What Time of Year Do You Plant St. Augustine Grass?

St. Augustine grass is a stiff, coarse-textured, warm-season lawn grass.

St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a warm-season grass suitable only to warm-winter areas, U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 through 11. Not sown from seed, it is planted as sod, rooted sprigs or cut segments of stolons, or horizontal stems.

Geography

St. Augustine grass is suitable only to the southern half of California, Arizona, Texas and immediately along the Gulf Coast, including all of peninsular Florida. It does not establish or grow well where winter low temperatures drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Time Frame

According to Texas A&M University's website, growth of St. Augustine grass is slow in the warm months of both spring and fall, but is significantly fast and lush during the heat of summer. The University of Florida advises not to plant St. Augustine grass (any variety) when temperatures are not consistently above 80 degrees Fahrenheit and colder than 60 degrees at night. In warmest southern Florida, plant it from late fall to late spring; along the Gulf Coast where winters are frosty, wait until spring or early fall to plant. Also avoid planting it in the hottest weeks of summer to diminish need for copious irrigation.

Considerations

Sod is laid any time of year in mild, warm-winter areas where frosts are not a threat. The growth rate and establishment of the roots of St. Augustine grass is retarded until warmth returns from spring to fall. Sprigs or stolon planting is best done during warm spring or early fall time periods since warmth promotes growth and irrigation keeps soil moist longer than in the hottest summer time frame, especially in sandy soils.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns
• Texas A&M University: St. Augustine Grass

Resources

• Learn2Grow: Stenotaphrum Secundatum
• National Gardening Association: USDA Hardiness Zone Finder