Turfgrass- Frequently Asked Questions

As a commercial horticulture agent, I have been asked many questions about turfgrass. The following are some of the questions and answers.

■ Can I use an herbicide to control torpedograss in the St Augustine lawn?  Ans: No herbicide is available to control torpedograss that will not injure St Augustine grass.

■ Is ProVista St. Augustine more resistant to diseases than Palmetto? Ans: Take All Root Rot is a problem in ProVista, while Large Patch is a problem in Palmetto St Augustine.

■ What is the advantage of planting ProVista over Floratam? Ans: Although Floratam is the parent of ProVista are differences. Chemicals such as round-up, terminator, and others that contain the active ingredient Glyphosate can be applied at label rate, as weed control in ProVista lawn without causing any injury. ProVista also grows slower than Floratam but requires more fertilizer to stay green.

■ Why does my drought tolerant Floratam turn brown when there is no water? Ans: Drought tolerance does not mean the plant will not be affected by a lack of water. Floratam lawn will go dormant and then bounce back with adequate water.

■ Does Lethal Viral Necrosis kill all St Augustine cultivars? Ans: Although there are few reports of ProVista getting Lethal viral necrosis. Floratam is the primary St Augustine cultivar killed by lethal viral necrosis.

■ Should I install Floratam St. Augustine in an area where I only get sun before 10 am? Ans: No, Floratam requires 6 to 8 hours of sun.

■ How quickly after installing sod should I fertilize the lawn? Ans: New lawns should not be fertilized within 30 days of installation.

■ What are some of the issues I should be looking for during the first growing season? Ans: All new sod is susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms, and gray leaf spots. It’s good practice to apply fungicides and insecticides preventatively and always follows the label through the first growing season.

■ When is the best time to irrigate my lawn? Ans: The best time to irrigate the lawn is between 5 am and 10 am; this will minimize water evaporation. Irrigation of the lawn late evening or night is not a good practice. Leaving the wet lawn overnight will facilitate disease.

■ How do I know how much fertilizer to apply to my lawn? Ans: I always recommend doing a soil test. The soil test will tell the nutrients lacking in the soil and give recommendations on the amount of fertilizer needed per 1000 square feet. Soil test does not give information on nitrogen; a tissue test is required.

For more information on turfgrass and other related topics, contact Grantly Ricketts, Commercial Horticulture Agent with UF/IFAS Extension, at 772-462-2847 or gricketts@ufl.edu.