Optimizing Soil pH for St. Augustine Grass: A Complete Liming Guide

Understanding Soil pH and Its Impact on St. Augustine Grass Soil acidity, measured on a pH scale from 0 to 14, plays a critical role in nutrient availability for turfgrass. A pH of 7 is neutral; values below 7 indicate a

Mowing St. Augustinegrass: Height, Frequency, and Equipment

Every grass has an optimal mowing height. Rule: remove only 1/3 of blade per mowing. Example: target 2 inches → allow growth to 3 inches between mows. With moderate fertilizing, weekly mowing suffices. St. Augustine hei

Planting St. Augustinegrass Sod: Step-by-Step Guide

Kill all weeds with non-selective herbicide 2 weeks before planting. Till soil 6 inches deep, mixing in recommended lime/fertilizer (1-800-ASKUGA-1). If no soil test: dig in 50 lbs lime + 20 lbs 5-10-15 fertilizer per 1

Weed Control in St. Augustinegrass: A Complete Strategy

Three Methods – Use All Three Healthy Lawn: Vigorous grass resists weeds. Proper fertilizing, watering, mowing at correct height/frequency. Weeds invade bare/thin areas first. Mechanical: Frequent mowing per guidelines

Dog Urine Spots on Lawns: Causes and Real Solutions

Q: Two female dogs urinate on my front yard, creating yellow dead patches. Can I neutralize the urine with a chemical? Bright yellow spots with dark green rings = classic dog urine damage. Females squat → primary culpri

Take-All Patch Control with Manganese: Research-Based Approach

Take-all patch plagues St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, and bermudagrass lawns. Linked to soil pH and manganese deficiency. I asked Alfredo Martinez, PhD (UGA Extension Plant Pathologist) about manganese research from N

Critical Soil Temperatures for Grass Growth and Weed Control

Partial list of 4-inch soil temperatures (°F) linked to biological events. Check your soil temperature here Cool-Season Grasses: Fescue, Ryegrass 90°F – Shoot growth ceases 77°F – Root growth ceases 70°F – Max temp fo

Brown Patch Fungicide Trial: N.C. State Research Results

Control of brown patch in tall fescue with monthly fungicide applications in Raleigh, NC. L.P. Tredway and E.L. Butler Department of Plant Pathology North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC 27695 Trial Details Esta

Fall Lawn Chores: Mowing, Watering, Overseeding, Winterizing

New homeowner Pat Combs moved from fescue to bermuda sod, totally ignorant of bermuda maintenance. Excellent questions – lets tackle them. Mowing Height GrassCutting Height (inches) Tall fescue2–3 Common bermudagrass1–

Debunking Lawn Myths: Beer, Ammonia, and Snake Oil

My chemistry degree taught me to spot pseudo-science. I get upset when science is twisted to sell products. Houseplants Clean Air? NASAs 1984 closed-chamber experiments showed some plants remove benzene/formaldehyde. Bu

'Thermal Blue' Bluegrass Installation: A Photo Case Study

Rare to see a full lawn renovation documented. A garden friend sent these photos from his August 2005 Thermal Blue sod installation. Removed the rocks (1 of 4 piles) Prepared the dirt (NO TOPSOIL...just tilled) and inst

Choosing the Right Grass Before You Plant: Sun, Cost, Maintenance

A writer asked about local gardening trends. I replied: homeowners are realizing they dont need the biggest lawn for the most attractive landscape. Most frequent question? Lawn care, without a doubt! Sunny Lawn: Best Gr

Wild Violet Control in Lawns: Herbicide Options by Grass Type

Violets are tough: perennial roots regrow yearly, and they produce copious seeds. Before chemicals, consider the Water Weeder – jet of water loosens clumps for pulling. Totally organic! Chemical Control by Grass Type FO

'Reveille' Bluegrass: Not Recommended for Georgia

A radio listener asked about Reveille bluegrass for Georgia. Id never heard of it. UGA turf specialist Clint Waltz dug into it: Reveille is a hybrid between Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and Texas bluegrass (P. ar

Chamberbitter (Mimosa Weed): Identification and Control

My Master Gardener team helps answer queries. When Stacy panicked about little mimosa seedlings invading her lawn, I knew it was a stumper. Im on a first-name basis with this pest – neighbor Gus brought it to my attentio

Brown Patch Diagnosis: Is It Disease or Environment?

Brown patches in your lawn – is it brown patch disease or something else? Answer matters: disease needs fungicide; environmental causes waste money on chemicals. Disease vs. Environment Brown patch causes dead patches,

Fairy Ring Disease: Mushrooms and Yellow Rings in Your Lawn

Summer rain brings unexpected lawn visitors. A homeowner described a tree island (former Bradford pear) surrounded by a circle of yellow, thin, drought-prone grass that didnt respond to watering. He suspected old roots s

Diagnosing Dead Grass: Common Causes and Solutions

I use a churchs zoysia lawn as a spring green-up indicator (fertilize at 50% green). In May 2002, it never greened up – entire lawn died between October and April. Several other lawns showed problems this spring. Here ar

Correct Spelling of Turfgrass Names: Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass

Ive long debated editors about correct turfgrass spelling. Dr. Clint Waltz (UGA) sets the record straight: Bermudagrass is one word, lowercase except at sentence start. Example: Zoysiagrass, bermudagrass, and seashore

Basic Lawn Maintenance: Mow, Sharpen, Feed – Fool the Neighbors

A worried new homeowner couple asked how to keep neighbors from thinking theyre incompetent. My advice: Keep the lawn mowed. You can fool the neighbors for years if you just keep the grass neat. At 20 mph, a freshly mow