Imagine a thick grass covering your lawn, making it your dream patch. St. Augustine grass is the right choice to make your imagination come to reality. Gardeners often ask about how to make St Augustine grass thicker. To make the St. Augustine grass thicker, you have to keep some considerations in mind.
Firstly, you have to remember the grass will grow faster and thicker if you choose the right type of soil and install it in summer. In addition, you have to apply the correct and proper fertilizer and frequent watering also helps the grass to develop thick roots and grow healthy. This blog guide reveals some helpful practices that can help you achieve a thick and lush St Augustine grass lawn!
How to Thicken St. Augustine Grass
If you want the St. Augustine grass of your lawn to become more thicker, you have to work hard. Furthermore, specifically consider following the given practices during the grass growing season.
1. Prepare the Soil
The first step in making your St. Augustine grass grow thicker is to grow it in the proper soil type with a pH range between 5 to 8.5. If the conditions and soil are ideal for the grass, it will start developing its roots and spread quickly and thickly within 14 days. If you want to make grass thicker, acidic pH soil will be best.
The grass likes to thrive best in sandy and well-draining soil. By top-dressing the lawn with sand, you can grow the runners faster. So, select the correct type of grass to ensure its thick growth before installing the grass.
2. Plant in Early Summer
If you want to make your grass thicker, grow it in early summer to provide enough time for the grass head to get a new start when the temperature lies between 80–100 degrees Fahrenheit. You have to plant the sods into the soil before the first frost of the year; it will help the grass to develop its roots and grow thicker.
Installing the St. Augustine grass in the fall will damage it because the temperature at that time is unsuitable. If you do it, you will see poor or slow growth, a thin grass cover, and leaving a yard with empty spots. So, ensure the installation of St. Augustine grass in early summer; late spring is also the best time for it.
3. Apply a Phosphorus Fertilizer
Fertilizer is a very important part of the care and maintenance of turfgrass. Fertilizing the grass in early post-installation will ensure faster and thicker grass growth. It will provide all the nutrients the St. Augustine grass needs for thicker growth. So, apply fertilizers for up to 60 days after the growth and then shift it to slow-release fertilizer.
Start fertilizing the grass with the high phosphorus in NPK ratio. Applying the nitrogen will empower its growth and help the runner spread fast so consider applying 1 pound of nitrogen in a 1000 square feet area of lawn. When you turn to the slow-releasing nitrogen fertilizer, then use it after every 10 weeks.
4. Proper Watering
The best way to improve the growth of the St. Augustine grass is to water it immediately after installation. In the case of severe heat, you need to water twice a day specifically for the first 2 weeks. When the growth of the grass ensures you the grass is growing thicker, reduce watering.
After the growth of grass and successful development of roots, reduce the watering frequency. In addition, water is a necessity for this grass, because it goes dormant without enough moisture. So, make sure to water it properly to grow thicker.
5. Get Rid of the Weeds
Weeds will invade the new St Augustine grass after installation. If you install the grass in summer, grass will start growing in early spring and become susceptible to weeds. Moreover, if there are spaces between the lawn grass, you will see some broadleaf weeds there. Weeds compete for nutrients and water and stop the growth of the other plants and grass.
So, to avoid this issue, you must immediately eliminate the weeds from the lawn when you notice them between the grass. The best method is to apply the weed-killer herbicide to the lawn before installing the new St. Augustine grass. It will kill all the weeds and reduce the chances of weeds between the growing grass.
6. Mow High for a Start
You have to mow the St. Augustine grass at 2.5 to 4 inches, which is enough to avoid cutting 1/3 leaf blades to empower the faster and thicker growth of the grass. The grass can be injured if you mow it too low or scalped.
On summer days, mowing the lawn grass can slow down the growth of the grass, which is why you will see thin grass on a lawn. Keep watering the lawn more frequently on summer days to prevent it from being stressed.
Final Thoughts: Making St. Augustine Grass Thicker
It is possible to create a thicker and lush St Augustine grass lawn. However, you need to do some work in achieving grass with a carpet-like thick texture. Many things can help you in this scenario e.g., suitable soil preparation, pH level between 5 to 8.5, and installation during early summer. In addition, certain other beneficial practices are recommended in this guide. So, read the complete guide and make your lawn turf lush green and thick with St Augustine grass!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why Is My St. Augustine Grass Thin?
Many reasons can affect lawn grass, including pests like chinch bugs and grubs, poor soil quality, turf diseases like brown patches, and excessive fertilizer applications.
2. What Is the Easiest Trick to Make Grass Thicker?
Overseeding the lawn is one of the easiest tricks to make your lawn grass thicker. It means you have to sow the over seeds in between the existing grass of the lawn to make thin grass thick; the new grass will start growing between the existing grass and will create thicker and lusher green grass.
3. How Can I Make My St Augustine Grass More Greener?
If you want your St Augustine lawn grass to be greener, consider using certain effective and best-soluble iron products along with regular fertilizers. These iron products will impressively make your grass look more greener.