How to Plant St. Augustine Grass Sod

St. Augustine grass is a coarse, warm season grass that is popular throughout the South and along the Gulf coast. St. Augustine grass spreads by stolons not rhizomes, and is best installed by sod. It does not tolerate traffic as well as some warm weather grasses, but is drought tolerant and tolerates moderate shade. Mowing heights vary 1 to 3 inches depending on frequency and degree of shade. St. Augustine grass is sensitive to iron deficiency so care should be taken when planting sod to add iron sulfate or iron chelate to the soil if needed.

Compost or manure
Fertilizer
Roller
Herbicide

Instructions

- 1
  Till the soil to a depth of 6 to 12 inches. Remove debris such as rocks or wood.
- 2
  Level the soil. Leave the soil a little higher close to the house foundation, and slope it as you get further away from the house to provide drainage away from the house.
- 3
  Test your soil to see if soil amendments are needed.
- 4
  Add compost or manure, turning it over into the soil 2 to 3 inches deep. Add additional nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium fertilizer as the soil test indicates. Add pre-emergent herbicide such as atrazine to prevent weed growth.
- 5
  Install irrigation if desired.
- 6
  Do a final grade with rake, making sure soil level is even.
- 7
  Mark a center line on the area and lay sod along the line in both directions close together.
- 8
  Roll the sod with a lawn roller.
- 9
  Keep sod moist for 10 to 14 days to allow roots to establish.

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