest]

I'm having the same issues too with my St. Aug. Why does it help to cut it low and how low do you cut it. I typically cut mine at 4 inches. It's already had one app of Milorganite and one of the Bio Stimulant Next products over the past few months.
Any input is greatly appreciated.

Have you done a soil analysis?

The reason why they told me to cut it low was to make it easier dethatch. Basically cut low dethatch use some quick release fertilizer and irrigate. If you do not plan on detaching you don't have to cut it low. Also I'm not sure if it's too late in the season to dethatch. You may have to research that. This weekend I'm putting down Milorganite AND ringer. Supposed to give me good growth and color response.

 

[LowCountryCharleston]

I'm having the same issues too with my St. Aug. Why does it help to cut it low and how low do you cut it. I typically cut mine at 4 inches. It's already had one app of Milorganite and one of the Bio Stimulant Next products over the past few months.
Any input is greatly appreciated.

Have you done a soil analysis?

The reason why they told me to cut it low was to make it easier dethatch. Basically cut low dethatch use some quick release fertilizer and irrigate. If you do not plan on detaching you don't have to cut it low. Also I'm not sure if it's too late in the season to dethatch. You may have to research that. This weekend I'm putting down Milorganite AND ringer. Supposed to give me good growth and color response.

I'm doing it this weekend using Soil Savvy so I know this will give me a good line of sight as to how my soil is looking. Right, my plan was to put down my July 4th Milorganite app but since it's in short supply hard to find i'm researching comparable replacements. My guess is I'll have to wait until the fall to begin my work for next year and bite the bullet this year.

 

[Ecks from Tex]

I'm having the same issues too with my St. Aug. Why does it help to cut it low and how low do you cut it. I typically cut mine at 4 inches. It's already had one app of Milorganite and one of the Bio Stimulant Next products over the past few months.
Any input is greatly appreciated.

Have you done a soil analysis?

The reason why they told me to cut it low was to make it easier dethatch. Basically cut low dethatch use some quick release fertilizer and irrigate. If you do not plan on detaching you don't have to cut it low. Also I'm not sure if it's too late in the season to dethatch. You may have to research that. This weekend I'm putting down Milorganite AND ringer. Supposed to give me good growth and color response.

I'm doing it this weekend using Soil Savvy so I know this will give me a good line of sight as to how my soil is looking. Right, my plan was to put down my July 4th Milorganite app but since it's in short supply hard to find i'm researching comparable replacements. My guess is I'll have to wait until the fall to begin my work for next year and bite the bullet this year.

Get something with some more N so you can encourage a little more growth in the present. Milo is great, but it's going to slow release and St. Aug already grows slow enough. If you are needing the grass to repair and fill in, you often have to add a spike to your fert program

 

[LowCountryCharleston]

Have you done a soil analysis?

The reason why they told me to cut it low was to make it easier dethatch. Basically cut low dethatch use some quick release fertilizer and irrigate. If you do not plan on detaching you don't have to cut it low. Also I'm not sure if it's too late in the season to dethatch. You may have to research that. This weekend I'm putting down Milorganite AND ringer. Supposed to give me good growth and color response.

I'm doing it this weekend using Soil Savvy so I know this will give me a good line of sight as to how my soil is looking. Right, my plan was to put down my July 4th Milorganite app but since it's in short supply hard to find i'm researching comparable replacements. My guess is I'll have to wait until the fall to begin my work for next year and bite the bullet this year.

Get something with some more N so you can encourage a little more growth in the present. Milo is great, but it's going to slow release and St. Aug already grows slow enough. If you are needing the grass to repair and fill in, you often have to add a spike to your fert program

Thanks for your reply. Can you recommend any Fert with more N in it? Or just look locally for a bag that offers more than what Milo offers. The center area of my lawn is nice and think/green. It's the outer edges of the area that is having issues.

Thanks.

