How to Repair St. Augustine Grass

Dead, brown spots make a lawn look neglected and unattractive. St. Augustine grass has many good qualities, but it also has some negative habits, which make it susceptible to death. Disadvantages include freeze damage, pest problems, spongy turf and turf buildup. Weeds can sprout up among St. Augustine grass but usually are hidden for quite some time by the coarse texture of the blades. When this occurs, it is essential to repair St. Augustine grass.

Rake

Peat moss

Topsoil

Rototiller

Grass seed

Hand or mechanical spreader

Straw

Water

Rake the affected parts of the lawn. Dig the metal rake into the ground to loosen up the roots and pull up as much of the dead grass as possible.

Loosen the top 4 to 6 inches of earth with a rototiller. Remove debris such as rocks, stones and weeds. The new St. Augustine grass seed needs to be in direct contact with soil to sprig.

Add at least 1 inch of peat moss or topsoil to the planting area. Work the substance into the local soil with the rototiller.

Disperse St. Augustine grass seed with a mechanical spreader or hand spreader, depending on the size being repaired. Follow the instructions on the seed bag to determine how much seed to spread.

Lay straw down on top of the grass seed if it's a possibility that you'll get heavy rain. If not, rake the seeds into the top 1/4 inch of the soil to barely cover them. This will keep the St. Augustine grass in place.

Tamp down on the soil with your foot or the back of a garden hoe. Water the seeds over the next 10 to 14 days to keep them consistently moist.

Make sure to buy St. Augustine grass seed to match your lawn. Other varieties will have a different color and texture.

Stay off the grass for at least 10 to 14 days.

Avoid watering in the evening because there is an increased risk of fungal disease.