How To Revive St Augustine Grass

If your lawn is looking thin and brown, you might be wondering how to revive St Augustine grass. This popular warm-season turf is tough, but it needs specific care to bounce back from damage. Don’t worry. With the right steps, you can bring your lawn back to its lush, green glory. This guide gives you clear, expert lawn care tips to get it done.

First, you need to figure out what went wrong. St Augustine grass can struggle for many reasons. It might be a pest problem, a disease, or just poor growing conditions. Correctly identifying the issue is the most important first step. Trying to fix the wrong problem wastes your time and money.

This process is a full plan, not a single trick. True revival means fixing the cause and then helping the grass recover. Follow these stages in order for the best results.

Stage 1: Diagnose the Problem

Get on your hands and knees and look closely at your lawn. You need to check both the grass blades and the soil. Here’s what to search for.

Brown Patches: Are they circular, irregular, or covering large areas? Do the blades pull out easily?
Insects: Look for chinch bugs (small black and white bugs near the soil) or grubs (white, C-shaped larvae in the soil).
Fungus: Look for spots on blades, a powdery substance, or thin areas that look like cobwebs in the morning dew.
Thatch: Is there a thick, spongy layer of dead material between the green grass and the soil?
Soil Compaction: Can you easily push a screwdriver or pencil into the soil? If not, it’s too hard.
Water Issues: Does the area stay soggy or does it dry out extremly fast?

Stage 2: The Immediate Rescue Steps

Once you know the cause, take these corrective actions.

For Insect Damage (Chinch Bugs & Grubs)

You will likely need an insecticide. Choose a product labeled for St Augustine and your specific pest. Apply it exactly as the label directs. Watering the lawn before applying can help drive insects to the surface. Always follow up with another treatment if the label recommends it, as eggs can hatch later.

For Fungal Disease

Stop any overhead watering. Water only in the early morning. Apply a fungicide made for lawn diseases like brown patch or take-all root rot. Improving air flow by trimming nearby plants can also help a lot.

For Severe Thatch

If the thatch layer is thicker than 3/4 inch, you need to dethatch. Use a vertical mower or a stiff-tined rake made for dethatching. This is a tough job but it lets air, water, and nutrients reach the soil. Do this when the grass is actively growing, not when it’s dormant or stressed.

For Soil Compaction

Aeration is the answer. Use a core aerator to pull out small plugs of soil. This creates holes for air, water, and roots to penetrate. The best time to aerate is late spring or early summer when growth is strong. Leave the soil plugs on the lawn; they will break down in a week or two.

Stage 3: The Recovery Care Plan

After treating the main problem, your grass is weak. This care plan strengthens it.

Mow Correctly: Set your mower to the highest setting, usually 3.5 to 4 inches. Tall grass shades the soil, keeps roots cool, and fights weeds. Never cut more than one-third of the blade height at once. Keep your mower blades sharp; dull blades tear the grass, opening doors for disease.
Water Deeply and Infrequently: St Augustine grass needs about 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall. Water until the soil is moist 4-6 inches down. Then, let it dry out somewhat before watering again. This encourages deep, drought-resistant roots. Early morning is the absolute best time to water.
Apply the Right Fertilizer: Use a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer formulated for Southern lawns. The best times to fertilize are late spring (after green-up) and early summer. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds in fall. Always follow bag instructions to avoid burning your lawn. Over-fertilizing can cause more problems than it solves.
Control Weeds Carefully: Weeds steal resources from your recovering grass. Use a post-emergent herbicide labeled safe for St Augustine grass for existing weeds. For prevention, a pre-emergent can be applied in early spring. Be very careful to choose products that won’t harm your turf, as St Augustine can be sensitive.

Stage 4: Repairing Bare Spots

Even with good care, some areas may remain bare. Here’s how to fix them.

Option 1: Using Plugs (Most Common)

Buy healthy St Augustine sod or plugs from a reputable source.
Prepare the bare spot by loosening the top 2-3 inches of soil. Mix in a little compost if you have it.
Plant plugs 6-12 inches apart. Firm the soil around each one.
Water the plugs deeply every day for the first two weeks, keeping the soil constantly moist but not flooded.

Option 2: Encouraging Runners

St Augustine spreads by above-ground runners called stolons. You can help it along. Lightly cover a healthy stolon from a nearby area with a little soil or a U-shaped wire. Keep it moist. It will root and start a new patch of grass. This method is slower but very effective for small areas.

Seasonal Maintenance for a Healthy Lawn

Keeping your grass healthy after revival is key. Here’s a quick seasonal checklist.

Spring

Apply pre-emergent herbicide if needed.
Apply a light fertilizer after full green-up.
Begin mowing regularly at the high setting.
Watch for signs of early disease or insect activity.

Summer

Water deeply during dry spells.
Stick to your high mowing height.
Treat for chinch bugs if they appear.
Aerate if compaction is an issue.

Fall

Apply a potassium-rich “winterizer” fertilizer to strengthen roots for dormancy.
Gradually lower mowing height by about half an inch as growth slows.
Keep removing leaves so they don’t smother the grass.

Winter

Mow only if necessary.
Avoid heavy traffic on dormant, brown grass.
This is a good time to service your mower and other equipment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with good intentions, you can set your lawn back. Steer clear of these errors.

Watering Too Often and Too Shallow: This causes weak roots and promotes fungus.
Mowing Too Short: This is the number one mistake. It stresses the grass and lets weeds invade.
Using the Wrong Products: Some herbicides, like those containing atrazine, can badly damage St Augustine. Always read the label.
Fertilizing at the Wrong Time: Late fall fertilization with nitrogen can promote tender growth that gets killed by frost.
Ignoring Soil Health: Grass grows from the soil up. Poor soil means poor grass. A soil test every few years is a great idea.

FAQ: Your St Augustine Revival Questions

Will St Augustine grass come back after turning brown?

It depends. If it’s brown from dormancy (winter cold), yes, it will green up in spring. If it’s brown from disease, insect kill, or drought stress, it may need active help and reseeding to recover fully.

What is the fastest way to revive St Augustine?

There is no true shortcut. The fastest effective method is to correctly diagnose the problem, treat it, then provide excellent care with proper water, mowing, and feeding. Trying to skip steps often leads to futher issues.

Can you put too much water on St Augustine grass?

Absolutely. Overwatering is a major cause of fungal disease and shallow roots. Stick to the 1-inch per week rule and always check soil moisture before turning on the sprinkler.

Should you bag or mulch clippings on St Augustine?

Mulching is generally better. It returns nutrients to the soil and doesn’t contribute to thatch if done regularly. Only bag if the grass is so long that clumps form, or if you are trying to remove disease-infected blades.

Why is my St Augustine grass thin and sparse?

Thin grass usually points to a soil or care issue. Common culprits are compacted soil, poor drainage, too much shade, or not enough fertilizer. It can also be the early stages of a disease like take-all root rot.

When should you not fertilize St Augustine grass?

Avoid fertilizing in late fall or winter when the grass is dormant or slowing down. Also, don’t fertilize during a drought or heat wave unless you can water it in thoroughly. Fertilizing a stressed lawn can burn it.

Reviving St Augustine grass takes patience and consistency. There’s no magic potion. Success comes from understanding what your lawn needs and providing it methodically. Start with a clear diagnosis, address the core problem, and then support your grass with strong cultural practices. If you follow these expert lawn care tips, you’ll see steady improvement. Before long, you’ll be enjoying a thick, soft, and resilient lawn that’s the envy of the neighborhood.