Lawn Care Advice/Experience

[KoachKrab127]

I live in northern Florida and bought a house a few years ago in an HOA neighborhood, and everyone is having trouble keeping their lawn up to code. It’s crazy how easily the grass dies. I owned a home in Knoxville for years and never had problems with the lawn. Never had to fertilize, never had to use sprinklers, or anything. Just mowed once a week in the warm seasons.

I have Floratam St. Augustine grass. I was told to run the sprinklers for 20-25 minutes in each zone, 3 times per week. I used granular fertilizer 4 times a year as well, guidelines I was also given.

The grass never grew very well, and I had to replace my front lawn in the summer of 2024 because too much of it was dead. I hired a professional to take care of the lawn, and I have been much more diligent tending to it since we got the new sod, and it looks great right now, but that also comes with learning quite a few things.

Like I said, I was told to run the sprinklers for 20-25 minutes, 3x per week. The lawn company I hired recommended 30-45 minutes per zone, 2x per week. They said I needed less frequent watering, but DEEP watering, to encourage root growth. One of the techs told me to do a “tuna can test,” where you place tuna cans, spaced out in your lawn to see how much water hits every zone. Measure the amount of water in the tuna can, and that’s how much water is going into the soil in that zone. Well, I came to learn that 30 minutes isn’t nearly enough for some areas. The rotary sprinklers in the backyard collected less than 0.25 inches of water in 30 minutes, and the recommendations are 0.5-0.75 inches per watering in each zone. I had to increase my backyard sprinkler time to over TWO HOURS to get at least 0.5 inches.

I have also learned that Black Kow fertilizer is like a miracle worker. Put that stuff down in thinning areas, and it’ll look beautiful in 2 months.

Overall, St. Augustine grass is just so frustrating. You can’t buy seeds of it. A little too much water will kill it, and not enough water will kill it. The sprinklers do not give even coverage, so you have to use the hose at times to balance it out. It’s so much work!

I know I’ve done a lot of complaining here, but honestly, I am glad I have learned so much about lawn care over the last year. Waiting for results has been stressful, but actually doing the yard work while listening to podcasts or music is quite relaxing.

If anyone has any more advice I could use about St. Augustine grass, I’d appreciate it. I’m always eager to learn to make the job easier.

I’ll post before and after pictures of my lawn as well, so you can see what I’m working with.

 

[KoachKrab127]

Spring 2024

 

[KoachKrab127]

Today

 

[hog88]

Next time you are in TN stock up on 10/10/10 fertilizer and use it during the summer months. Pretty sure its banned in FL from spring until fall.

 

[KoachKrab127]

Next time you are in TN stock up on 10/10/10 fertilizer and use it during the summer months. Pretty sure its banned in FL from spring until fall.

What is 10/10/10? And why is it banned?

 

[CagleMtnVol]

What is 10/10/10? And why is it banned?

10% Nitrogen (N)
10% Phosphorus (P)
10% Potassium (K)

 

[hog88]

What is 10/10/10? And why is it banned?

It's a fertilizer mixture of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Pretty sure FL banned it's use a few years ago during spring-fall due to runnoff, nitrogen and potassium cause algae blooms in the water. The Red Tide y'all get in the summer comes from too much nitrogen getting in the water. People way over fertilize their yards so most of what is put down gets into the water table of runs off into the surface water. Starting to see bad algae blooms on our lakes in TN now, especially the ones with neighborhoods built on their shores.

 

[GroverCleveland]

I live in northern Florida and bought a house a few years ago in an HOA neighborhood, and everyone is having trouble keeping their lawn up to code. It’s crazy how easily the grass dies. I owned a home in Knoxville for years and never had problems with the lawn. Never had to fertilize, never had to use sprinklers, or anything. Just mowed once a week in the warm seasons.

I have Floratam St. Augustine grass. I was told to run the sprinklers for 20-25 minutes in each zone, 3 times per week. I used granular fertilizer 4 times a year as well, guidelines I was also given.

The grass never grew very well, and I had to replace my front lawn in the summer of 2024 because too much of it was dead. I hired a professional to take care of the lawn, and I have been much more diligent tending to it since we got the new sod, and it looks great right now, but that also comes with learning quite a few things.

Like I said, I was told to run the sprinklers for 20-25 minutes, 3x per week. The lawn company I hired recommended 30-45 minutes per zone, 2x per week. They said I needed less frequent watering, but DEEP watering, to encourage root growth. One of the techs told me to do a “tuna can test,” where you place tuna cans, spaced out in your lawn to see how much water hits every zone. Measure the amount of water in the tuna can, and that’s how much water is going into the soil in that zone. Well, I came to learn that 30 minutes isn’t nearly enough for some areas. The rotary sprinklers in the backyard collected less than 0.25 inches of water in 30 minutes, and the recommendations are 0.5-0.75 inches per watering in each zone. I had to increase my backyard sprinkler time to over TWO HOURS to get at least 0.5 inches.

