DOES YOUR lawn look thin and unattractive? Are you desperate and impatient to have a healthy, emerald green, thick lawn in a short period? Making your grass grow and spread fast is easier than you think. So, if you’re wondering how to get St Augustine grass to spread, here is the complete guide.

Make St Augustine grass spread quickly by installing the sod during the summer, ensuring you use well-aerated quality soil, and applying the right fertilizer and water correctly for healthier and quicker root development. Get rid of weeds and thatch on time, and use the correct practices to mow your lawn. Doing these things will help create a thick and lush lawn faster.

How to Make St. Augustine Grass Spread Quickly

Here are four pro tips on how to make St Augustine grass spread quickly no matter where you are:

1. Use quality soil

St. Augustine grass flourishes in well-drained, aerated sandy soil with around 5.0 – 8.5 pH. This soil type encourages the roots and runners to spread and cover bare spots quickly to form a lush lawn.

Therefore, avoid incorporating excess compost in the soil and using the waterlogged ground for this turf grass.

2. Install St. Augustine sod in the summer

This grass is a warm-season turf variety and thrives during summer. Mid-summer conditions encourage the development and spread of St. Augustine grass, forming a thick, beautiful lawn.

So, if you’re stressed about how to make St Augustine grass spread faster, avoid planting it in fall or winter. This is because this grass becomes dormant during cold seasons.

3. Apply the right fertilizer

Some of the best lawn fertilizers high in phosphorous include rock phosphate, bone meal, hair, mushroom compost (pictured below), fish meal, burned cucumber skins, worm castings, cottonseed meal, blood meal, compost, bat guano, and manure.

Applying phosphorous fertilizer in the soil before planting helps boost St. Augustine grass to spread. A few weeks after installation, use a starter phosphorous fertilizer, as it helps speed up root development.

After two months, switch to slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and apply it once every ten weeks.

The practice helps boost the rapid growth and spread of this turf grass.

4. Water properly

St. Augustine will quickly spread if you water consistently and adequately. So, water within the first 30 minutes of installation, and continue irrigating ½-inch twice a day for two weeks.

Once the roots are established fully, and runners begin to spread, start watering ¾-inch twice per week.

This grass goes dormant and dies if you don’t water it consistently and appropriately.

Other Tips on How To Make St Augustine Grass Spread Quickly

5. Remove weeds on time, as they may compete for moisture, sunlight, and essential nutrients with your turf. This makes your grass grow slowly, forming a sparse and thin lawn.

6. Mow your lawn often at least 2.5-4.0 inches. Don’t mow too low to avoid injuring stolons, which help grass spread.

7. Get rid of thatch in time, as it is a haven for pests and diseases that may damage your grass.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How long does it take for St. Augustine grass to grow?

A: Once you plant or install St Augustine grass, it takes about 8-12 months to grow to a full, beautiful lawn. This period depends on the farm’s latitude and maintenance practices.

Q: Why is my St Augustine grass not spreading?

A: Various factors may prevent your St. Augustine grass from spreading. They include poor soil quality, applying excess fertilizer, improper watering, and weed infestation. Turf diseases like gray leaf spots and pest infestations like chinch bugs may also stop your grass from spreading.

Final Thoughts

St. Augustine grass is worth growing if you can implement the required practices. If you are looking forward to a lush lawn, you must learn how to make St Augustine grass spread quickly.

To make St Augustine grass spread quickly, use quality soil, plant in the summer, and apply the right fertilizer and water consistently. You also need to weed, mow, and remove thatch on time.

If you do these things properly, it’s a guarantee your St Augustine grass will spread quickly and grow healthier, fuller, and thicker.