St. Augustine

St. Augustine is a coarse‑leaf, warm‑season turfgrass prized for its ability to tolerate full sun, moderate amounts of shade, and intense summer heat. If you like lawns that are a little taller in height, then a St. Augustine lawn is for you.

This grass is the most desirable of the coarse-textured warm season lawns. Coarse-textured simply means that the leaf blades are thicker, rather than thin like fine-textured Zeon Zoysia.

St. Augustine lawns establish quickly into a dense, blue‑green carpet. Consider the following features as you research sod types:

• Leaf texture: Coarse
• Plushness: High, creating a soft, cushioned surface
• Shade tolerance: Medium; must receive at least 6-7 hours of direct unfiltered sunlight to thrive
• Drought tolerance: Medium; withstands short dry spells but requires regular deep irrigation to stay lush
• Traffic & wear tolerance: Low; best suited for areas with small dogs, light child play, or occasional light backyard sports
• Heat tolerance: High; maintains vigor through the hottest months
• Cold tolerance: Low; thrives better in warm winters such as in Zone 8b and warmer
• Winter appearance: Dormant brown—no green until spring re‑growth
• Maintenance considerations: Maintenance level is high; dense growth is rapid and suppresses weeds, but requires high irrigation, fertilization, dethatching, and fungicide and insecticide application to maintain health
• Lifestyle considerations: Ideal for ornamental lawns and shaded residential areas with moderate foot traffic; avoid high‑use play zones such as sports fields
• Curb appeal (with proper care): High; delivers a plush, uniform aesthetic when fertilized, mowed, and irrigated correctly