Best Fertilizer for St. Augustine Grass

There's no doubt that St. Augustine makes for a beautiful lawn. Just like any lawn, regular fertilization is required to keep it healthy and green. Choosing the best fertilizer for St Augustine grass is not rocket science but it's also not as simple as picking up any bag found at your local garden supply store. It's important to understand how to properly care for St. Augustine sod. We break it all down for you in this article.

close up photograph of grass blades

Important Factors to Consider When You Apply Fertilizer

The most important factor of fertilizing St. Augustine grass is using the correct amount. Using too little fertilizer will not produce that lush, dark green color or rapid growth for which St. Augustine is known. On the other hand, too much fertilizer will create a haven for pests.

The best fertilizer for St Augustine grass is any fertilizer that has one pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of sod. Fertilizing every two months is ideal unless you apply slow release fertilizer that can be spread every 10 weeks.

Here's How to Figure Out which Bag of Fertilizer to Choose

Every bag of fertilizer has a nutrient analysis on the label which shows the percentage and ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively. Although it requires some math, the calculation is fairly easy and, of course, in-store lawn care professionals can always assist if memory fails. Here's how it would break down assuming you have a 2,000 square foot lawn and use a bag of 15-5-10 fertilizer.

 

Once you understand the analysis, the fertilizer you choose for your St Augustine grass becomes a matter of preference. There are numerous fertilizers marketed for St. Augustine specifically such as Lesco St. Augustine Lawn Fertilizer, Dr. Earth Organic Super Natural Lawn Fertilizer and Pennington's Weed and Feed product.

Beyond Fertilizer - How To Care For St. Augustine Sod

Fertilizing your lawn isnt' everything! In order to ensure maximum beauty, follow these tips for a healthy St. Augustine lawn:

 
  1. 1. Fertilize during the growing season in the spring and fall.
  2. 2. Check for chinch bugs and white grubs and treat for insects as needed.
  3. 3. Don't over water! Water only when grass shows signs of deterioration in color or blade structure. Consider irrigating in the early morning when the yard has time to dry out in the sun.
  4. 4. Try to limit heavy foot traffic as St. Augustine cannot withstand constant trampling.
  5. 5. Set your mower to a height of 2.5 to 3 inches and leave the clippings rather than bagging them. Doing so ensures that nutrients are redelivered to the soil.
  6. 6. Control weeds with herbicide, preferably in temperatures of 90 degrees of lower as treating in high heat may lead to lawn damage.
  7. 7. Test the soil and understand how its PH level will affect your choice of fertilizer.
 

It's not uncommon for St. Augustine to lack iron (made apparent by PH levels higher than 7.0), but its other components are equally important to note such as the levels of phosphorus and potassium. Therefore, soil tests should be a regular part of lawn care and will truly determine the best fertilizer for St Augustine grass. And though it may seem like a full-time job, caring for St. Augustine pays off in the long run with its beauty and stands as a perfect warm-season grass for any homeowner.

Ready to grow more things? Why not try your hand at growing fruit trees in Phoenix. Check out this step-by-step guide to growing fruit tress in Phoenix, published on AZCentral.

Evergreen Turf is your source for the highest quality sod in Arizona. Our friendly, knowledgeable people are committed to answering all of your questions to ensure a stress-free experience with your new Arizona sod lawn. Whether you wish to sod a small play area for the family or an entire golf course, Evergreen Turf can help you make it happen.

Our team serves customers throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. Browse our website for information and tips on how to create and maintain a beautiful lawn, or give us a call and talk to one of our sod specialists at 480-456-1199 if you don't find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

Seasonal Arizona Sod and Lawn Care Tips

Enter your email address below and we'll remind you when it's time to reseed & change your irrigation schedule. You can remove yourself from our list at any time.

Privacy Policy

Connect with us for more tips and information.

For questions or to order by phone call:
(480) 456-1199

Popular Articles