St. Augustine is the most popular lawn grass in Texas for a reason. It handles heat, tolerates shade better than most warm-season grasses, and spreads thick enough to crowd out weeds when it's healthy. But it has its quirks. It's sensitive to certain herbicides, it doesn't love drought the way Bermuda does, and it can develop some serious problems if you're not paying attention.

Here's what you need to know to keep St. Augustine looking good in Central Texas.

What Is St. Augustine Grass?

St. Augustine grass is a warm-season turfgrass that spreads by stolons — above-ground runners that creep across the soil and root as they go. It's known for its broad, flat blades and its ability to form a dense, carpet-like lawn. It's the dominant grass type across much of South Texas, the Gulf Coast, and Central Texas, including the New Braunfels area.

Common varieties you'll find in Texas include Floratam (the most widely planted), Palmetto, Raleigh, and Sapphire. Floratam is the big one — it's what most Texas sod farms sell and what most homeowners have without knowing the variety name.

Mowing St. Augustine Grass in Texas

St. Augustine should be mowed at a higher height than Bermuda grass. Most recommendations for St. Augustine in Texas fall between 3 and 4 inches. Floratam specifically tends to do better at the higher end of that range.

Mowing too short — scalping — is one of the most common ways homeowners damage St. Augustine. When you cut it too low, you remove the leaf tissue the grass needs to photosynthesize, stress the plant, and open the door for weeds and disease. Keep the blades up and follow the one-third rule: never remove more than one-third of the blade height in a single mowing.

During peak growing season in Central Texas, St. Augustine may need mowing every 7 to 10 days. During cooler months or drought stress, mowing frequency naturally decreases.

Watering St. Augustine Grass

St. Augustine needs more water than Bermuda grass. It doesn't go dormant as gracefully under drought stress, and it will show signs of water stress faster. Signs your St. Augustine needs water include:

• Leaf blades folding or rolling lengthwise
• A blue-gray or dull color instead of bright green
• Footprints remaining visible in the lawn
• Wilting in the afternoon heat

Deep, infrequent watering is still better than frequent shallow watering. The goal is to encourage deeper root growth, not to keep the top inch of soil constantly wet. In New Braunfels, always water within current NBU conservation stage restrictions.

Fertilizing St. Augustine in Texas

St. Augustine is a moderate to heavy feeder during the growing season. A general approach for Central Texas:

• Spring: Apply nitrogen fertilizer after the lawn has fully greened up and is actively growing — not before. Fertilizing dormant or semi-dormant turf wastes product and can cause problems.
• Summer: Continue feeding through the growing season. St. Augustine responds well to regular nitrogen applications during active growth.
• Fall: Reduce or stop nitrogen applications as temperatures cool and growth slows. Late-season nitrogen can push tender growth that's vulnerable to cold damage.
• Winter: No fertilizer needed during dormancy.

Iron applications can help maintain color without pushing excessive growth. If your St. Augustine looks pale or yellowish during the growing season, iron deficiency or pH issues may be worth investigating.

Weed Control and St. Augustine: Be Careful

This is where St. Augustine requires extra attention. St. Augustine grass is sensitive to certain herbicides that are commonly used on Bermuda grass. Atrazine is one of the few post-emergent herbicides labeled for use on St. Augustine, but it has its own restrictions and limitations.

Many broadleaf herbicides that work fine on Bermuda can damage or kill St. Augustine. Always read the label carefully and confirm the product is labeled for use on St. Augustine before applying anything. When in doubt, consult a licensed lawn care professional before treating weeds in a St. Augustine lawn.

Common St. Augustine Grass Problems in Texas

Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs are one of the most damaging pests for St. Augustine grass in Texas. They feed on grass by sucking plant juices and injecting a toxin that causes the grass to yellow and die. Damage typically appears as irregular yellow or brown patches that spread outward, often starting near hot, sunny areas like sidewalks and driveways.

Chinch bug damage is frequently mistaken for drought stress because both cause browning. The difference: drought-stressed grass usually recovers with water. Chinch bug damage does not.

Brown Patch Fungus

Brown patch is a fungal disease that commonly affects St. Augustine in Texas, particularly during periods of warm temperatures and high humidity. It shows up as circular or irregular brown patches, often with a darker border. It tends to appear in fall and spring when nighttime temperatures are cool and moisture is high.

Proper mowing height, avoiding late-evening watering, and not over-fertilizing with nitrogen can help reduce brown patch pressure.

Take-All Root Rot

Take-all root rot is a soil-borne fungal disease that attacks the root system of St. Augustine. Affected grass yellows, thins, and eventually dies in irregular patches. Unlike brown patch, take-all root rot damage is happening underground, which makes it harder to diagnose without looking at the roots.

St. Augustine Decline (SAD)

St. Augustine Decline is a viral disease spread by aphids. Infected grass develops a yellow mosaic pattern on the blades and gradually thins out. There is no cure — affected turf eventually needs to be replaced with a SAD-resistant variety like Floratam.

St. Augustine in Shade

One of St. Augustine's biggest advantages over Bermuda grass is its shade tolerance. It can survive and stay reasonably healthy in areas that would thin out Bermuda quickly. That said, it still needs some sunlight. Very deep shade — under dense tree canopies with little filtered light — will eventually thin even St. Augustine.

If you have areas where St. Augustine consistently struggles despite good care, shade may be the limiting factor. Ground covers or mulch may be a better long-term solution in those spots than fighting the grass.

Professional St. Augustine Lawn Care in New Braunfels

Committed Lawn Care provides professional lawn care for St. Augustine lawns throughout New Braunfels and surrounding Central Texas communities. Whether you need regular mowing, weed control, fertilization, or help diagnosing a problem in your St. Augustine lawn, we're here to help.

Call or text Committed Lawn Care at 512-222-9122.