backyard

dchall_san_antonio

It is easy to care for once it knits into the soil. In your area it seldom gets as hot as we have it and it goes in year round here. Here is what I do to care for mine... Watering: Deep and infrequent is the mantra for watering. This is for all turf grass all over the place. Deep means 1 inch all at one time. Put some cat food or tuna cans around the yard, and time how long it takes your sprinkler(s) to fill all the cans. Memorize that time. That will be the time you water from now on. My hose, sprinkler and water pressure takes 8 full hours to fill the cans. Your time will likely be less. I like gentle watering. As for watering frequency, that depends on the daytime air temperature. With temps in the 90s, deep water once per week. With temps in the 80s, deep water once every 2 weeks. With temps in the 70s, deep water once every 3 weeks. With temps below 70, deep water once a month. Note that you have to keep up with quickly changing temps in the spring and fall. This deep and infrequent schedule works in Phoenix and in Vermont, so it should work for you. The reason for deep and infrequent is to grow deeper, more drought resistant roots and to allow the soil to dry completely at the surface for several days before watering again. If it rains, reset your calendar to account for the rainfall. Mowing: Always mulch mow St Augustine at the mower's highest setting every week or 3. If the temps get into the 100s for longer than a few days, stop mowing and let the grass grow up a little higher. Mowing it back from 6 inches should be no problem. Fertilizer: I stopped using chemical fertilizer in 2002, but if you want to use it, then apply on Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. For organics I used that those same dates but I also applied on Washington's Birthday and 4th of July to keep the color true throughout the season. Spot spray weeds with an atrazine product in mid April. I'm not sure you can get atrazine herbicides in California. I never apply insecticide or fungicide in anticipation of insects or disease. I have never had an insect issue since the mid 1960s. I have had disease in St Aug on an annual basis for 14 years. Application of ordinary corn meal at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet fixed that every time.

Reply to: It is easy to care for once it knits into the soil. In your area it seldom gets as hot as we have it and it goes in year round here. Here is what I do to care for mine... Watering: Deep and infrequent is the mantra for watering. This is for all turf grass all over the place. Deep means 1 inch all at one time. Put some cat food or tuna cans around the yard, and time how long it takes your sprinkler(s) to fill all the cans. Memorize that time. That will be the time you water from now on. My hose, sprinkler and water pressure takes 8 full hours to fill the cans. Your time will likely be less. I like gentle watering. As for watering frequency, that depends on the daytime air temperature. With temps in the 90s, deep water once per week. With temps in the 80s, deep water once every 2 weeks. With temps in the 70s, deep water once every 3 weeks. With temps below 70, deep water once a month. Note that you have to keep up with quickly changing temps in the spring and fall. This deep and infrequent schedule works in Phoenix and in Vermont, so it should work for you. The reason for deep and infrequent is to grow deeper, more drought resistant roots and to allow the soil to dry completely at the surface for several days before watering again. If it rains, reset your calendar to account for the rainfall. Mowing: Always mulch mow St Augustine at the mower's highest setting every week or 3. If the temps get into the 100s for longer than a few days, stop mowing and let the grass grow up a little higher. Mowing it back from 6 inches should be no problem. Fertilizer: I stopped using chemical fertilizer in 2002, but if you want to use it, then apply on Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. For organics I used that those same dates but I also applied on Washington's Birthday and 4th of July to keep the color true throughout the season. Spot spray weeds with an atrazine product in mid April. I'm not sure you can get atrazine herbicides in California. I never apply insecticide or fungicide in anticipation of insects or disease. I have never had an insect issue since the mid 1960s. I have had disease in St Aug on an annual basis for 14 years. Application of ordinary corn meal at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet fixed that every time.

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