can i lay st augustine over existing grass

Generally, St Augustine has no problem completely overrunning and dominating a Bermudagrass lawn in a short time (1 2 years), even in full sun. We will use the rakes to do final grading and then water the soil and install the new sod. The best time to lay sod, however, is in early and mid-fall when temperatures are cooler but grass continues to grow. Being a warm-season turfgrass, St. Augustine grows best during summer. If you have a few inches (75mm or more) to fill in, you can most definitely remove the sod, fill underneath, then lay … St. Augustine can be planted easily in the summer, however, during the establishment of a St. Augustine lawn in the summer, it is vital that the grass is kept moist. If you live in a region where St. Augustine is especially happy, you may be able to use Bermuda to your advantage. ... don't lay the grass squares directly on the area treated with RoundUp unless you put in … If it’s mostly topsoil, then you probably won’t have a problem. Lawn diseases. Would we have to remove existing grass (which we really don’t want to do). I was thinking about installing directly over the dead bermuda, but … St. Augustine grass is prone to some diseases such as brown patch disease, gray leaf spot, and take-all root rot.. Brown patches of dead grass usually start appearing during fall and spring when the weather is warm and humid. It was a slow process but where the St. Augustine was surrounded by the rye it would take hold and started to grow and spread. I know that St Augustine is a really hardy grass that will just take over an old lawn if you plug it. As a rule, the more plugs, the better. Watch for grubworms (whitish giant maggots in the soil as they feed on St Augustine.) Begin mowing at 2 inches (50mm) height as soon as grass or weeds can be cut. Thanks! Shade Tolerance of St. Augustine Compared to Bermuda Grass. St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a warm season grass grown throughout the southeastern sections of the United States. “Therefore, the existing grass / lawn must be extremely sparse or you will have to bring in dirt and put it on top before laying the new sod. I'm reading both, some say yes and some say you have to remove the existing lawn - so I'm lost. “In no situation should sod be installed over existing grass, said Michele Gibson, co-owner of DG Turf Farm, a third-generation sod farm in Greenleaf, Idaho. Sod, though, can be applied directly over existing grass.” The author went on to write: “Professional landscapers often apply sod directly over grass. However, this method is usually more expensive. Then you’ll have to get rid of TWO layers of lawn. I seeded in some Rye grass to hold additional moisture and then next year started again with the St Augustine Palmetto grass. If you lay sod on existing lawn it will die a rather quick death, killing the lawn underneath as well. Various diseases can be the reason why your grass is dying or appearing as though it is dead. The sod compresses the grass and limits its exposure to sunlight and water. St. Augustine grass is a type of warm season grass that is popularly grown in the southern regions of the United States. There are three ways to remove your existing lawn-Using Chemicals. After 2 weeks, you can till the ground and lay your sod. St. Augustine is a much wider-blade grass that also enjoys full sun but has the highest shade tolerance. The current lawn is in bad shape (from previous owners) and I'm wondering if I can just lay the sod over it without doing anything to it before hand (from what I read the lawn underneath dies out and becomes fertilizer). April and May would be excellent months to lay sod or plant plugs to establish a new lawn or repair damage done to a St. The grass can be mowed with a rotary mower at higher levels. happiness April 24, 2019 at 1:15 pm. St. Augustine grass is usually dormant during the colder winter and fall seasons. The best way to add topsoil to your lawn without damaging your grass is to topdress the lawn with topsoil that matches the lawn's native topsoil. Plant St. Augustine grass plugs or sod in full sun, at least 90 days before your region’s first estimated fall frost, to give the grass … Reply. Can we lay new sod over existing lawn? I’m afraid not. If you want to plant some, wait until the spring or early summer, then spray a glyphosate weedkiller over the planting area to protect the plants from competing grasses. Though it is generally thought to be OK to lay sod over an existing lawn, some landscapers and homeowners prefer to remove any existing lawn before installation of sod. St. Augustine grass grows quickly with stiff, coarse blades. Its broad, flat leaves grow dense and turn into a thick carpet of grass. “All sod must make soil contact to root,” she points out. Starting over may be the best way to get rid of perennial grassy weeds such as Nimblewill, Bentgrass, Tall Fescue clumps, or Quackgrass that you can’t kill without killing your good grass. According to the University of Texas, this grass is native to the regions surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. I often get asked if you can just apply a shallow dressing of soil over grass and then lay sod on top of that. Don’t Lay Sod Over Mulch. It is possible to dump new soil over top of what you have, and prepare it for sod or seed. If the new St. Augustine grass dries out during establishment, the turf can easily and very quickly die since it has no root system to support the sod growing. All they did was mow their existing Bermuda grass almost all the way down to the ground (lowest blade setting on a mower), and then plopped St. Augustine sod over the freshly scalped Bermuda. St. Augustine is considered a bit more invasive than the other warm season grasses so it may not be permitted by your HOA. ANSWER: St.Augustine grass does not generally produce viable seeds like other types of grasses do.Augustine grass must be established vegetatively using sod or plugs. When to Plant St. Augustine Grass. The next door neighbors had part of their