I have also learned that Black Kow fertilizer is like a miracle worker. Put that stuff down in thinning areas, and it’ll look beautiful in 2 months.

Overall, St. Augustine grass is just so frustrating. You can’t buy seeds of it. A little too much water will kill it, and not enough water will kill it. The sprinklers do not give even coverage, so you have to use the hose at times to balance it out. It’s so much work!

I know I’ve done a lot of complaining here, but honestly, I am glad I have learned so much about lawn care over the last year. Waiting for results has been stressful, but actually doing the yard work while listening to podcasts or music is quite relaxing.

If anyone has any more advice I could use about St. Augustine grass, I’d appreciate it. I’m always eager to learn to make the job easier.

I’ll post before and after pictures of my lawn as well, so you can see what I’m working with.

St. Augustine can be tough. More subject to disease than some others, but when right, hardly anything better walk barefoot on to me.

Sounds like you're figuring out, though.

 

[Tin Man]

Is St. Augustine required by HOA?
Composted cow poop is a good choice for encouraging runner growth into thin, balding areas. Honestly, drinking responsibly can mollify the GAF factor of PITA lawn. Good luck.

 

[KoachKrab127]

Is St. Augustine required by HOA?
Composted cow poop is a good choice for encouraging runner growth into thin, balding areas. Honestly, drinking responsibly can mollify the GAF factor of PITA lawn. Good luck.

I don’t know if it’s required, but everyone in our neighborhood has it, and almost everyone is having problems. My lawn now actually looks the best on our block.

And yes, I have had a shot or two over the last couple of years due to this PITA lawn.

 

[KoachKrab127]

It's a fertilizer mixture of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Pretty sure FL banned it's use a few years ago during spring-fall due to runnoff, nitrogen and potassium cause algae blooms in the water. The Red Tide y'all get in the summer comes from too much nitrogen getting in the water. People way over fertilize their yards so most of what is put down gets into the water table of runs off into the surface water. Starting to see bad algae blooms on our lakes in TN now, especially the ones with neighborhoods built on their shores.

My neighbor over-fertilized his lawn, and killed it. He had to replace his as well. He was getting frustrated like me, because the lawn wasn’t thriving, and that lead to over-fertilizing. He thinks so many people’s lawns are suffering because they laid down sand and not soil before putting down the sod. I think that’s a contributing factor, but I think the main thing is we have to run our sprinklers for a lot longer than originally told, especially since we’ve had such dry springs/summers these past few years.

 

[superdave1984]

I had a down the street neighbor a few years ago whobhad the prettiest grass I have ever seen. I saw him out one day and asked him how he got his grass such a deep green color. He said the company that does his grass adds dark green dye to the water they use.

 

[hog88]

My neighbor over-fertilized his lawn, and killed it. He had to replace his as well. He was getting frustrated like me, because the lawn wasn’t thriving, and that lead to over-fertilizing. He thinks so many people’s lawns are suffering because they laid down sand and not soil before putting down the sod. I think that’s a contributing factor, but I think the main thing is we have to run our sprinklers for a lot longer than originally told, especially since we’ve had such dry springs/summers these past few years.

Not having a good base of topsoil would create a problem.

 

[KoachKrab127]

I had a down the street neighbor a few years ago whobhad the prettiest grass I have ever seen. I saw him out one day and asked him how he got his grass such a deep green color. He said the company that does his grass adds dark green dye to the water they use.

Well, if you ain’t cheatin’ you ain’t tryin’!

 

[KoachKrab127]

Not having a good base of topsoil would create a problem.

Yes, but I have noticed the biggest difference when I adjust the sprinklers based on how much rain and heat we’ve been getting. When it got cooler in November, the grass was turning yellow from over-watering. I cut the time from 45 minutes to 30 in that zone, and the next week it looked great. A few weeks ago, I noticed drought stress in a few spots, so I increased the sprinkler time in that area, and the next week it looked perfect.

I think the biggest thing is take about 5-10 minutes every day to look at the lawn and be pro-active on small problems, so they don’t turn into big problems later. Thinning area - Black Kow. Drought stress - extra water. Yellow, droopy blades - back off on the water a bit. Be adaptive. Keep it green.

 

[Orangeburst]

Spring 2024

May be diseased or pests.. I thought SA grass was a real breeze to grow as it was all over Houston even in road medians. Certainly much easier than cool season Fescue in TN.

A soil test may be in order for proper PH levels as well. Proper PH will let roots develop and grow deeper

 

[KoachKrab127]

May be diseased or pests.. I thought SA grass was a real breeze to grow as it was all over Houston even in road medians. Certainly much easier than cool season Fescue in TN.

A soil test may be in order for proper PH levels as well. Proper PH will let roots develop and grow deeper

The company I hired ran a soil test, and the pH was low. They have done lime treatments for the last 3 months, then will test it again in 3 more months.

Thanks for the input.

