ST. AUGUSTINE SOD GRASS

ST. AUGUSTINE SOD GRASS

St. Augustine sod grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), also known as buffalo turf in Australia and buffalo grass in South Africa, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is a warm-season lawn grass famous for cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions. It is a medium- to high-maintenance grass that forms a thick, carpet-like sod, crowding out most weeds and other grasses.

St. Augustine sod grass is a dark green grass with broad, flat blades. It spreads through aboveground stolons, commonly known as “runners,” and forms a dense layer.

St. Augustine sod grass occurs on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, including much of the southeastern United States, Texas, Mexico, and Central and South America. It has escaped cultivation in California, Hawaii, many Pacific islands, South Africa, and New Zealand.

St. Augustine sod grass occurs in most Caribbean and Mediterranean areas. It grows best in tropical climates. It is often seen in lagoons and marshes, on shorelines, and wherever there is a good amount of moisture.

Once St. Augustine sod grass is cultivated, it can propagate on its own.

St. Augustine sod grass can grow in a wide range of soil types with a pH between 5.0 and 8.5. It usually blooms in the spring and summer.

St. Augustine sodgrass is commonly used in pastures and on ranches. It is a popular lawn grass, rivaling Bermuda grass, though St. Augustine is less drought-tolerant.