Bitter blue is a type of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon). It is also known as Florida grass, wiregrass, Kikuyu grass, and Armitage grass. It is a perennial, warm-season grass native to Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia.
It is used widely in turf-grass lawns and athletic fields due to it’s ability to withstand cold temperatures, drought, and high levels of wear and tear. It has a thick, blue-green, dense sod and grows aggressively.
Its color is a pale blue-gray and its blades are fine, soft, and wiry. When maintained properly, it will produce a soft, cushiony playing surface. Bitter blue is extremely durable, easily survives periodic flooding, and is resistant to most pests and diseases.
It is a low-maintenance grass that requires minimal mowing, fertilization, irrigation and weeding.
How do I restore St. Augustine grass?
Restoring St. Augustine grass can be a relatively easy process with the right preparation and maintenance. The first step is to mow the lawn at the highest setting that your mower allows. Mowing helps to remove the thatch, which is the dead and dying grass clippings and roots that accumulate on the lawn.
In addition, it is also important to water deeply to ensure that the grass has enough water to thrive. Using a soaker hose and ensuring that the soil is moist at a depth of 6-8 inches is vital for the health of the grass.
Once the grass is adequately watered, fertilization is necessary. Choosing a fertilizer specifically formulated for St. Augustine grass is important, as it contains the nitrogen and iron needed to help the grass grow thick and green.
It is best to apply fertilizer during the spring and early summer when the grass is actively growing and can make use of the added nutrients.
Lastly, it is important to aerate and dethatch St. Augustine grass every two to three years in order to keep the grass healthy. Aeration helps to reduce compaction of the roots, allows for better water and nutrient absorption, and allows light to penetrate deep into the soil.
Dethatching removes the excess thatch that can suffocate the grass, resulting in a healthier, more vibrant lawn.
Does St. Augustine grass need to be Dethatched?
Yes, St. Augustine grass should be dethatched periodically to remove the layer of dead stems and roots that can form. Thatch can impede the growth of healthy new grass, cause water to run off instead of soak in, and provide a breeding ground for fungi and other diseases.
Depending on weather and use, St. Augustine grass should be dethatched every four to six months. Fall is usually the best time to dethatch, but it can be done in spring or summer as well. When dethatching, sharp Vertical Mowing blades are inserted into the lawn at a depth of just under 1”, removing the thatch from the roots of the lawn as the blades cut through it.
Afterward, yard debris should be raked up and the lawn should be fertilized and watered for at least two weeks. Proper mowing, fertilizing and watering practices should be observed to further protect the lawn against thatch.
Should you leave grass clippings on St. Augustine grass?
Yes, you should leave grass clippings on St. Augustine grass for various reasons. First, leaving grass clippings on your grass can add valuable nutrients back into the soil, reducing the need for additional fertilizer.
Grass clippings are composed of 85% water and contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which can provide natural nutrients that help grass stay healthy and green. Additionally, the clippings will act as a natural mulch and help keep moisture in the soil.
This can help reduce the amount of time spent watering your lawn. Finally, leaving grass clippings on your lawn helps reduce yard waste. Instead of hauling them away, you are able to put them to use by providing nourishment for your grass.
Can you Verticut St Augustine?
Yes, you can Verticut St Augustine grass. Verticutting St Augustine grass is a great way to reduce thatch and improve the overall health of your lawn. Verticutting helps remove excessive thatch buildup, which can reduce plant vigor and cause an increase in insect and disease damage.
It also helps reduce encroachment of surrounding weeds and prevents the spread of weeds into your St Augustine grass. The process of Verticutting involves using vertical blades to remove excess thatch and bring up the crowns of the grass plants, which encourages healthier root systems and turf growth.
While Verticutting can provide a variety of benefits to your St Augustine grass, it’s important to follow all manufacturer’s instructions for correct operation and maintenance of the machine and to make sure only the recommended blade heights and speeds are used.
Additionally, it’s important to make sure the Verticutting is performed twice a year. Doing this will help ensure that your St Augustine grass remains healthy and vigorous.
What happens if you cut St. Augustine grass too short?
