St. Augustine a shade tolerant turfgrass.  It is a dark green, dense, coarse textured, broad leaf, grass that is best suited for areas that receive little use and consequently little maintenance.  St. Augustine turfgrass does much better in shady conditions compared to other grass selections and requiring 4 hours or more of sunlight.  St. Augustine turfgrass has poor tolerance of foot traffic because of its shallow roots.  St. Augustine does not withstand drought conditions as well as some other turfgrass cultivars and is prone to excessive thatch buildup when given large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer and frequent irrigation.  Fertilizer applications are required to maintain a quality St. Augustine turf. A total of 4–6 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft should be applied to St. Augustine
annually.

Maintenance

Mowing –

A regular maintenance schedule of mowing is very important. Mow St. Augustine turf grass every 2 to 3 weeks and you will be extremely pleased with the quality of your turf.  St. Augustine turfgrass is easily maintained with a rotary mower.  Recommended St. Augustine turfgrass should be mowed at 2-3 inches.   Keep mower blades sharp and never cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade length at once.

Watering –

St. Augustine needs about 1 to 2 inches of water a week to maintain a healthy appearance. On sandy soils it often requires more frequent watering.  Because clay soils accept water slowly, short intervals of watering is encouraged.  For example, Water for a few minutes, wait half an hour until the water has been absorbed, and then continue irrigating until the desired depth or amount is obtained. Proper irrigation may prevent or reduce pest problems and limit environmental stress. Always water during the early to late morning hours and never at night. Watering at night may cause fungal development.