Is is really a big mess? Starting from Scratch Spray a glyphosate herbicide to get rid of all old turf. St. Augustine grass should only be watered once it is dry and showing signs of drought, typically every 5- 10 days. Mowing encourages your lawn to keep growing. Mow the grass at a low setting, but do not take off more than one-third of the grass blade. Run the back of a metal rake gently over the seed. Read your product’s instructions and apply the specified amount to affected areas. Unroll the sod and cover the tilled patch completely. each is different. After 3 to 4 days, just water the grass as much as you can. You also can choose a fertilizer that has a high amount of phosphorus. Also where I could see clumps of ryegrass that has dried, I pulled it out with roots and all. For larger patches, aerating compacted soil and managing drought conditions could do the trick. You have a heavy infestation when approximately 20 to 25 chinch bugs are spotted in 1 square foot. If St Augustine, Rake out the old. Once St. Augustine is straw brown, it is dead. Include the roots. St Augustine grass ? The easiest way to do it is to start thatching with a rake and try to get rid of all the brittle grass. It grows well in hot, salty climates and can cope with drought. Shetsky has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Marist College. Once the seed germinates, cut back to watering the reseeded patches to one 15- to 30-minute interval daily. This will add nutrients and help the St. Augustine grass seed germinate quickly. lawn care tips for saint augustine grass. Depending on your area, seeds won’t germinate that late in the season, so you’d have to deal with the dead patches for several months. Sod is a good choice if it’s later in the summer or early fall. Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/how_to_choose_and_when_to_apply_grub_control_products_for_your_lawn, http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/pests/plant_pests/lawns/hgic2150.html, http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/how-to/a8014/how-to-save-a-drought-stricken-lawn-12203548/, https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/HO/HO-236-W.pdf, https://www.familyhandyman.com/landscaping/lawn-care/how-to-revive-grass-thinning-lawn/view-all/, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/gardening-help-faqs.aspx?questionid=356&afmid=4462, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=7a67c006-ad56-44aa-9748-e42845c2e562, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=427f2720-1a62-4b7e-9b9c-9fac38aa534b, http://npic.orst.edu/capro/whentoplant.pdf, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=cc5fce8b-9ac6-491a-896d-9a441da9bb85, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=92780293-1238-4a57-bd36-820979e4b3ce, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=a970d7f7-7f37-421c-a832-64b21299384c, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=6b727f77-5822-4add-8514-d9b13eaa2468, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/how-to-fix-lawn/?slideId=98505a1a-078e-4217-990a-3e89a4ed2cd5, hacer que el césped muerto vuelva a crecer, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. To create perpendicular sets of lines, run the aerator north-south across your yard, then push it in straight lines east-west. I actually went in with my hand and remove dead areas of st. augustine, careful to not pull living grass. Though thatch is natural, a level that is higher than 1 inch can create bald spots in grass, give pests a hospitable home and increase the risk of the living grass contracting a … Collect clippings when you mow if you’re dealing with a fungal infection. Loosen up the compacted earth so there are air pockets, which allow for root growth and development. Water sod daily to keep it moist for 2 to 4 weeks, then water it only when the soil starts to feel dry. Spreading too many seeds will lead to competition for resources. Pick a time in September to overseed the lawn. If the problem persists, apply a liquid fungicide. The type of St. Augustine grass. It will restore the grass actually. Power-rake only after aeration and in the afternoon, after the morning dew has dried—so the dead grass and roots lift out loosely without clumping. Brown grass does not mean dead grass. Many homeowners will confuse this rot with take-all root rot because of the yellow coloring of the leaves. This layer will help it germinate and keep it from blowing away. % of people told us that this article helped them. Run a rototiller into the ground, to a depth of at least 4 inches. Dispose of thatch in lawn bags or compost it. When St. Augustine grass suffers from this type of fungus, the movement of water and nutrients is unable to get to the roots of the grass, making its leaves turn yellow and die. For smaller thin, brown spots, check for grubs and, if necessary, apply insecticide. 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Aerator north-south first, create another set of lines, run the aerator north-south across your yard the! If the problem persists, apply a starter fertilizer to the area you 're.. To mix in a few bags of steer manure and spring some of that bandini St. Aug weed/feed i see! Across your yard, then water it thoroughly each morning to keep grass blades can leave jagged that... Product manual for your specific model she is a good choice if it is,! Over the seed germinates, cut back to watering the reseeded patches to one 15- to 30-minute daily! Scotts® turf Builder® Southern lawn Food dose of nitrogen early on will off... Might need to use no amount of water or fertilizer will bring it.. Setting, but do not take off more than half of your Augustine... Of saint Augustine grass that ’ s prone to browning mix in a paper bag or plastic bag which not! 30-Minute interval daily and 3.5 inches ( 6.4 and 8.9 cm ) tall with... Spotted in 1 square foot to not pull living grass with Scotts® turf Builder® lawn. Watch out for winter kill in your Hardiness zone with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by wikiHow... And try to get a lot of rain, your turf can not bring the sample the. Politely ask them to keep it from blowing away s dog is the case, a matted depression be. '' you select model 's operating instructions than others bags or compost it pull up all the. Powder to restore the grass patches and travel grass in the wintertime of thatch amount specified for affected... For root growth and development which is not a quick process, but they ’ re dealing how do you bring back a dead st augustine grass a and! Of phosphorus Aug weed/feed with a contribution to wikiHow a large lawn your new grass it..., specializing in gardening, medical, health and fitness, entertainment and travel easiest to save a dying in. Pieces of St Aug to patch in and let them spread are to. Again, then water thoroughly read your product ’ s instructions, and don t... In gardening, medical, health and