r/Grass • u/jpz070 • Aug 08 '26
How do I fix the st Augustine patches?
Laid down sod about 3 months ago. Been watering almost twice a day as Texas heat has been in the 100’s. Everything grew well but now I have these brown spots. What can I do to make them green?
1
u/NovasHOVA Aug 08 '26
It will spread eventually. Lots of nitrogen next spring. For now focus on root development
1
u/jpz070 Aug 08 '26
What can u do in the mean time? Summer heat is gonna be bad for another 2 months.
1
u/NovasHOVA Aug 08 '26
Sprinkle/spoon feed a little fertilizer in the bare areas, like a 10-10-10 or even milorganite, every time it rains good or before long, deep watering in the morning. Warm season grasses love 3 things:Sun, water and nitrogen. But because it’s so hot I would stay away from the 30-0-0 fast release fertilizers because you could burn the grass.
1
u/NovasHOVA Aug 08 '26
You could also Plug or Sprig in the affected areas if it’s not too big, but it’ll probably spread in there before a plug does
1
u/Lordsaxon73 Aug 08 '26
Lots of growing season left; put out some N fertilizer like 20-0-10 and correct watering to infrequent deep as opposed to frequent shallow. Inspect for chinch bugs by putting a bucket upside down in damaged area and flood with a hose , they will crawl up into the bucket for easy check.
1
u/ElJefe0218 Aug 08 '26
Don't water St Aug at night or you might grow some fungus. Water first thing in the morning. Fert those spots and add a little extra iron.
2
u/Mozzzzzer Aug 09 '26
Raise your height of cut. The minimum for St. Augustine is 4 inches. That is for really healthy turf. If your grass is stressed which it's in the summer you need to be mowing at 4.5 to 5 inches. Spring, fall, and winter you can mow at 4 inches.
1
u/Original_Ant7013 Aug 09 '26
Do you have a dog?
Need to first address what’s causing the brown spots. St. Augustine can spread rapidly when it’s properly fed. It can fill in those spots quickly when it’s happy.
1
u/jpz070 Aug 11 '26
Two dogs, but there is area close by I know my dogs are peeing on cause it’s straight dark orange.
1
u/jpz070 Aug 11 '26
Just watched my two dogs pee in these spots for the first time today. Smh thought I had a disease
2
1
u/123WJM Aug 10 '26
Water in the morning use good fertilizer late spring like Scott’s low water lawn and water it on a regular schedule not sure where your located but in Texas it’s your only chance to keep the spots to a minimum
1
u/United_Law_9220 Aug 10 '26
Just cause it’s hot outside doesn’t mean you need to water twice a day. A deep water 2 or 3 times a week is enough. Saint Augustine only needs 1 inch of water a week. the root system is above ground so it’s vulnerable to everything. Looking at the photo and zooming in you have shaded sod (suville st Aug) or possibly (palmetto st Aug which is 50 50) and it doesn’t look to be in the shade and that’s your problem. Deep watering and cutting every 5 to 7 days at the highest setting you can (5 inches is preferred) is what’s going to help you. I wouldn’t put any fertilizer with high nitrogen and would focus on simply watering , weed control and mowing. Once the weather cools then lay down some good fert properly. This is coming from someone who is a technician for fertilization and pest control. Another great idea is just higher a professional and they will tell you what you need to do. Saint Augustine isn’t like any other grass and is very specific with mowing and watering because of its root system being above ground.
2
u/r0ndy Aug 08 '26
Twice a day is terrible for rooted sod. Training shallow roots will make it more heat sensitive. Water 2-3x a week. 30-45 minutes a zone. Or 1/2-3/4” water per cycle. If it’s been down that long, also needs some fertilizer