For larger patches, aerating compacted soil and managing drought conditions could do the trick. St. Augustine grass is commonly planted in the Gulf Coast areas of the United States. If you still have some green spots left, good watering and fertilizing practices will encourage the still-green spots to encroach and take back over the dead areas. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 22,073 times. If a neighbor’s dog is the issue, politely ask them to keep their dog from urinating on your lawn. We do it here all the time here in Florida. and Can I expect the lush St. Augustine to return. Measure the depth of the thatch to confirm that it is less than 1/2-inch deep. You also can choose a fertilizer that has a high amount of phosphorus. Mow regularly to keep grass blades between 2.5 and 3.5 inches (6.4 and 8.9 cm) tall. Replant the lawn; Get St. Augustine Plugs Online Always read the precautions on the back of the package. Many homeowners will confuse this rot with take-all root rot because of the yellow coloring of the leaves. St Augustine grass ? Water your lawn when the leaf blades begin to fold and turn bluish-green in color. % of people told us that this article helped them. If more than half of your lawn is dead, start from scratch and re-seed or re-sod the entire area in the early spring. Shetsky has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Marist College. Loosen up the compacted earth so there are air pockets, which allow for root growth and development. The first part of repairing bare spots in any kind of grass is to eliminate all of the old, dead grass. If St Augustine, Rake out the old. Based in New York State, Kelly Shetsky started writing in 1999. Rye grass ? First find out why your St Augustine turned brown. I actually went in with my hand and remove dead areas of st. augustine, careful to not pull living grass. Dig holes for … This from a person that has a 50 year old organically maintained St. Augustine lawn. This device pushes like a lawn mower, making it easy to go over dead patching in 2 overlapping arcs. Use a hand spreader to reseed small areas. Sharpen your mower blades, as dull blades can leave jagged grass that’s prone to browning. Is is really a big mess? Read your product’s instructions, and don’t apply more than the amount specified for your affected areas. She writes for several websites, specializing in gardening, medical, health and fitness, entertainment and travel. Dispose of thatch in lawn bags or compost it. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. It is important to choose a good quality turf when installing this grass on your property. When St. Augustine grass suffers from this type of fungus, the movement of water and nutrients is unable to get to the roots of the grass, making its leaves turn yellow and die. but my gardener says that that thatching would help get rid of all the dead stuff and help bring the St. Augustine back. Though thatch is natural, a level that is higher than 1 inch can create bald spots in grass, give pests a hospitable home and increase the risk of the living grass contracting a … Monitor your grass for several weeks to see if any new shoots come up before deciding an area is dead. Spreading seeds too thinly will result in bare spots. If you cannot bring the sample in the same day you cut it, it is best to refrigerate it. Browning can occur due to the type of St. Augustine grass that you have grown. With either type, follow the application instructions from the manufacturer. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. Check your manuals for your specific models' operating instructions. Soak fresh sod with water immediately and, for the first 2 weeks, water it thoroughly each morning to keep it moist. Once the drought passes and temperatures cool, brown grass will start to regenerate. Once the seed germinates, cut back to watering the reseeded patches to one 15- to 30-minute interval daily. Some grass types in the St. Augustine family are prone to turning brown in winter, more so than others. Maintaining healthy, green grass takes work, but a gorgeous lawn is worth the effort. If the problem persists, apply a liquid fungicide. Continue to mow after dethatching. Just as we exfoliate the skin to get rid of dead cells, your grass will also need some TLC to … The 5 mistakes you'll probably make in your first relationship. No amount of water or fertilizer will bring it back. The best way to revive St. Augustine grass is to give your lawn 1–1.5 inches of water every week, provide your soil with the correct nutrients, and eliminate any pests or other animals that may be killing the St. Augustine grass. Unless a product is specifically labeled that it is safe for St. Augustine, it will likely kill the grass. If more than half of your … To create perpendicular sets of lines, run the aerator north-south across your yard, then push it in straight lines east-west. Do not walk on grass patches until they are established. Don’t collect clippings when you mow, since they’ll help your lawn retain moisture. Eliminate debris that will prevent contact such as sticks, weeds and stones. Water when dry and the lawn should come back nicely. Since the St. Augustine is a wide leafed grass, be cautious about what type of "Weed N Feed" you select. St. Augustine grass produces a heavy amount of thatch. Short grass helps the St. Augustine seed germinate. Make two opposing passes with the power rake, each 45 degrees across the pattern used by the power aerator. Power-rake only after aeration and in the afternoon, after the morning dew has dried—so the dead grass and roots lift out loosely without clumping. This article has been viewed 22,073 times. Put 1 inch of compost and 1 inch of sand on top of the grass patches. Your grass takes on a widespread yellow to brown color as the turf slowly dies back. It will remove the effects of the weed killer. Do so in the very early spring/late winter, even now in a warmer zone. Combine them with the local soil to increase fertility. Avoid watering St. Augustine grass in the evening because the dampness encourages disease infestation. A thatching rake can be used for this, and can be very effective at removing old and dead grasses. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Scarify. You might bring in some pieces of St Aug to patch in and let them spread. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Welcome to Saint Augustine Lawn Care. Purchase rolls of sod to fit your entire lawn's area, unroll them, then water thoroughly. You may need to mow the lawn twice to achieve a grass blade that is an inch in height. Water your lawn adequately; 2. It is easiest to save a dying lawn in the summer or fall. Support wikiHow by Prepare the patch of dead St. Augustine grass for reseeding. The grass type makes a difference also if you bur a grass with stolons and like Bermuda, Zoysia ,St.Augustine,Kentucky Bluegrass they could recover much faster than other grass types. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Check your instruction manual for details about how to operate your specific model. Your grass will not come back from solid brown. When you re-seed, aim for the density recommended in your product’s instructions. Can dead St Augustine grass come back? The process can still be done in the spring, though, if you are vigilant. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/how_to_choose_and_when_to_apply_grub_control_products_for_your_lawn, http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/plant_pests/lawns/hgic2150.html, http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/how-to/a8014/how-to-save-a-drought-stricken-lawn-12203548/, https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HO/HO-236-W.pdf, https://www.familyhandyman.com/landscaping/lawn-care/how-to-revive-grass-thinning-lawn/view-all/, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/gardening-help-faqs.aspx?questionid=356&afmid=4462, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=7a67c006-ad56-44aa-9748-e42845c2e562, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=427f2720-1a62-4b7e-9b9c-9fac38aa534b, http://npic.orst.edu/capro/whentoplant.pdf, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=cc5fce8b-9ac6-491a-896d-9a441da9bb85, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=92780293-1238-4a57-bd36-820979e4b3ce, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=a970d7f7-7f37-421c-a832-64b21299384c, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=6b727f77-5822-4add-8514-d9b13eaa2468, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=98505a1a-078e-4217-990a-3e89a4ed2cd5, hacer que el césped muerto vuelva a crecer, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. 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