 

[Ecks from Tex]

I'm doing it this weekend using Soil Savvy so I know this will give me a good line of sight as to how my soil is looking. Right, my plan was to put down my July 4th Milorganite app but since it's in short supply hard to find i'm researching comparable replacements. My guess is I'll have to wait until the fall to begin my work for next year and bite the bullet this year.

Get something with some more N so you can encourage a little more growth in the present. Milo is great, but it's going to slow release and St. Aug already grows slow enough. If you are needing the grass to repair and fill in, you often have to add a spike to your fert program

Thanks for your reply. Can you recommend any Fert with more N in it? Or just look locally for a bag that offers more than what Milo offers. The center area of my lawn is nice and think/green. It's the outer edges of the area that is having issues.

Thanks.

I would just go grab some basic 32-0-4 or 29-0-2 fertilizer from your local hardware store. You can supplement with individual minerals later if it calls for it, but encouraging growth with N will help shade out weeds and get the lawn in better condition for next year, when you can start achieving the same thing though better soil. Because it's summer you might apply half rates so it doesn't encourage too much unhealthy growth, and just do that two weekends in a row.

I don't think you have to wait to being making changes to your lawn either. Just depends on what you're wanting to do. What are you plans?

 

[LowCountryCharleston]

Get something with some more N so you can encourage a little more growth in the present. Milo is great, but it's going to slow release and St. Aug already grows slow enough. If you are needing the grass to repair and fill in, you often have to add a spike to your fert program

Thanks for your reply. Can you recommend any Fert with more N in it? Or just look locally for a bag that offers more than what Milo offers. The center area of my lawn is nice and think/green. It's the outer edges of the area that is having issues.

Thanks.

I would just go grab some basic 32-0-4 or 29-0-2 fertilizer from your local hardware store. You can supplement with individual minerals later if it calls for it, but encouraging growth with N will help shade out weeds and get the lawn in better condition for next year, when you can start achieving the same thing though better soil. Because it's summer you might apply half rates so it doesn't encourage too much unhealthy growth, and just do that two weekends in a row.

I don't think you have to wait to being making changes to your lawn either. Just depends on what you're wanting to do. What are you plans?

Sounds good. I'll check my local Garden center for the Fert. My ultimate plan is to get the St. Aug growing thick and green and on the side against my driveway I have a swath of Bermuda growing and getting bigger so I plan at some point to kill that off and then put in plugs to fill in the open space to get my front 100% St. Aug. Also, plan on doing the soil test this weekend to get a good feel for the soil.

 

[Ecks from Tex]

Thanks for your reply. Can you recommend any Fert with more N in it? Or just look locally for a bag that offers more than what Milo offers. The center area of my lawn is nice and think/green. It's the outer edges of the area that is having issues.

Thanks.

I would just go grab some basic 32-0-4 or 29-0-2 fertilizer from your local hardware store. You can supplement with individual minerals later if it calls for it, but encouraging growth with N will help shade out weeds and get the lawn in better condition for next year, when you can start achieving the same thing though better soil. Because it's summer you might apply half rates so it doesn't encourage too much unhealthy growth, and just do that two weekends in a row.

I don't think you have to wait to being making changes to your lawn either. Just depends on what you're wanting to do. What are you plans?

Sounds good. I'll check my local Garden center for the Fert. My ultimate plan is to get the St. Aug growing thick and green and on the side against my driveway I have a swath of Bermuda growing and getting bigger so I plan at some point to kill that off and then put in plugs to fill in the open space to get my front 100% St. Aug. Also, plan on doing the soil test this weekend to get a good feel for the soil.

You should kill off the bermuda now. You can still install sod plugs and let their root systems get established by fall. I wouldn't wait on any of that if you are ready to do it now.

 

[Gregau33]

That Bermuda will keep creeping in especially if you have a neighbor who has it or are near a golf course. If you glysophate that part of your yard, just make sure you are positive the Bermuda is completely dead or you will be doing the same thing to your yard next year. It's amazing how resilient Bermuda is...it just keeps coming back to life and spreads like no other.