St. Augustinegrass
Stenotaphrum secundatum
Broad-bladed and spreading by stolons, and unusually shade-tolerant for a warm-season grass. A staple of residential lawns across the US South. Weak under traffic, and not cold-hardy.
At a glance
| Family | Poaceae |
|---|---|
| Season type | Warm-season |
| Heat tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Cold tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Shade tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Wear tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Drought tolerance | ●●●●● |
| Mowing height | 40–90 mm |
| Propagation | Sod / Plug |
| Upkeep | Medium upkeep |
| Native range | Tropical Americas, West Africa |
Growing conditions
| USDA hardiness zones | 8–11 |
|---|---|
| Sunlight | Part shade |
| Watering | High |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Common problems | Chinch bugs / Brown patch / Large patch / Thatch build-up / Winter kill |
How to grow it
Climate and sun
The most shade-tolerant of the warm-season grasses and a staple of subtropical gardens. It suits coastal, frost-free areas and takes salt reasonably well. The broad blades are soft to lie on, but it does not take traffic, so keep ball games off it.
Planting
No seed is sold, so establish from sod or sprigs in early summer. It runs across the surface on stolons and will creep into adjacent beds.
Watering
Thirstier than most warm-season grasses. In summer, two deep morning waterings a week.
Mowing
Keep it tall, 40–80 mm. Cutting low exposes the stolons and weakens the stand. Weekly in growth.
Feeding
Monthly nitrogen in the growing season, but keep it modest — overfeeding brings thatch and chinch bugs.
Problems and winter
Chinch bugs suck it dry in expanding patches on the sunniest side. Brown patch and thatch also need watching. Cold tolerance is poor; it will not survive a winter with sustained frost.