How to care for St. Augustinegrass in west-central Florida.

Where St. Augustinegrass performs best

St. Augustinegrass handles Florida heat, coastal conditions, and moderate shade better than many warm-season grasses. It does not tolerate heavy traffic as well as bermudagrass, and no turf performs well in deep shade. Cultivar matters: standard and dwarf types have different mowing heights and disease tendencies.

Mowing and routine care

UF/IFAS recommends 3.5–4 inches for standard cultivars and about 2.5 inches for dwarf cultivars. Remove no more than one-third of the leaf blade at one mowing and use a sharp blade; torn, scalped turf loses density and becomes more vulnerable to weeds and stress.

During active late-spring and summer growth, many lawns need weekly mowing. Growth slows in cooler months, so service frequency should follow the lawn rather than the calendar.

Water, fertilizer, and aeration timing

Irrigate when leaf blades fold, the color turns blue-gray, or footprints remain visible—not simply because a timer says so. Apply enough to wet the root zone, then wait for the lawn to show the next signs of wilt.

Fertilize only while turf is actively growing and follow the Pinellas County nitrogen and phosphorus blackout from June 1 through September 30. If compaction is limiting root growth, core aeration is best during active growth, generally late spring through summer, when the turf can recover.

Common problems to recognize

• Southern chinch bugs: irregular yellow-to-brown areas, often in sunny or heat-stressed turf; brown grass alone is not a diagnosis.
• Large patch: yellow, orange, or brown spreading patches during cooler, damp weather, commonly November through May.
• Gray leaf spot: leaf spots and thinning during warm, humid, rainy periods, especially on tender new growth.
• Take-all root rot: weak roots and broad thinning that can resemble drought or nutrient stress.

Best seasonal approach for Pinellas County

Spring is the time to resume active mowing as growth returns and to correct compaction before the most aggressive summer growth. Summer calls for correct mowing, irrigation based on wilt, and strict compliance with the local fertilizer blackout. Fall is a good time to avoid late nitrogen pushes and watch for large patch as nights become cooler and moisture lingers. Winter maintenance is lighter, with mowing only as growth requires.