If you cut St. Augustine grass too short, its growth may slow down as the grass will be in a stressful state. Additionally, the grass may become more susceptible to disease, insect and weed damage as the root system has been compromised.
Additionally, cutting the grass too short will reduce the amount of sunlight it can absorb, which can further hinder its ability to grow. As a result, it is important to maintain the recommended mowing height range for St.
Augustine grass (1.5” to 3.5”) to avoid overstressing the grass and to promote healthy growth.
Will St. Augustine grass fill in bare spots?
Yes, St. Augustine grass can fill in bare spots. This type of grass is an aggressive grass type, which means that it grows quickly and is able to crowd out other types of grass in the same area. This makes it an excellent choice for filling in bare spots.
When planting to fill empty spots, be sure to start with a healthy St. Augustine grass plant and plant it at the same depth that it was in the container. Water thoroughly after planting, and water twice a week thereafter.
Consider using a slow-release fertilizer in the spring, and consider using a pre-emergent weed control to help keep weeds from taking up space. St. Augustine grass needs about 6-8 hours of sunlight each day in order to thrive, so it is important to make sure that the area gets adequate sunlight.
Follow these tips and you can easily fill in bare spots with St. Augustine grass.
Are there different types of St. Augustine?
Yes, there are different types of St. Augustine grass. St. Augustine has several cultivars, each with its own characteristics. The different types of St. Augustine grasses vary in color, adaptation to climate, and tolerance to different environmental conditions.
Common types of St. Augustine grass are Palmetto, Bitterblue, Delmar, Sapphire, Raleigh, Seville, and Captiva. Palmetto is a very dark green, thick-bladed grass, with a color that tends to hold up well in the summer.
Palmetto is also quite drought-tolerant and can withstand hot and dry climates better than other St. Augustine varieties.
Bitterblue is another type of St. Augustine grass. It is a medium-textured grass that creates a lush lawn. Bitterblue has a light green color and performs best in warm, humid climates.
Delmar is a shade-tolerant variety of St. Augustine. It is a thick and soft-textured grass that grows well even under trees. Its color is a bright green. This cultivar is quite tolerant of shade and salt, and is suited for coastal areas.
Sapphire is known for its blue-green color and fine-textured blades. It grows well in both warm and cold climates and is so wear-tolerant that it is sometimes used in golf course fairways.
Raleigh is a medium-textured St. Augustine grass that has a medium green color. This cultivar is quite salt-tolerant and has good wear-tolerance, making it ideal for areas near sidewalks and roads.
Seville is a dark green, medium-textured grass. It has good salt tolerance and its dark green color makes it the ideal choice for warmer regions.
Finally, Captiva is a light green grass that has good wear-tolerance and holds its color better than other cultivars in cold climates. It is also used on golf courses and other sports fields.
In summary, there are different types of St. Augustine grass, each with its own characteristics and suited for different climates.
What is a good grass to mix with St. Augustine?
When it comes to mixing grasses, St. Augustine tends to do best with a complementary warm-season variety such as Bermuda, Zoysia, or Centipede. When added, the two grasses help to create a thicker, more drought-resistant coverage.
Bermuda is one of the most popular grasses to mix with St. Augustine, as it adds a stronger, deep green color that blends easily with St. Augustine’s medium green hue. Bermuda will also help to thicken the lawn and reduce areas of patchiness that St.
Augustine can struggle with when planted alone.
Centipede grass is another good warm-season option, with a similar color, texture, and growth rate as St. Augustine. Unlike Bermuda, however, Centipede grass does not need as much water or fertilization, and will offer more drought resistance to the area of your lawn.
Finally, Zoysia grass is a good choice for hot climates in which St. Augustine struggles to remain lush, due to its shade and cold tolerance. Zoysia produces a blue-green spikey blade, which is dramatically different from St.
Augustine and will help to add visual interest to the lawn.
Each of these grasses works well when combined with St. Augustine, and will create a stronger, denser, and more diverse lawn that can withstand heat, cold, and drought.
What is the difference between Raleigh and Palmetto St Augustine grass?
