There’s no doubt that St. Augustine makes for a beautiful lawn. Just like any lawn, regular fertilization is required to keep it healthy and green. St. Augustine grass is a warm-season grass that turns brown with fall freezes and is slow to green in the spring. St. Augustine grass lawns require different care practices as the seasons change due to varying temperatures and soil conditions, and understanding soil conditions is key to successful lawn care. Choosing the best fertilizer for St. Augustine grass is not rocket science but it’s also not as simple as picking up any bag found at your local garden supply store. It’s important to understand how to properly care for St. Augustine sod. We break it all down for you in this article.

Important Factors to Consider When You Apply Fertilizer

The most important factor of fertilizing St. Augustine grass is using the correct amount. Using too little fertilizer will not produce that lush, dark green color or rapid growth for which St. Augustine is known. On the other hand, too much fertilizer will create a haven for pests.

The best fertilizer for St Augustine grass is any fertilizer that has one pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet of sod. Fertilizing every two months is ideal unless you apply slow release fertilizer that can be spread every 10 weeks.

Types of Fertilizers for St. Augustine Grass

Choosing the right fertilizer for your St. Augustine grass in Arizona is key to maintaining a healthy lawn that thrives through the seasons. There are several types of fertilizers, each designed to meet the unique needs of St. Augustine grass at different stages of its growth cycle:

• Nitrogen-rich fertilizers are essential during the active growing seasons of spring and summer. These fertilizers encourage vigorous growth and a deep green color, helping your St. Augustine grass look its best when temperatures rise. Apply these at only a half rate on St. Augustine (1/2 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000sf).
• Phosphorus-rich fertilizers play a crucial role in supporting strong root development and overall plant health. Applying these during the fall months helps your lawn prepare for winter dormancy, ensuring it bounces back quickly in the spring.
• Potassium-rich fertilizers are especially important during hot summer temperatures. Potassium strengthens the grass, making it more resilient to drought stress and disease, so your lawn can withstand environmental challenges.
• Slow-release fertilizers provide nutrients gradually over a longer period, supporting steady growth and reducing the risk of nutrient runoff. These are ideal for maintaining consistent health throughout the growing season. Apply at a full pound of nitrogen per 1,000sf.
• Organic fertilizers are made from natural materials and are a great choice for homeowners who want to maintain a healthy lawn without synthetic chemicals. They can be used in spring and summer to support active growth and improve soil health.

By understanding the different types of fertilizers and when to use them, you can ensure your St. Augustine grass receives the nutrients it needs to stay green, lush, and resilient all year long.

Fertilization Timing: When and How Often to Feed Your Lawn

Timing is everything when it comes to fertilizing St. Augustine grass. To get the best results, it’s important to match your fertilization schedule to the grass’s active growing seasons and the specific needs of your lawn. A soil test is a great starting point, as it helps you choose the best fertilizer and avoid nutrient deficiencies.

• Spring: Kick off the growing season in early spring with a high nitrogen fertilizer. This jump-starts vigorous growth and brings out that signature green color. It’s also the perfect time to apply pre-emergent herbicides to keep summer weeds at bay.
• Summer: As temperatures climb, switch to a balanced fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This supports continuous growth and helps your lawn handle hot summer temperatures. Keep an eye out for chinch bugs and other pests, and use appropriate insecticides if needed. This is a good time to switch to a slow release fertilizer, as high nitrogen couple with increase humidity and temperatures can cause disease conditions.
• Fall: In the fall months, focus on root development by applying a phosphorus-rich fertilizer. This helps your St. Augustine grass prepare for winter dormancy and recover quickly when spring returns. Post-emergent herbicides can be used now to tackle any lingering weeds.
• Winter: Avoid fertilizing during winter dormancy. Fertilizing at this time can encourage new growth that’s vulnerable to cold temperatures and environmental stress. This is a good time to apply fertilizer that is high in potassium and magnesium to help with stress relief and extend the color of the grass into the winter.

By following a seasonal fertilization schedule tailored to your lawn’s needs, you’ll keep your St. Augustine grass healthy, green, and ready to thrive year after year.

Here’s How to Figure Out which Bag of Fertilizer to Choose

Every bag of fertilizer has a nutrient analysis on the label which shows the percentage and ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively. Although it requires some math, the calculation is fairly easy and, of course, in-store lawn care professionals can always assist if memory fails. Here’s how it would break down assuming you have a 2,000 square foot lawn and use a bag of 15-5-10 fertilizer.

• Divide 100 by the first number to determine the total amount of nitrogen needed. 100/15 = 6.6
• Because each number in the analysis equals the total percentage of the nutrient, in this example you actually need 6.6 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
• Take the lawn’s total square footage and divide by 1,000. (2,000/1,000) x 6.6 = 13.2 pounds of fertilizer

Once you understand the analysis, the fertilizer you choose for your St Augustine grass becomes a matter of preference. There are numerous fertilizers marketed for St. Augustine specifically such as Lesco St. Augustine Lawn Fertilizer, Dr. Earth Organic Super Natural Lawn Fertilizer and Pennington’s Weed and Feed product.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Fertilizing

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to make mistakes when fertilizing St. Augustine grass. Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for:

• Over-fertilizing: Applying too much fertilizer can burn your lawn, damage the soil, and even contaminate local water sources.
• Under-fertilizing: Not providing enough nutrients leaves your grass weak, making it more vulnerable to disease, pests, and environmental stress.
• Fertilizing at the wrong time: Timing matters—fertilizing during winter dormancy or extreme temperatures can lead to poor results or even harm your lawn.
• Ignoring recommended application rates: Always follow the instructions on your fertilizer bag. Too much or too little can throw off your lawn’s nutrient balance.
• Overlooking soil type and pH: Different soils have different needs. Not considering your soil’s pH or texture can make fertilizers less effective or even damage your St. Augustine grass.