yard resodded professionally and the landscapers simply put the sod over existing grass, it seems to have grown in fine-- but maybe i missed a step they took? OK, so I found Bahai Grass. I can only dream that it will take over his ST A. Plant St. Augustine grass during summer. However, there are still other things to consider that we will cover in this section. While Saint Augustine grass does do a very good job at standing up to wear and tear, it can still become damaged due to overuse for long periods of time, or through neglect of good lawn care practices over the life of the lawn. It is one of the most popular grasses of choice for lawns throughout the United States. Gardeners enjoy this grass type for its compressed grass blades that contribute a dense texture for lawns. My mom did this with her lawn and it took over in a few years. Click to see full answer. While you can purchase a pallet or a half-pallet of St. Augustine grass, keep in mind that a full pallet is 450 squares of grass. Laying Down St. Augustine Sod. I tried laying in St. Augustine sod but it would dry up and die even with regular watering. “You really need soil to soil contact, in order for the roots to establish. I planned to use the teeth on my rock bucket to break up the top 4"s of grass/soil. St. Augustine grass grows best in the warmth of spring and summer, when high temperatures are normally 80-100 °F. I just moved into a new house, and the ENTIRE back yard is Crabgrass. It is expensive to establish St. Augustine because it can only be planted with sprigs, plugs, and sod. I looked everywhere for St. Augustine grass seeds...and was told you CAN'T GROW St. Augustine from seed? I have a rental property that has St. Augustine that I believe is beyond repair. These are the steps to renovate a lawn by killing the existing grass and establishing a new lawn: Mid-August, spray the bad lawn area with Roundup. Effects If the environmental conditions favor one grass species over another, "choking out" may occur. Can I Add Topsoil to My Existing Lawn?. St. Augustine is … This option will save you money on excavation costs of removing the old soil and grass. The answer depends on the percentage of wood chips compared to the percentage of topsoil under the sod. You can't simply lay sod on top of grass without doing proper preparation. Also, Brown Patch is a common problem in St. Augustine lawns, especially if they are over-watered. That said, I have an acquintance who replaced their Bermuda lawn with St Augustine grass. The previous owner laid down a ton of mulch to try and kill it off, but it is so embedded that it is just coming through. MOWING ZOYSIA GRASS. It falters in dry soil and dies back in subfreezing cold. Laying down sod is often a quicker way to plant St. Augustine grass. Saint Augustine grass can be planted out at most times of the year in the warmer regions where winter is not expected to be too cold, however different regions will differ as to the best time of year to plant new Saint Augustine lawns, and this is usually based on climate … Spring is the second best time to lay sod and is the preferable time for warm season grasses such as centipede, zoysia, bermuda, and St. Augustine that become dormant in the winter. Hankhill is correct you can favor the existing St Augustine over the Bermudagrass by cutting high (3 +), and irrigating the mix until the St Augustine takes over. Using Bermuda Grass To Establish a St. Augustine Lawn. Many homeowners want to avoid the extra work involved in removing existing lawns to install new sod. Sod grass requires soil contact in order to thrive. St Augustine is a spreading grass and will fill in within a month. Reel mowers can be gradually reduced to 3/4 to 1/2 inch over time. Looking for people who know, not guesses (I can guess myself). Using a glyphosphate like Round Up you can spray your existing lawn, and sod over the dead grass. If we leave existing grass could we lay a different type of grass over the existing grass? Similarly, it is asked, can St Augustine grass be grown from seed? You can do your yard all at once or in sections as long as you leave a gap … Mow lower areas if possible with a reel mower. The new grass never rooted. If it’s mostly wood chips, you probably will. Lawns laid with St. Augustine sod are full, lush and green, if maintained properly. 3. We will rake off the loose grass. St. Augustine, being one of the best options for home and commercial lawns, comes out as a clear winner when it comes to shade tolerance. The sod needs to be in contact with soil. Would we have to level the lawn with new dirt first and then plant new sod? Because of the way St. Augustine grows, it can be hard to get good seed contact with the soil without scalping and damaging the existing lawn. Adding soil over grass can be another effective form of repairing a lawn. But can’t I lay sod over my existing grass? As long as you fill in no more than 1inch (25mm) at a time, the grass will happily work its way through and fully establish itself at the slightly new higher elevation. Nope. You should, therefore, establish your lawn in mid-summer when conditions are great for the growth and spread of this grass species all over your lawn. If using a rotary mower you may want to continue cutting at 2 inch height. Hi, can I lay new sod over existing grass, or does the ground have to be absolutely clear of grass, weeds before putting down the new grass.? I'm looking for the least expensive option and best lowest maintenance grass and considering bahia. St. Augustine sod usually comes in rolls for larger areas or … Sod provides a quicker alternative when establishing a lawn. Plant your sod over an existing … People will ask us if they can lay sod over mulch or over wood chips left from grinding stumps. Ground and lay your sod you may want to continue cutting at inches! In removing existing lawns to install new sod the warmth of spring and summer, when high are. Over grass can be mowed with a rotary mower at higher levels consider that we will in... 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