Raleigh and Palmetto St Augustine grass are two distinct types of grass. Raleigh grass is a sterile hybrid variety of St Augustine grass and was developed at the North Carolina State University. The dense growth habit gives Raleigh grass an attractive appearance with a deep, dark green color.
It is well-suited for the warm, humid conditions of the southern United States and works well in the shade.
In contrast, Palmetto St Augustine grass is a new, improved variety of St Augustine grass that was developed in Florida from a cross between the common St Augustine grass and a patented variety called Seville.
Palmetto St Augustine grass is a coarse-textured grass with a vibrant green color. It has excellent heat and drought tolerance and works well in full sun, but also requires less water than Raleigh grass.
Palmetto is also moderately shade tolerant but prefers full sun when available. Overall, Palmetto St Augustine grass better tolerates temperature extremes and is less susceptible to disease and pests than Raleigh.
How do I know what kind of St. Augustine I have?
To determine what kind of St. Augustine grass you have, you need to take a look at the shape of the grass blade. St. Augustine grass typically has a distinct V-shape pattern when looked at with the naked eye.
If your grass has wide, flat blades with rounded tips then you likely have Floratam, which is a common cultivar of St. Augustine grass. If your blades are more slender and have a sharper tip then you may have Bitterblue or Sarasota, which are other cultivars of St.
Augustine grass.
You may also want to take a soil sample and have it tested for nutrient content. Different cultivars of St. Augustine grass can thrive in different soils, so this information can help you determine the best variety for your lawn.
In addition, you should consider the overall environmental conditions of your property, including sunlight, rainfall and temperature, as these can all affect the variety of St. Augustine grass that will grow best in your location.
How do I know if I have floratam St. Augustine?
The best way to determine whether you have Floratam St. Augustine grass is to look for specific characteristics of the grass. Floratam is a coarse-textured variety of St. Augustine grass, and it has broad, light green blades with small, rounded tips, as well as thick stems.
Floratam also produces a high amount of seed heads, which are small light-purple, bur-like structures. Additionally, look for the presence of small runners, called stolons, that run horizontally and form dense mats.
Floratam is a warm-season grass and has good tolerance to salt, heat, and drought. It is commonly used in warmer climates and is particularly easy to maintain.
How do you treat Bitter blue grass?
When it comes to treating Bitter Bluegrass, the most important step is to properly identify the weed. Bitter Bluegrass is a perennial, cool season grassy weed that is typically blue-green in color and has a distinct, bluish sheen.
It has long, flat leaves, typically centered at the base, and small flower heads.
Once you have identified the weed, you can begin treating it. Bitter blue grass can be managed through a variety of cultural and chemical methods.
Culturally, mowing is the best way to control Bitter Bluegrass. It is important to mow when the weed is actively growing, and to set the mower blade as high as possible. This will help prevent the weed from reseeding itself.
Regular, hand-pulling may also be effective.
When using chemical control, it is important to select the right product for the area and the time of year that you are treating. Herbicides labeled for use on Bitter Bluegrass are available, including a variety of pre-emergent and post-emergent options.
Pre-emergent herbicides should be used early in the season, typically in late winter or early spring, while post-emergent herbicides are best applied in late spring or early summer. It is important to follow all label instructions when using chemical control products.
In general, a combination of cultural and chemical controls can be used for the most effective and safest control of Bitter Bluegrass.
Will Bermuda grass choke out St. Augustine?
The answer to this question is technically yes, Bermuda grass can choke out St. Augustine, but it is actually very unlikely due to their respective growing habits. St. Augustine is an aggressive turf grass that loves warm climates, and will easily outcompete Bermuda grass for resources.
Furthermore, St. Augustine’s deep root system makes it hard for Bermuda grass to out-compete it for water and nutrients. The two grasses can successfully coexist as a mixed stand of grass; however, if left unchecked, the dense thatch of Bermuda grass will eventually smother out St.
Augustine due to its lower light-requirements. To prevent this from happening, it is important to ensure the St. Augustine is mowed regularly to keep the thatch of Bermuda grass at bay. Additionally, applying pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides can help to further control the spread of Bermuda grass.