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Warm-season · Gulf coast & Florida

St. Augustine care calendar

Broad-bladed warm-season turf that thrives in heat, humidity, and coastal soils. Sensitive to many herbicides — always check the label for St. Augustine safety.

Mowing height
3"–4" (never scalp)
N per season
2–4 lb / 1,000 sq ft
Green-up
Soil 65–70°F
Herbicide watch
Avoid MSMA, quinclorac, most 2,4-D formulations
Jan
winter
Semi-dormant (varies by zone).
  • Soil test
    Neutral pH preferred. Iron availability drops in alkaline soil.
Feb
winter
Pre-emergent prep.
  • Order pre-emergent
    Atrazine (labeled for St. Aug) or prodiamine. Follow local rules — atrazine restricted in some counties.
Mar
spring
Pre-emergent window.
  • Apply pre-emergent
    Soil 2" at 55°F for 3+ days.
  • First mow
    3"+ height. St. Augustine hates being scalped.
Apr
spring
Green-up.
  • Chinch bug watch
    Sunny, dry patches near sidewalks/driveways. Peak damage May–September.
  • First N application
    0.5–1 lb N / 1,000 sq ft after full green-up.
May
spring
Growing.
  • Feed
    Iron-rich blend. Chelated iron for color between N apps.
  • Spot-spray sedges
    Sedgehammer / Image labeled for St. Augustine.
Jun
summer
Peak season.
  • N application
    0.5–1 lb N. Slow-release strongly preferred.
  • Mow 3.5–4"
    Tall mowing shades soil, out-competes weeds.
  • Watch for grey leaf spot
    Diamond-shaped lesions during humid stretches. Azoxystrobin if needed.
Jul
summer
Chinch bug + fungus season.
  • Scout weekly
    Part the canopy in yellow patches — chinch bugs look like tiny black-and-white specks.
  • Water early morning
    Reduces fungal pressure.
Aug
summer
Hold.
  • Light feed
    0.5 lb N. Skip if grey leaf spot is active.
  • Take-all root rot watch
    Yellow patches that don't respond to N and iron — fungicide + soil pH check.
Sep
fall
Winterize prep.
  • Final N
    By mid-month. Late feed invites disease.
  • Fall pre-emergent
    Prodiamine or atrazine before soil drops to 70°F.
Oct
fall
Wind down.
  • Potassium boost
    0.5–1 lb K / 1,000 sq ft.
  • Stop N
    No more nitrogen for the year.
Nov
fall
Slow.
  • Rake leaves
    St. Augustine's dense mat traps them.
Dec
winter
Rest.
  • Watch for cold snaps
    Water lightly before hard freezes to reduce cold injury.

St. Augustine is chemically fragile. Always read the label — many common broadleaf herbicides will kill it.

Time this to your actual weather

This calendar is a great baseline. Patch shifts every task to your real soil temp, GDD, and forecast.

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