St. Augustine Frost Damage Recovery: Patience, Fungus Watch, and Delayed Fertilization

Central Florida Floratam brown after 3-day freeze: wait until Valentine's Day to assess, mow off dead tissue, watch for fungus, irrigate sparingly, delay fertilization per local guidelines.

Immediate Post-Freeze Protocol

1. DO NOTHING until Valentine's Day (Feb 14).
2. No fertilization: Stimulates tender growth vulnerable to subsequent freezes.
3. Minimal irrigation: Only if soil dry 3+ inches; morning only.
4. No mowing yet.

Valentine's Day Assessment

• Green shoots at soil level = living crowns/stolons = recovery likely.
• No green tissue after 2 weeks = probable death; plan renovation.
• Mow at highest setting to remove brown tissue ONLY—don't scalp green.

Fungus Prevention (Critical)

• Rake/remove dead material: Reduces inoculum.
• Irrigate sparingly, morning only: Water in soil, not on blades.
• Scout daily for fungus: Circular patches, cottony mycelium, leaf lesions.
• Treat immediately if detected: Azoxystrobin, propiconazole, or thiophanate-methyl.

Fertilization Timeline

• Wait for local green-up: Typically March in Central FL.
• Follow county ordinance: Many FL counties ban N/P June–Sept.
• First application: 16-0-8 or similar (low P, 50%+ slow-release N) at 0.5 lb N/1,000 sq ft.

Long-Term Recovery

Floratam stolons root readily at nodes. Surviving tissue will spread laterally. Full recovery typically 60–90 days post-freeze if crowns alive. Patience prevents compounding damage.