Palmetto St. Augustine FAQs
- How do I successfully grow Palmetto in shaded areas?
- How can I successfully install / grow Palmetto in the shade?
- When is the best time to plant Palmetto?
- Is Palmetto salt tolerant?
Q: How do I successfully grow Palmetto St. Augustine in shaded areas?
A: Palmetto St. Augustine is a shade tolerant cultivar, but the following information must be taken into consideration. Turf in general declines in quality as the degree of light decreases in a given area. Every shade situation is unique unto itself. There is no "cookie cutter" formula to determine if a shaded area will or will not support grass. Details such as degree of shade, elevation of tree branches, type of tree, root invasion, soil type, and maintenance practices are only a few of the variables that must be considered in determining whether or not to attempt to install turf in a shaded area. Detailed shade studies are few and far between, but some promising new studies are now underway.
We believe the best approach is to test a small shaded area using Viro-cell lawn or small amounts of turf before heavily investing into a large area. Palmetto St. Augustine is one of the most shade tolerant grasses in the buffalo family but must have 2-4 hours of sunlight or high filtered light to survive. The best scenario is to have Palmetto installed into a newly landscaped lawn, which permits a gradual adaptation to the shaded environment. Installing Palmetto or any other turf in heavy shade during the hot, humid summer months is recommended only for professionals that understand special measures and techniques used for satisfactory results. It is best to turf shaded areas during cooler months when the stress caused by heat and humidity is minimized. If Palmetto St. Augustine will not survive in your shaded area, consider using some alternative ground cover.
Q: How can I successfully install / grow Palmetto in the shade?
A: Prior to installation, prepare the soil appropriately (see installation tips). The grass must be freshly cut, delivered promptly, and placed within 36 hours of cutting. During the hotter summer months, installation should occur within 24 hours or less when possible. Palmetto is a dense cultivar of Soft leaf buffalo that must be given special attention during hot weather. The temperatures on the pallet can easily reach 130 degrees which will "cook the grass" if not cooled or placed immediately. Slight yellowing is normal when placing turf during summer conditions, but deep yellowing or browning indicates older grass which may not recover from transplanting. Cutting, shipping, and placing turf must be more carefully coordinated during the hotter months of summer.
Initial establishment is the most critical stage. The turf has been produced in full sun, had its roots cut off, and is being placed in an different environment! Water the turf for 1 hour upon installation. After that, water one to three times a week, depending on the amount of shade, type of soil, drainage, etc. Shaded areas require less moisture than sunny locations. DO NOT KEEP THE GRASS SATURATED WITH WATER! It is better to allow the turf to wilt slightly than to overwater.
The grass should put down new roots within a week to fourteen days. If no new roots are showing and/or if you are seeing brown spots in your lawn, apply a fungicide and call your supplier or lawn care expert immediately. A fungicide containing the base chemical Daconil 2787 may be applied topically to aid in reducing leaf spot during the re-establishment period. For more serious problems, systemic fungicides such as Banner (Immunox), Cleary's 3336 (Thiophate), or Bayleton (Fung-away) may be used. Time is of the essence!
Back to Top of PageQ: When is the best time to plant Palmetto St. Augustine?
A: Generally, Palmetto St. Augustine does very well when planted in the spring or autumn. During these times, the stresses on the plant from heat, humidity, cold, etc., are low and the plant has the best chance of recovering quickly from the shock of transplantation. It is important to note that although spring and autumn are the best times, Palmetto is planted throughout the year with great success. One note of warning, if you wish to plant Palmetto in the hottest summer months (January-February) and you live in a very hot - humid area, please consider a precautionary fungicide application immediately after the turf is installed. This step is preventative in nature but is recommended, especially if you are installing your Palmetto into a shaded setting, due to the combination of stresses and the amount of water applied to the grass to assist in re-establishment. These conditions are very conducive to disease formation and should be addressed prior to any problems arising. This step is recommended for the installation of all turf varieties subject to these stresses, not just Palmetto.
Q: Is Palmetto St. Augustine salt tolerant?
A: Palmetto St. Augustine can be used effectively in situations that present limited salt exposure. Palmetto performs very well in waterfront applications that receive overwash and spray from salt waters such as homes on barrier islands, beach fronts, and bay fronts. Caution should be used, however, when installing Palmetto in areas irrigated with salt contaminated water. Palmetto should never be used in applications where the primary irrigation source is high in salt content (such as sea water).