OT: Getting my yard back

[TheStateUofMS]

I live in Central Florida near the Atlantic Coast. We had a bone dry winter with a severe cold snap towards the end and an extremely dry summer up until the past few weeks. I have two dogs (one large and one small). I have St Augustine grass. The grass was decent when I moved in a little over 2 years ago. I've had a couple of drainage lines dug where the grass didn't come back and there's a bare spot from the cold snap kill we had that hasn't filled in very well. We do get some high water from minor flash flooding a couple of times a year and I know that's known for spreading weeds like mad as well.

My back yard is full of weeds though. The weeds are thriving. I have nutsedge, some type of vine, chamberbitter, crabgrass, and spurge weed. I do have some good patches of St Augustine, but overall it's in bad shape right now. Currently my treatment has been Scotts Triple Action in the late winter and late fall months. I do some spot spraying ("Kills Weeds Not Lawns"), but I really don't want to spray too much on the actual yard, so that's pretty minimal. I also pull weeds by hand and gardenging tools. I've used the Image brand Ready To Spray treatments as well (the ones that attach to the water hose), but only once or twice a year as it's hard on lawns to do it often.

Is it just a matter of a bad season and living with dogs or is there something I can do? My front yard is pretty good although it has some dollar weed.

Appreciate the feedback in advance!

 

[willi13]

I, too live in FL but on the other coast. Have lived in this house for six years. Yard is St. Augustine and was in rough shape when we moved in. I did all the treatments myself, with many trips to Turf Shop. Have done the Sunday program now for three years and yard is immaculate. I recommend looking online at their service because it is easy and low-maintenance.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

I, too live in FL but on the other coast. Have lived in this house for six years. Yard is St. Augustine and was in rough shape when we moved in. I did all the treatments myself, with many trips to Turf Shop. Have done the Sunday program now for three years and yard is immaculate. I recommend looking online at their service because it is easy and low-maintenance.

Thank you! Are you talking about this: https://www.getsunday.com/custom-la...Qlk2ZuenayGL0ASlHZfBcxdOI-Ro0AkBoCMTcQAvD_BwE

 

[thatsbaseball]

I've learned to groom my weeds and they look like grass from a distance .**

 

[The Cooterpoot]

2-4-D a good weed killer?
I've got patches of ****** grass in my St Augustine and I wonder if transplanting some in would thrive and spread because that stuff crawls all over my driveway, St Augustine "vines"

 

[OopsICroomedmypants]

I just put st Augustine potted plugs in part of my front yard this spring. I have so much shade that the Bermuda is nearly gone. It's spreading nicely. As far as your question, based on my previous house and a full front and back yard of St. Augustine, I learned to just fertilize and water the crap out of it. I would grab the water hose and spot water new growth to help it spread. Once it's thick enough, nearly no weeds can grow up through it. I also mowed it high to make sure it shades out weeds. My neighbor who lived there for 50 years said the yard never looked better.

 

[Beretta.sixpack]

go buy Celsius WG herbicide....it is granular and is probably the best and safest on the market....expensive, but worth every penny

 

[Beretta.sixpack]

2-4-D a good weed killer?
I've got patches of ****** grass in my St Augustine and I wonder if transplanting some in would thrive and spread because that stuff crawls all over my driveway, St Augustine "vines"

2-4D prior to 90 degree weather

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

Hire a local yard spraying guy (not a chain). It'll be cheaper in the long run. Around here it's $300-$500 per year.

If it's your "forever" home, invest in the chemicals and equipment, if not hire it out.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

I just put st Augustine potted plugs in part of my front yard this spring. I have so much shade that the Bermuda is nearly gone. It's spreading nicely. As far as your question, based on my previous house and a full front and back yard of St. Augustine, I learned to just fertilize and water the crap out of it. I would grab the water hose and spot water new growth to help it spread. Once it's thick enough, nearly no weeds can grow up through it. I also mowed it high to make sure it shades out weeds. My neighbor who lived there for 50 years said the yard never looked better.

I'm thinking this is the biggest problem. We had back to back extremely dry winters, plus this year's cold snap and we never got our spring time thunderstorms. Weeds thrived, the St Augustine didn't.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

Hire a local yard spraying guy (not a chain). It'll be cheaper in the long run. Around here it's $300-$500 per year.

If it's your "forever" home, invest in the chemicals and equipment, if not hire it out.

It's not my forever home. 3-4 years max.

 

[DAWGSANDSAINTS]

my St Augustine would look immaculate if I could keep my male Labrador from pissing all over 20 times a day.
He very rarely bothers to go to the tree or to a trellis with Jasmine growing up it.
Nope, just hikes his leg wherever he feels like it, especially if I have tried putting down some new sod pieces. Those he loves!

 

[skipperDawg]

Hire a local yard spraying guy (not a chain). It'll be cheaper in the long run. Around here it's $300-$500 per year.

If it's your "forever" home, invest in the chemicals and equipment, if not hire it out.

That answer right there is correct

 

[skipperDawg]

It's not my forever home. 3-4 years max.

You will get the return when you sell your not forever house.
I trimmed manicured lawn is a great selling tool

 

[DawgNsuds]

Things to consider, first is the obvious, know what chemicals your grass can tolerate. Temps are key, when it's hot and dry, grass is more susceptible to chemicals. Celcius is very good, I haven't had good luck with it on sedge, so know your weeds and what your chemicals will impact. sometimes you need to combine chemicals (sedge hammer is one) Also a thing to consider, when I lived in Florida, I fought mole crickets, the little alien looking bugs can do some serious damage, so look for signs of pest damage also. One last suggestion, St. Augustine does not like to be cut low, make sure you don't scalp it like one would Bermuda. This site is helpful Do my own. Fertilizing and watering at the right times are key as well. But the short answer is generally St. Augustine thrives in Florida, just get you a calendar and plan and follow it. Apologies for run on sentences and spelling but I may have started happy hour early today.