St. Augustine grass needs to be mowed to a height of 2.5 to 3.5 inches for best results. If you have shady areas, you need to let the grass grow a little longer. In the hottest part of summer, raise the mowing height and don't mow at all if you're experiencing a season of drought. St. Augustine grass will knit itself into a tight turf that naturally resists weeds if you fertilize properly. It actually smothers weeds, as the grass grows so thick. The grass has aggressive aboveground runners called stolons that can grow inches per day laterally. In addition, iron in a fertilizer will give you the maximum green color that lawn enthusiasts desire. Fertilization is best done in Spring, Summer and Fall. SEE: Fertilizing a St. Augustine or Centipede Lawn

Maintenance will depend on the temperature of the soil, water levels, and your mowing and fertilization schedule. If temperatures are cool, the grass will grow slower and less mowing is required. St. Augustine grass needs to be regularly irrigated or watered to keep it healthy. It requires two inches of water every seven days to preserve its green color and keeping it from going dormant. If it does go dormant, it will green right up again as soon as it receives the moisture it needs. If you have more than inch of dead stems and debris on the soils surface, you will need to thin and clear out the dead thatch for a healthy lawn. You should do this in the spring just before new growth begins. The root-growing season starts in April and goes through October.

Two pests cause damage to any lawn with St. Augustine grass. One is known as St. Augustine Decline, which is a virus and the other, is a bug called a chinch bug. These are tiny black insects with white wings. You will probably find them in hot dry spots of your lawn. If you are unsure if you have them, you can make them come to the surface by soaking the spot with a bucket of soapy water. To repair spots damaged by the virus or the chinch bugs you will need to plant sprigs of a resistant strain of St. Augustine grass such as Floratam or Floralawn. Check with your county extension to see how and when to best control both problems.