Mine got really brown as well, but I'm banking on it coming back. Chalking it up to the cold winter that we had.
In the same boat. Trying to get it to come back on its own. I don't think the first fertilizer I put down did much, but I can't afford to call someone out or resod. What really depresses me is running by the bayou and seeing the lush green grass growing in spades. Stupid St. Augustine and stupid HOAs for requiring it.
Fertilize after the second mowing with a slow release organic fertilizer. Don't use that weed and feed For those with problem areas I would top dress that area with compost. It's always good to top dress. Aerating is good as well especially if you have really compacted areas
I'm pretty sure my cut height is ok. And the backyard has done a lot better. It's mainly this one area of the front that pretty much gets direct sunlight all day, if that makes a difference. I haven't regularly fertilized though since this past year.
Dried out from the sun probably. Cut higher, use better fert. Higher cut preserves water, better fert gets you better roots. Measure your cut height.
Last season I re-sod about 500 square feet and I was able to get it done in a day. I also have a tiller which was worth its weight in gold. That part of the yard still looks good so I'm glad it wasn't all for not. The part or my yard that is looking rough is also in direct sunlight most of the afternoon so it could have got too dry in the winter but I really never considered watering during those months. I still blame the squirrels though. During the summer I do the yard myself and , until now, it has gotten better since we moved in 2 years ago. The winter is when I pay someone to pickup because there is 4 -8 bags of leaves every 2 weeks is just a pain.
You probably have ****ty soil under that part thats struggling. Top dress it with compost and over time it will get better.
I love mowing. It's so relaxing. I agree about it being a stress reliever. It makes me feel pretty manly too.
Two questions: What's the best solution for bare spots where there are dead looking roots of st Augustine, or just nothing but dirt. Can you just fill it w compost or soil and hope it grows back. Or do I need to plant some plugs of st Augustine. Also, how about spots in the lawn that have healthy grass, but are uneven and bad for footing bc the guys who did the soil leveling didn't do a good job, or spots where trenching for sprinkler system settled and the grass is lower. Can I just fill on top with soil or compost, or will I kill the grass. Thanks.
I had to deal with this couple of years back. I went to a company in the Crosby area that sells, dirt, mulch, rocks etc... And bought three yards of a topsoil/sand mixture and used it to relevel the entire yard and build up a couple of flower beds. Went and found a couple of local labor hands and we went to work. After we spread the dirt mixture we sodded. It was a lot of work keeping weeds out, but within a month or two the St Augustine began to flourish. I also bought a pallet of moss rock and 2 yards of bull rock at the same time as well. I went all in that summer and totally transformed my barren dead yard to one of the nices on the block. Last summer I layed a flagstone walk way from the side of my driveway, through a small portion of my yard, then through a huge flower/rock bed I had out front to seperate it into two smaller ones. That was probably the most fun I've had yet while landscaping. I dug a trench the length and width of the walkway then filled the trench with rocks first then sand on top. Leveled it, layed the flagstone, and filled the seams inbetween the stones with crushed granite. That was a LOT of work but I knocked it out it two afternoons after being at work all day. Only needed help when unloading all the sand from the bed of my truck so that I could finish and be able to drive it to work the next day. Absolutely love landscapping.
You don't like that farmer's tan and the sweaty ass that comes with it? :grin: On a serious note, the problem for me is my allergies. Not worth it.
Browning is what st. Aug does during the winter. Not a problem. The difference is sunlight. He already knows it. St. Aug likes to be cut high and have shade. Remove one of those it can still thrive, remove both and it under performs.
