St. Augustine grass (scientific name Stenotaphrum secundatum) is a warm-season turfgrass widely used in southern U.S. landscapes. "Palmetto" is a patented cultivar of St. Augustine known for somewhat finer texture, improved color, and better disease and cold tolerance compared to older varieties. Palmetto St. Augustine forms a dense carpet via above-ground stolons.
Color & Appearance: | Deep, rich green. It stays greener longer than many Bermudas and Centipedes during heat or drought |
Texture: | Medium texture; leaf blades are broad and flat. Not as fine as Zoysia, but gives a lush, carpet-like and soft visual feel |
Shade Tolerance: | Excellent. Performs much better in shady or tree-covered areas than many warm-season grasses. |
Heat & Drought Tolerance: | Good. Holds up under heat and periods of less water, though not as drought-tolerant as some very tough grasses |
Cold & Winter Dormancy: | Semi-dormant or dormant in winter; color fades when cold persists. Nevertheless, it has comparatively decent cold tolerance for a St. Augustine variety |
Wear & Traffic Resistance: | Moderate. It’s not the toughest under heavy impact like sports fields, but handles light to moderate foot traffic well |
Soil Adaptability: | Excellent. JaMur recovers quickly from traffic and use |
Other Resistance: | Grows in a range of soil types, including sandy and clay soils. Prefers soils that are not continually soggy, well-drained soils are better |
To keep Palmetto St. Augustine looking its best, here’s what you’ll need:
Mowing:
Maintain height between 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Mow every 5-7 days when growing rapidly.
Watering:
Fertilization:
Disease & General Care:
Use appropriate fungicides (for instance, Daconil) to prevent disease when conditions are favorable for fungal issues. Maintain soil drainage and avoid overwatering.
If you live in a warm to hot climate, and your yard has shady areas or irregular watering, Palmetto St. Augustine could be a great fit. It’s ideal when appearance and comfort matter, more so than needing ultra-fast recovery from heavy wear.
But if your lawn will be used as a heavy-traffic playing field, or if winters are long and cold, you might consider harderier grass types or look into overseeding during dormancy.
If you're interested in outfitting your Atlanta property with Atlanta Palmetto St. Augustine sod, please give us a call or send us an email today for a quote. We are happy to help you achieve the goals you have for your Atlanta property.