Your St Augustine lawn and what variety should you use? When planning a lawn there are a few things you will want to consider.

1. Location – Where you live and how the surrounding environment will affect your St Augustine lawn.
2. The availability of water and your water bill.
3. The soil condition of your yard – the depth and type of the topsoil you have.
4. How much shade does your yard have.

Planning a St Augustine Lawn and Your Location

Your Location – Because of the tenderness of some of St Augustine it is important to understand that harsh weather conditions can and most likely will affect your grass. In really cold central Texas winters a St Augustine lawn can freeze back. So be conscious of this.

If you live north of IH-10 and Hwy 90 then it is best if you do not use Floratam St Augustine turf grass. Floratam is a more tender variety of St Augustine lawn grass and it tends to freeze more easily than other varieties. It is my suggestion that north of IH-10 and Hwy 90 you use Raleigh St Augustine.

Now south of the IH-10 corridor it is ok to use any variety of St Augustine. Although I would prefer Floratam in the south. Simply for the fact that it is more tropical yet more drought hearty than most other varieties of lawn grasses. It just seems simply the best type of St Augustine to use in south central and south Texas.

Planning a St Augustine Lawn and Water

Another thing to consider when planning your St Augustine lawn is water. Do you have a well or are you dependent on city or rural water systems. These can become costly when watering your grass in the hot dry summer months. If you have a well then no problem. But if you are dependent on municipal water then … that’s a decision you are going to have to make.

Planning a St Augustine Lawn and Your Soil

Soil is important for the root system of any turf grass this is especially so when you are considering a St Augustine lawn. The soil required by all St Augustine lawn grasses is a minimum of six inches of topsoil.

St Augustine Lawn – Topsoil Needs

If you live in the Texas hill country then you are going to find that the soil there is mostly rock and caleche. Not a prime soil for lawn grasses. It can be remedied by bringing in topsoil and spreading it around your yard.

If you live in most other areas south and east of the Llano Estacado or the Texas Hill country then you should be alright. The topsoil in any of these areas is in general very good. Even sandy soil is ok for a St Augustine lawn. It will just take more water to keep it healthy.

Planning a St Augustine Lawn and Shade

Since St Augustine lawn grasses are more shade tolerant than most any other turf grass you should have no problem there. Just be sure that your lawn will receive at least sixty (60%) percent sunlight for at least four hours. In other words, if you have a huge oak tree that shades your yard all day long then you are going to have a problem with grass growing under it.

Other than that you should be able to grow a beautiful St Augustine Lawn.