 

[joevol33]

I don’t know if it’s required, but everyone in our neighborhood has it, and almost everyone is having problems. My lawn now actually looks the best on our block.

And yes, I have had a shot or two over the last couple of years due to this PITA lawn.

It looks goid. I've been working on mine for bare spots. We don't have an HOA, and I don't mind myself, it just throws dust when I mow. I hate it blowing on the neighbors houses, so I started a while back, mostly have green grass where I never did, and I don't know what I was doing . I mixed quick seed with better seed, hoping the fast stuff would help hold down the better seed when it came up, seems to have worked some.

 

[KoachKrab127]

It looks goid. I've been working on mine for bare spots. We don't have an HOA, and I don't mind myself, it just throws dust when I mow. I hate it blowing on the neighbors houses, so I started a while back, mostly have green grass where I never did, and I don't know what I was doing . I mixed quick seed with better seed, hoping the fast stuff would help hold down the better seed when it came up, seems to have worked some.

Not being able to plant seeds for St. Augustine grass seems so silly. That would be so helpful.

 

[GVF]

Two recommendations:

1. El Toro Zoysia. Zoysia lawns are the bomb. Had one growing up. Sun. Shade. Wet. Drought. It doesn't care. And is a healthy spreader. Thin Spots? Just sprig it from full areas till it fills in. A 12x12 grid sprigging of zoysia will completely cover in one summer. El Toro variety produces litle to no thatch, and is more a heat variety. Like plush carpet. Chokes weeds out. One of the few zoysias to handle cutting with a rotary mower and not a reel mower. Other zoysia varieties may require dethatching in the early spring when still brown. A must not be skipped for various reasons. El Toro is just a low maintenace variety. And handles high traffic well. Doesn't require annual de-thatching. Maybe every 2nd or 3rd year. Also has a high salt tolerance so is a top alternative to St. Augustine down there, and likely alot better. THe lowest maintenace of hte zoysias.

2. Creeping Red Fescue. My 2nd favorite. Still a spreader. Requires little water. Tough. Slow grower. Monthly mowings are typically adequate. Once established keeps weeds at bay. A good versatile grass if you have lots of sun AND shade to cover. Grows well in both. A coolseason heat and humid tolerant grass, so it keeps it color pretty well round. A grass not to be overlooked for your area.

Either of those 2 can be seeded, sprigged or sodded. But the seeds are so small you have to mix them with sand in your spreader.

Don't know much about St. Agustine other than anywhere I've ever been that it's widely used in lawns, I've never seen a full healthy lawn of it.

 

[GVF]

It looks goid. I've been working on mine for bare spots. We don't have an HOA, and I don't mind myself, it just throws dust when I mow. I hate it blowing on the neighbors houses, so I started a while back, mostly have green grass where I never did, and I don't know what I was doing . I mixed quick seed with better seed, hoping the fast stuff would help hold down the better seed when it came up, seems to have worked some.

You just need some El Toro Zoysia or Creeping Red Fescue. Had a good stand of Creeping Red in my Hartwell yard. I had 100% sun and heat all the time. Creeping Red is a cool season grass that equally tolerates heat and drought. I'd mow around the Creeping Red. It only needed mowing once a month or so in good weather. Stayed green pretty well year round.

I'm wanting to start overseeding the creeping red fescue at our home now. Should have started doing years back when we moved up.

 

[Smokey X]

I would give considerable thought and research to Centipede grass.

 

[GroverCleveland]

I would give considerable thought and research to Centipede grass.

I love Centipede. Had it in my yards in south Georgia. Don't know if it will survive the winters in east Tennessee, but it will go dormant. I would sometimes overseed with rye grass. Looked like an oasis in the winter.

I currently have a yard of weeds and crabgrass. At least it looks okay when mowed.

 

[Jackcrevol]

I love Centipede. Had it in my yards in south Georgia. Don't know if it will survive the winters in east Tennessee, but it will go dormant. I would sometimes overseed with rye grass. Looked like an oasis in the winter.

I currently have a yard of weeds and crabgrass. At least it looks okay when mowed.

Hired Greenthumb locally to weed and feed. Now need to sow seed in fall. Ugh, I do not look forward to watering.
I have a green thumb myself, but when it comes to grass. Its outside my comfort.

Can grow patches, and areas. But seeding an entire yard and watering daily for weeks is not happening.

 

[Smokey X]

I love Centipede. Had it in my yards in south Georgia. Don't know if it will survive the winters in east Tennessee, but it will go dormant. I would sometimes overseed with rye grass. Looked like an oasis in the winter.

I currently have a yard of weeds and crabgrass. At least it looks okay when mowed.

Yes I really like it better than anything else. It will grow in east tennessee. At least in the Ooltewah area. We had 9 acres and about half of it covered with centipede. The best part was I didn't even plant it My previous neighbor threw out a handful of it on his property adjacent to my front field and it just spread over time.
Now that we have moved to Knoxville, will have to experiment with it and see if it will grow there.