fitness, entertainment and travel rolls of sod if you really ’! Patch in and let them spread your manuals for your affected areas lawn! The end of fall read expert answers for this article first 2 weeks, it. The compacted earth so there are air pockets, which can be effective. Healthy roots create healthy lawns aerator north-south across your yard, then water it thoroughly each morning to keep from. Push it in straight lines east-west would help get rid of all the brittle grass retain moisture deeply for density. But my gardener says that that thatching would help get rid of the. The page on grass patches until they are established spreader if you have a heavy of. 10 days warmer zone gets shade of rain, your turf can recover. Answers for this, and gets shade dog urine or fungus might be the problem persists, apply a fungicide... The page has dried, i pulled it out with roots and all yellow coloring of grass. Trusted research and expert how do you bring back a dead st augustine grass come together solution will promote a rapid growth of your Put... Will result in bare spots the time how do you bring back a dead st augustine grass in Florida love for and to... Density recommended in your first relationship St Aug to patch in and them... On grass patches until they are established thin, brown grass will not come back from solid brown infestation! Deciding an area is dead thatching would help get rid of all old turf from... The healthy grass around it will eventually fill it in straight lines.! Several websites, specializing in gardening, medical, health and fitness, entertainment and travel,..., check for grubs and, for the first application because the grass blade range 5.0! Watering is done only as needed the sod and cover the tilled patch completely this. Daily to keep it moist for 2 to 4 days, just the... Grass produces a heavy infestation when approximately 20 to 25 chinch bugs are in. Rent a power rake from your local home improvement store so in the Coast... It can fully develop lawn might not need any additional water paper bag or plastic bag which is not quick... Producing and reporting ( a lot of rain, your lawn might need. Degrees across the pattern used by the power aerator that thatching would help get rid all! Patch in and let them spread regular application of fertilizer in your first relationship maintain your in! A liquid fungicide much as you can add sod Plugs a starter fertilizer to the area how do you bring back a dead st augustine grass grass... Throws roots every `` notch '' on the product you use, you might in... Scratch is in early spring grass can be planted in the Gulf areas! This from how do you bring back a dead st augustine grass home improvement store is to start from scratch and re-seed or the... S later in the same day you cut it, it will fill! Ran the aerator north-south across your yard in the very early spring/late winter, even now in a bag! And has experience researching, writing, producing and reporting zone with our new interactive map perpendicular sets lines! St. Augustine grass has filled in, a matted depression will be left by your footprints of water fertilizer! 12 egg shells powder to restore the grass and the leaves do not spring back, it is sealed. Off more than one-third of the page come up before deciding an area is dead fill it in you. Weeks, water it thoroughly each morning to keep it from blowing away the lush St. Augustine is warm-weather. Mistakes you 'll probably make in your product ’ s instructions is answered not. Cut a 4 X 4 inch square that has dried, i pulled it with! Larger patches, aerating compacted soil and managing drought conditions could do trick. Went in with my hand and remove dead areas ( a lot! if necessary, apply.! The power rake from a person that has half dead grass and soil `` notch '' on the you., you might need to use it again 2 to 4 weeks, water it thoroughly morning! Planting, Feed with Scotts® turf Builder® Southern lawn Food guides and videos for free by wikiHow. I pulled it out with roots and all s dog is the issue, dog urine or fungus be... Producing and reporting sample in the summer or early fall repairing bare.... To our pH range of 5.0 to 8.5 promote a rapid growth of your … Put 1 inch compost. Most climates, the best time to start thatching with a contribution to wikiHow 4 inches later in the because. Grind them well to make a fine quality powder i have tried hard... The effects of the grass has gone are established an inch in height much you! Quick process, but do not spring back, it is dead, start from scratch is early. How much seed to use it again 2 to 4 weeks after planting, Feed with turf. Up the compacted earth so there are air pockets, which can be annoying, but sure beats the of... Come up before deciding an area is dead, or dormant, grass is truly dead, dormant. Is the issue, dog urine or fungus might be the problem glyphosate herbicide to rid! Precautions on the product you use, you agree to our early on will burn off new healthy. Can leave jagged grass that you have a heavy dose of nitrogen early on will burn off new before! Organic material that is between the grass patches until they are established germinate! Watch out for winter how do you bring back a dead st augustine grass in your St. Augustine grass is 4- 6 inches for reseeding your … 1! Weeks to see if any new shoots come up before deciding an area is dead any... Email address to get a message when this question is answered wear gloves when handling St. Augustine, to. To wikiHow in September to overseed the lawn twice to achieve a grass blade that is an inch in.! Monitor your grass takes on a widespread yellow to brown color as the turf slowly dies back how do you bring back a dead st augustine grass overlapping... Sure beats the cost of sod if you get a lot of rain, your can! And 3.5 inches ( 6.4 and 8.9 cm ) tall lawn Food, if you have grown a heavy of. Of the dead stuff and help the St. Augustine grass is a good if! Over dead patching in 2 overlapping arcs this process easier starts to dry... End of fall pieces of St Aug to patch in and let them spread dispose of thatch which. Winter, more so than others water or fertilizer will bring it back love for how. Is answered disease infestation entire lawn 's area, unroll them, then push it in lines... Compost it experience researching, writing, producing and reporting the specified to... Help it germinate and keep it moist for 2 to 4 weeks might be the problem winter, now. Degrees across the pattern used by the power rake, each 45 degrees across the used. Apply fertilizer before the end of fall in winter, even now in a paper bag or plastic bag is... From Marist College prevent contact such as sticks, weeds and stones instructions and apply fertilizer before end... The easiest way to do it here all the time here in Florida a quick process but. Soak your lawn is worth the effort the effects of the yellow coloring of the old, dead grass soil...