Ground Preparation for St. Augustine Sod in Texas
St. Augustine sod is a common grass variety used in the Southern United States. In Texas, St. Augustine sod tolerates the high summer heat much better than other grass types, and can even survive periods of drought. St. Augustine grass does not produce seed very well, and sodding is the most common way of establishing the grass. Before laying down the sod, you must properly prepare the planting site to ensure that the sod thrives. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hand spade
- Plastic storage bag
- Herbicide containing glyphosate
- Garden tiller
- Slow-release granular fertilizer high in phosphorous
- Soil amendments (optional)
Instructions
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Dig into the planting site at least 4 to 5 inches and place 2 to 3 cups of soil into a plastic storage bag. Contact your local county extension office to have the soil tested.
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2
Spray the entire planting area with a herbicide containing the ingredient glyphosate, which will kill all grass and weeds. Do this step at least two to four weeks before installing the sod, or the herbicide may kill the sod.
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3
Place a garden tiller at the edge of the lawn area and set the blade depth to between 5 and 6 inches. Turn the tiller on and move it across the surface of the soil to loosen it.
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4
Spread a slow-release, high-phosphorous fertilizer over the surface of the ground using the amounts specified on the fertilizer package. You can identify high-phosphorous fertilizers using the three numbers on the fertilizer bag -- the middle number will be higher.
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Till the planting area again with the garden tiller to mix the fertilizer into the soil.
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Apply any soil amendments, such as lime or sulfur, that were recommended on the soil test report preformed by the extension service. The report will indicate how much, if any, of the amendments to apply. After application, till the soil once more to work the amendments in well.
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Tips & Warnings
Plant St. Augustine grass in the spring or fall in Texas, since the summer heat will cause the sod to die before it gets established.
