Floratam St. Augustine Sod in Palm Beach County
Floratam St. Augustine
Florida’s classic St. Augustine for full sun: coarse texture, vigorous spread, and high heat tolerance. Fresh-cut sod, pro installation, and a simple care plan.
Why homeowners pick Floratam
Floratam is the most common St. Augustine in Florida for full-sun yards. It spreads quickly by stolons, knits seams fast, and tolerates heat and salt overspray along the coast. Its bold, coarse texture gives a lush, classic South Florida look when maintained correctly.
Strengths
- Sun strong: excels in full sun; heat and humidity tolerant.
- Fast establishment: vigorous spread for quick coverage and repairs.
- Coastal capable: good salt tolerance for typical coastal sites.
- Low thatch tendency: compared with some cultivars under moderate fertility.
Considerations
- Shade: low tolerance. Needs ~6–8+ hours of direct sun; thins in shade.
- Chinch bugs: monitor hot, sunny edges and along concrete; treat early.
- