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S. Augustine grass
#8782438
01/17/23 05:23 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,238
Wilhunt
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 6,238 |
This past summer the city went on water restriction due to lack of rain. We were able to water once every 2 weeks. Needless to say, the lawn looks terrible. What say you as the best way to help the grass recover. Still on water restriction.
Thanks!
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8782447
01/17/23 05:48 PM
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,211
skinnerback
THF Celebrity Chef
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THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 28,211 |
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8782453
01/17/23 05:54 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26,631
KRoyal
Texoma Legend
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Texoma Legend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26,631 |
My sprinkler system broke down pretty bad 2-3 years ago and my St Aug got scorched and was completely brown. Next year it came back no problem. I just used a rake and got all the thatch out, seed and feed, and water. This was it last year
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8782509
01/17/23 07:30 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,495
Derek
Fert Squirter
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Fert Squirter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,495 |
Every two weeks? Yikes! Do they at least allow you to hand water? If you're on a lot size like KRoyal's or my front at about 2500sq ft. I could stand out there and hand water it pretty easily while drinking some beer.
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: skinnerback]
#8782521
01/17/23 08:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 66,096
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 66,096 |
That’s what we did…. Or go with something more drought tolerate like Buffalo grass or Bermuda grass
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8782526
01/17/23 08:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 13,032
Paluxy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 13,032 |
Feed the soil, St. Augustine in good soil takes a whole lot less water.
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Paluxy]
#8782781
01/18/23 03:53 AM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,495
Derek
Fert Squirter
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Fert Squirter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,495 |
Feed the soil, St. Augustine in good soil takes a whole lot less water. Feed the soil with what to make it good?
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8782852
01/18/23 12:08 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,146
soooo
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,146 |
Lava sand will hold moisture in the soil. Look it up.
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8782869
01/18/23 12:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,685
GasGuzzler
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,685 |
Depends on your dirt. SA prefers sandy soil over clay ... most grass does. SA loves the sun as long as it has water. It hates the shade.
And no, DO NOT switch to Burmudagrass. It needs WAY more water in the dead heat of summer than SA does. In fact, I would use SA on baseball fields over burmuda if it would take traffic but it does not.
Put some pre-emergent weed killer on around Valentine's Day. Be advised: SA needs a much different food than other grasses as it's technically a broad leaf weed-grass.
Keep you SA cut VERY short when dormant. As it comes in this spring, gradually raise the cut height to match the temperature. You should be cutting SA twice a week from mid-April to late May. Never cut off more than 1/3 of the total height. Use a bagger the first cut of the spring and the last cut of the fall to carry away the now useless clippings.
I use a recycler on my SA despite others' opinions it always must be bagged. The reason I do is because the return of the clippings returns some moisture to the grass.
Pass the gravy.
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Derek]
#8782884
01/18/23 01:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 13,032
Paluxy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 13,032 |
Feed the soil, St. Augustine in good soil takes a whole lot less water. Feed the soil with what to make it good? I was waiting for you to come along and answer that.
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8782938
01/18/23 02:40 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,968
J.G.
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,968 |
This past summer the city went on water restriction due to lack of rain. We were able to water once every 2 weeks. Needless to say, the lawn looks terrible. What say you as the best way to help the grass recover. Still on water restriction.
Thanks! Let that crap die and over seed with Bermuda. Capture rain water off your house gutters. The equipment costs, but the water is free.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: GasGuzzler]
#8783468
01/19/23 03:09 AM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,495
Derek
Fert Squirter
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Fert Squirter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,495 |
Depends on your dirt. SA prefers sandy soil over clay ... most grass does. SA loves the sun as long as it has water. It hates the shade.
And no, DO NOT switch to Burmudagrass. It needs WAY more water in the dead heat of summer than SA does. In fact, I would use SA on baseball fields over burmuda if it would take traffic but it does not.
Put some pre-emergent weed killer on around Valentine's Day. Be advised: SA needs a much different food than other grasses as it's technically a broad leaf weed-grass.
Keep you SA cut VERY short when dormant. As it comes in this spring, gradually raise the cut height to match the temperature. You should be cutting SA twice a week from mid-April to late May. Never cut off more than 1/3 of the total height. Use a bagger the first cut of the spring and the last cut of the fall to carry away the now useless clippings.
I use a recycler on my SA despite others' opinions it always must be bagged. The reason I do is because the return of the clippings returns some moisture to the grass. Technically you're not wrong but there are some debatable statements we can discuss. 1.Bermuda needs way more water. It's the opposite. Both can and will go dormant. Bermuda will recover faster. SA die off will be way more; 2. The whole sandy soil vs clay is irrelevant really. The major swath of NTX down to Houston is Clay. This is where Ph comes into play with them way over 7 and nutrient avalabily. 3 I hear that SA needs much different food all the time. It loves a 3-1-2. How do we know that? Soil test will tell you what it wants or needs. It's the same as all turf grass. It might need a 21-0-0, 15-5-10 or a 13-13-13 who knows without a soil test? Granted you can run a much lower Nitrogen program on SA. Your fungicide apps need to be on point. 4. I love your mowing height rec. But you say you use a recycler and be must be bagged, then follow up with "The reason I do is because the return of the clippings returns some moisture to the grass" I'd like some clarity on this. Besides scalping I would love to see the clippings returned back to the lawn. 5 Your pre emergent date is on point. 6 I love talking turf grass and I am by no means calling you out and saying you're wrong, hell, I'm probably wrong, and I'm no scientist saying my way is the law. I would love to have a friendly discussion on it.
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8786244
01/23/23 12:17 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,345
Stump_jumper
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,345 |
I see far too many people cutting their grass too short and eventually the grass dies. Cutting grass too short is like planting a tree too deep. Both will result in certain death. Some types of grass in good conditions will tolerate it more then others. I have fescue in shady areas and NEVER cut it lower then a 5 out of 10 setting on my mower. As it gets warmer and dryer I raise the setting.
2017 Tundra 5.7 CM 4x4 2006 Champion 2200 Bay Boat
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Paluxy]
#8786262
01/23/23 12:48 PM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,685
GasGuzzler
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,685 |
Technically you're not wrong but there are some debatable statements we can discuss.
1.Bermuda needs way more water. It's the opposite. Both can and will go dormant. Bermuda will recover faster. SA die off will be way more; 2. The whole sandy soil vs clay is irrelevant really. The major swath of NTX down to Houston is Clay. This is where Ph comes into play with them way over 7 and nutrient avalabily. 3 I hear that SA needs much different food all the time. It loves a 3-1-2. How do we know that? Soil test will tell you what it wants or needs. It's the same as all turf grass. It might need a 21-0-0, 15-5-10 or a 13-13-13 who knows without a soil test? Granted you can run a much lower Nitrogen program on SA. Your fungicide apps need to be on point. 4. I love your mowing height rec. But you say you use a recycler and be must be bagged, then follow up with "The reason I do is because the return of the clippings returns some moisture to the grass" I'd like some clarity on this. Besides scalping I would love to see the clippings returned back to the lawn. 5 Your pre emergent date is on point. 6 I love talking turf grass and I am by no means calling you out and saying you're wrong, hell, I'm probably wrong, and I'm no scientist saying my way is the law. I would love to have a friendly discussion on it. 1. My experience comes from my lawns which have been both St. Augustine and Burmudagrass ... currently I have 90% SA with one corner of BG that is being taken over by the St Augustine. Every summer the burmuda wilts way before the SA and every year the SA takes a little more real estate. I also took care of youth baseball fields for several years and saw how well the Gulf Rye worked in the spring and how bad the fields got in summer when the burmuda took over. 4. Maybe I was unclear but what I said was use a bagger for the FIRST cut of spring and LAST cut of fall. Recycle the rest of the year as long as you mow often enough despite others saying you shouldn't recycle SA at all. Feed the soil, St. Augustine in good soil takes a whole lot less water. Feed the soil with what to make it good? I was waiting for you to come along and answer that. I put lathe filings on mine when it seems low on iron.
Pass the gravy.
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8786564
01/23/23 07:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,995
reeltexan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,995 |
I started using Milorganite fertilizer on my St. Augustine. It is organic fertilizer. It works by feeding the soil instead of a quick chemical shot to the plant itself. So far, the results have been great. Seems to need less water and it looks healthier. My last home had bermuda grass. I've always liked St. Augustine better. We have lots of trees. It grows well in shade. Bermuda won't.
"If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: reeltexan]
#8786596
01/23/23 08:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 13,032
Paluxy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 13,032 |
I started using Milorganite fertilizer on my St. Augustine. It is organic fertilizer.
It's not organic, Milorganite is the dried sewage of Milwaukee.
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Paluxy]
#8786607
01/23/23 08:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,748
68rustbucket
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,748 |
I started using Milorganite fertilizer on my St. Augustine. It is organic fertilizer.
It's not organic, Milorganite is the dried sewage of Milwaukee. You can get something like that in Austin called Dillo Dirt.
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8786681
01/23/23 10:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,995
reeltexan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,995 |
Then somebody screwed up when they printed the bags.
"If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan
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Re: S. Augustine grass
[Re: Wilhunt]
#8786744
01/24/23 12:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 13,032
Paluxy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 13,032 |
I suppose the people of Milwaukee are natural and poop follows the definition of organic (relating to or derived from living matter).
I used to use it but tend to go with chicken\turkey poop fertilizer since it's cheaper.
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