St. Augustine Grass
LawnFloratam, Palmetto, Stenotaphrum secundatum, Buffalo Grass (Australia), Augustine Grass, Buffalo Grass, Buffalo Quick Grass, Buffalo Turf, Caost Kweek, Cape Kweek, Cape Quick Grass, Carpetgrass, Coarse Couch, Coarse Couch Grass
Dominant warm-season grass in zones 8–10, especially coastal South and Gulf states. The most shade-tolerant warm-season grass (handles 4–6 hrs of direct sun). Dormancy: most sensitive warm-season grass to cold; damaged by temps below -3°C; dormancy begins below 10°C. Does not recover well from hard freezes. Green-up: faster than Zoysia once temps warm. Chinch bugs are the #1 pest — monitor June–September, especially in stressed/dry areas. Mow 3–4 in (higher than other warm-season types). Water needs are higher than Bermuda or Zoysia. Take-all root rot is an increasing problem: maintain soil pH 6.0–6.5; avoid excess nitrogen. Fall prep: stop fertilizing 6–8 weeks before first frost to harden off.
When to sow St. Augustine grass
Sow 4–10 weeks after your last spring frost.
Dashed line: typical last spring frost in zone 7 (Apr 5). Zone dates are averages; most of the UK is zone 8–9, central Europe 6–7 and the Baltics and Scandinavia 4–6. In the app, Tomatograph uses your garden's own frost dates.
How to establish and care for St. Augustine grass
- 1
Plant plugs or turf
St. Augustine is usually planted as turf or plugs in late spring, once the soil is warm. It is the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass, managing with 4–6 hours of direct sun.
- 2
Mow high
Mow at 7–10 cm, higher than other warm-season grasses.
- 3
Water and check for chinch bugs
It needs more water than Bermuda or Zoysia. Check dry, stressed areas for chinch bugs from early to late summer.
- 4
Protect from cold
It is the least cold-hardy warm-season grass and is damaged below about −3 °C. Stop feeding 6–8 weeks before the first frost.
Growing conditions
Light
Partial sun
Water
High water
Temperature
5–40 °C
Frost tolerance
Frost-sensitive — protect below 0 °C
How Tomatograph watches your St. Augustine grass
Tomatograph checks your local forecast every morning and only speaks up when one of these applies to your garden.
- 30 °C or more with under 5 mm of rain forecast over 3 daysDeep-watering reminder before the lawn goes into heat stress.
- 3 nights at 0 °C or below in the forecastDormancy notice: stop regular watering, mowing and feeding until spring green-up.
- 30–60 days before your first frostAutumn prep window: aerate, overseed bare patches and apply a slow-release feed.
- Over 20 mm of rain forecast over 3 daysTells you to skip irrigation until the ground dries out.
St. Augustine Grass questions
- When should I sow St. Augustine grass?
- Sow 4–10 weeks after your last spring frost.
Growing guide written by Tomatograph. Zone frost dates are averages from openplantdb (CC0 1.0).