Avoiding these mistakes will help you maintain a healthy, green lawn and get the most out of your fertilization efforts.

Beyond Fertilizer – How To Care For St. Augustine Sod

Fertilizing your lawn isnt’ everything! In order to ensure maximum beauty, follow these tips for a healthy St. Augustine lawn:

1. Fertilize during the growing season in the spring and fall.
2. Check for chinch bugs and white grubs and treat for insects as needed.
3. Don’t over water! Water only when grass shows signs of deterioration in color or blade structure. Consider irrigating in the early morning when the yard has time to dry out in the sun.
4. Try to limit heavy foot traffic as St. Augustine cannot withstand constant trampling.
5. Set your mower to a height of 2.5 to 3 inches and leave the clippings rather than bagging them. Doing so ensures that nutrients are redelivered to the soil.
6. Control weeds with herbicide, preferably in temperatures of 90 degrees of lower as treating in high heat may lead to lawn damage.
7. Test the soil and understand how its PH level will affect your choice of fertilizer.

It’s not uncommon for St. Augustine to lack iron (made apparent by PH levels higher than 7.0), but its other components are equally important to note such as the levels of phosphorus and potassium. Therefore, soil tests should be a regular part of lawn care and will truly determine the best fertilizer for St Augustine grass. And though it may seem like a full-time job, caring for St. Augustine pays off in the long run with its beauty and stands as a perfect warm-season grass for any homeowner.

Evergreen Turf is your source for the highest quality sod in Arizona. Our friendly, knowledgeable people are committed to answering all of your questions to ensure a stress-free experience with your new Arizona sod lawn. Whether you wish to sod a small play area for the family or an entire golf course, Evergreen Turf can help you make it happen.

Our team serves customers throughout Arizona, including including Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Chandler, Peoria, Scottsdale, AZ. Contact us for information and tips on how to create and maintain a beautiful lawn, or give us a call and talk to one of our sod specialists at 480-456-1199 if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

Are you trying to get your lawn and garden in the best shape possible? Then it’s important to understand the process of fertilizing, including why and when to fertilize your lawn and plants.

Feeding your lawn is one of the most important things you can do to keep it in good health and to keep the grass green all year round. Fertilizers help to build a better root system, which in turn helps protect your lawn from extreme heat, cold, drought, foot traffic, and other stress factors.

First of all, keep in mind that every lawn is different depending on where you live, how much sun your lawn gets, and many other factors. You may find you need to tweak your fertilizer schedule depending on your unique lawn needs. But to get started, here are some general tips on when to fertilize your lawn.

Early Spring

February through April – This is the time where your lawn begins to “wake up” from the winter. Fertilizing your lawn during this time strengthens the roots and helps to set it up for success during the heavy growing season. If you have weeds in your lawn, consider using a fertilizer with a pre-emergent in it to control weed growth. If you’re unsure which type of fertilizer to use on your lawn, check out our article on the 5 types of fertilizers.

Late Spring

April through June – During this time of year, your lawn is working hard and using the energy it stored during the winter months. So it’s important to fertilize sometime during the late spring in order to give your lawn the energy it needs to stay healthy during the summer and fall.

Summer

June through August – If you live in Arizona like us, summer is the toughest time on home lawns. Not only does the heat take a toll on the lawn, but you also have insects to fight! Fertilizing your lawn in the summer will encourage continued growth so that you still have a lawn in the fall, which is the perfect time for outdoor entertaining in the hot southwestern states.

Fall

September through November – Fall brings pleasant weather and ideal conditions back to your lawn. Your lawn is ready for another growth period, and will need nutrients in order to thrive. The increased rainfall, morning dew and cooler evenings of fall create the best environment for a healthy lawn. Apply your fertilizer just before the winter chill hits in order to increase nitrogen storage. This will help create a healthy lawn in the spring next year.

Follow this lawn fertilizer schedule to maintain a healthy lawn all year round. For more tips and information, check out our Lawn Nutrition and Fertilization page.

Evergreen Turf is your source for the highest quality sod in Arizona. Our friendly, knowledgeable people are committed to answering all of your questions to ensure a stress-free experience with your new Arizona sod lawn. Whether you wish to sod a small play area for the family or an entire golf course, Evergreen Turf can help you make it happen.

Our team serves customers throughout Arizona, including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe and Tucson. Browse our website for information and tips on how to create and maintain a beautiful lawn, or give us a call if you don’t find what you are looking for. Better yet, stop by and meet the team at our convenient Chandler location.

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