When to Plant St. Augustine Grass for Lush and Thriving Lawn?

St, Augustine grass is excellent for Southern states because of its adaptability to higher temperatures and low maintenance requirements.

But to keep this grass healthy, it needs to be planted at the right time. Therefore, it is best to know when to plant St Augustine grass.

Grow this turf in May through August, around spring or summer, 90 days before the first frost for ideal growth. With this schedule, you can expect a lush lawn in warmer months.

What is the Best Season to Plant St. Augustine Grass?

The best time to plant St Augustine grass is late spring through summer. Since this turf is a warm-season type, it thrives more in warmer temperatures.

Augustine grass likes air temperatures ranging between 80-100°F. And with spring and summer’s climate, your St Augustine grass seed will surely sprout and grow well.

However, although you can plant this turfgrass during the summer, you must take note that watering it more often is essential to keep the lawn moist.

In addition, take note not to let the seeds sit in a soggy soil condition, as they don’t tolerate that. Make sure to keep the ground well-drained for easy access to oxygen and let the grass grow in a soil pH of 5.0 to 7.0 to provide the shoots with sufficient nutrients. 

What Month to Plant St. Augustine Grass?

One best indicator of when to plant St Augustine grass plugs is your region’s last and first frost date.

The young roots of these warm-tolerant turfs are susceptible to cold temperatures, so planting St Augustine after the last frost and before freezing weather comes is essential.

Around May through August of late spring to summer, depending on your location, is the St Augustine grass growing season.

Planting in Different States/areas

This type of grass is popular in Florida, California, and Texas, but whether you live in these states or in Georgia or Arizona, the general rule of thumb for growing St Augustine grass is planting it 90 days before your first frost date.

This planting window will give it a generous period for establishing a good root system. These healthy roots will, later on, tolerate the low temperature of fall through winter.

So here are the simple steps on how to do it:

1. Find your first frost date.
2. Count 90 days backward from the date of your first frost.
3. Plant your St. Augustine grass.

For example, if you live in Austin in Central Texas, your average start of frost will likely fall on November 5th. Count 90 days backward and plant grass on August 7th.

Tips to Plant St. Augustine Grass

1. Remove weeds and water the soil before planting.

The best time to lay St Augustine sod is when the planting bed is free of any unwanted grass, like weeds.

You don’t want the grass to compete with other organisms for nutrients and light. Therefore, apply a herbicide that would kill the weeds or remove them at their roots with your hand to completely eliminate them before planting.

Aside from that, water the ground before sowing to set the plugs in a moisturized bed, which is necessary for their growth.

2. Plant grass in a full-sun area.

St. Augustine grass will achieve its ideal growth if you expose it to full sun. So, before sowing grass, ensure that your planting area is suitable and not too shady.

3. Create a hole with the appropriate size.

The best way to plant St Augustine grass is to put the plant in a hole bigger than its width and the same depth as its root ball.

4. Regularly apply fertilizer.

If you want to see your St Augustine grass start growing well, regularly feed the lawn with an all-purpose fertilizer once the foliage has developed and every 8 weeks in the summer.

Care of St. Augustine Grass

1. Keep the grass moist for at least 7 days after planting for proper root growth.
2. Keep the grass length at 4 inches at maximum and mow the shoots if they exceed that.
3. Regularly irrigate the lawn four times a week if your soil is well-draining but avoid over-watering.

FAQs

Is it too late to plant St. Augustine sod?

As long your growing window is within the springtime or summer, you can still sow Augustine grass.

Avoid planting it in late autumn, when temperatures will gradually go down. Remember that Augustine grass prefers warmer weather ranging between 80-100°F.

Can St. Augustine grass be planted by seed?

No. St. Augustin sod is different from other turfs like Bermuda and Zoysia grasses that can be planted by seed. St. Augustine can only be sown by plugs or sod.

Related: Best time to grow Bermuda grass in Georgia.

Is St. Augustine grass hard to grow?

No. As I mentioned earlier, since St. Augustine grass can handle heat very well, it is low-maintenance and doesn’t need much attention. Just ensure that you keep the lawn moisturized, especially during the summer, and mow it at the right height.

Conclusion

In light of the information here, late spring through summer is coming, and that would be the perfect time to plant your St. Augustine plugs while the temperature is still warm and the first frost is far away.

Plant them 90 days before freezing weather sets in for a more precise growing schedule. But if you want to produce a healthy, lush lawn, remember to keep the soil moist, fertilize at the right time, and mow the grass at the recommended height.

Hopefully, reading about when to plant St Augustine grass will help you achieve your desired lawn. Thank you for reading!