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Fertilizing St Augustine

14K views 21 replies 8 participants last post by  fl-landscapes  
#1 ·
I read and hear conflicting info on St Augustine. Some sources recommend as much as 1 lb per 1000 sq feet per month during growing season and other sources say only 1 lb for the whole season. Opinions?
 
#2 ·
St. Augustine grows quickly and needs food. The 1lb/season is hogwash. 1lb of Nitrogen+3/4lb/month of potassium nitrate+ micro nutrients and iron per 1000sq.ft. during the growing season is what I use. Nitrogen source is based on soil conditions.
 
#3 ·
Here in Florida we fert St. Augustine year round. It is a fast growing turf and it feeds pretty heavy. If you only fert it a few times a year then all your doing is starving the lawn. so I'm sure depending on soil conditions and the amount of availible nutrients in the soil, the turf will be nutrient deficient unless it is fertilized fequently with a good granular fertilizer. Lesco makes a great product just make sure your using the right one for the time of year. Most all of their fertilizer should be put down at about 5lbs per thousand sq. feet but READ THE LABEL.
 
#6 ·
no, i'm not but you don't need to be state certified for applying fertilizers in the state of florida. Now, if you apply weed and feed and you are not certified, you will be fined b/c weeds are considered a "pest" and you can't treat "lawn pests" w/out being certified. I know for 100% you don't need certification if you are ONLY applying fertilizers. This info came from the horses mouth.
 
#7 ·
Wow.......I wasn't trying to piss you off there, just trying to help. But the horse gave you the wrong info the law does state that you can not apply fert to any turf w/ out a L&O certification. Anyway good luck to you and you should probably visit FDACS, Florida Department of Agriculture & comsumers services website. It takes 3 years of working for a licesened operator before you can take the test.
 
#9 ·
I think this will be different from area to area. I like to fert StAugustine three times per year in my area and soil type. Anywhere from mid Feb-mid March [depending on temps] then again late may- early June then again some time in Sept. The first and last app gets Atrazine combo and the middle gets a slow release. If I was to put down 1# per month, there would not be enough fungicide in the state to keep away the gray leaf spot and the brown patch. There is several of the "Turf Dr's" that only recommend two apps per year in my area---spring and fall. Now the Bermuda is a different story.
 
#10 ·
University of Florida recommends 3-4/year. I will stick with them. IMO, fertilizing 2 times per year is useless, especially when people do one right before growing season and one in the winter. The lawn NEEDS fert. mostly during the growing season, which in Florida, is from mid march-end of october. I have a couple customers on a 3-4/yr. schedule and i fertilize their palms 2/yr. Some palms need more than that, but 2 good feedings/yr during growing season should be enough. The key is to have everything strong and healthy going into winter.
 
#11 ·
In Florida you are required to be licensed to apply any type of pesticide. In the turf areas or flower beds.
You are allowed to apply fertilizer in any area without a pesticide, without any type of license.
The only way around this is if you are considered a yardman. Where the customer supply's the equipment and chemical.
What we call in Florida the roundup license only applies to flower beds. And does not apply to turf areas.

But you can still apply a fertilizer to turf areas without any type of license. As long as you don't apply any pesticide that is for weeds or bugs.
 
#12 ·
You dont need your l&o to apply fert. You do as of last sept. state wide have to attend a class to be certified for fertilizer application but it is certainly not an l&o lis. I took the class last year and am certified now,
 
#14 ·
#16 ·
Okay I am in the Tampa bay area. The reason I think I overlooked it was that it is not a ordinance here yet.
I use prohort.net and I see some new laws in Charlotte county and a couple of other areas. But not in Tampa/Hillsborough yet.
But I did read a study that suggests to adopt the same requirements here soon.
So Thanks for the heads up.
 
#18 ·
Been reading up on it and it is state wide but it has 180 days to adopt which is now expired. And there is a green law implied. Which I am not sure where it applies in my area. So I will need to call in Monday to inquire.
Thanks again.
It looks like the requirement started in your area and has spread across the state here in Florida.
BTW I renewed my LLC licensee in January and there was no comment on the change in the classes for CEU's.

So I guess it is treat us like mushrooms. Keep us in the dark and feed us sh** all day.
 
#19 ·
ArTurf,
St. Augustine needs a lot of food as it is a strong growing grass similar to our Bermuda's here in Arkansas. The books call for 3-5 lbs? of actual N per 1,000 sq.ft. per growing season. Centipede grass is the one that requires less N per 1,000 sq.ft. per growing season. 2-3 lbs. of N is somewhere in the middle. It requires less N than Zoysia, of course because it doesn't grow as fast as Zoysia. I have a couple lawns with centi planted in the shaded areas that have done ok but it only needs cutting every 2-3 weeks. We don't bag this site.!

I am like a fellow Arkansan and St. Augustine is few and rare here, as the winters are too harsh sometimes for it to really establish. The ones that I have seen, are neglected or starved of food and the chinch bugs have devoured it.

When it comes to how much N to feed some grasses, it all depends on how often the lawn is manicured. There is a normal seasonal application rate of N per M; there is a medium rate per m; and a high rate of N per M for highly maintained turfgrasses.
Automatic watering systems deplete the N through leach and normal Nitrification if you are using quick release ferts. Slow release ferts will provide longer feeding but under certain conditions that apply to the soil type and water administered. SCU--UFlexx--XCU ferts will feed longer.
For us, we want quicker response and greener foliage. We feed the crap out of watered lawns, and we reduce the fert on the non-watered lawns. So, it all depends on the amount of maintenance required.
 
#21 ·
Okay here is what I found out on the new certification. It became active last month in Florida. However it will not be enforced till 2014 (meaning Fines)unless you are in a county that has enacted a local ordinance. Hillsborough county is not one of them yet.
It is a 6 hour course with a exam at the end. But it still only allows you to use fertilizer without a pesticide. But the course does count towards a Limited commercial Maint. License for CEU's.
 
#22 ·
Okay here is what I found out on the new certification. It became active last month in Florida. However it will not be enforced till 2014 (meaning Fines)unless you are in a county that has enacted a local ordinance. Hillsborough county is not one of them yet.
It is a 6 hour course with a exam at the end. But it still only allows you to use fertilizer without a pesticide. But the course does count towards a Limited commercial Maint. License for CEU's.
you lucked out! I had to take that class and test last year and our fines would be enforced as of last sept.