|
St.
Augustinegrass
Stenotaphrum secundatum
(Walt.) Kuntze
sten-oh-TAFF-rum seek-un-DAY-tum
Poaceae
St. Augustinegrass is a versatile, sod-forming, warm season grass.
It is native to the West Indies and has been widely distributed and most
frequently found in Mexico, Africa, Australia, and the southern United States.
Stenotaphrum secundatum
(Walt.) Kuntze
Vernation-
folded
Sheaths-
compressed, keeled, loose, slightly ciliate toward the apex and along the
margins
Ligule-
inconspicuous fringe of hairs about 0.3 mm long
Collar-
continuous, extending through the petioled area, broad, glabrous
Auricles-
absent
Blades-
usually flat, petioled, 4-10 mm wide, glabrous, flexuous, bluntly acute apex
Stems-
compressed and branching with extremely long, stout, creeping stolons having
swollen nodes and short internodes
Inflorescence-
short flowering culm bearing terminal and auxillary racemes
Propagation-
sprigs, plugs, or sod
Soil PH-
6.5-7.5
Salt Tolerance-
good
Mowing-
Cutting Height-
1.5 to 2.5”. is preferred for most lawns
*NOTE- mowing at 1” or less can result in thinned turf prone to
weed invasion
Fertility Rate-
0.5 - 1 lb of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft a month
Problems-
severe thatching, iron deficiency in the form of yellow, chlorotic leaf tissue
Common Diseases-
brown patch, gray leaf spot, and dollar spot
Common pests-
chinch bugs
|
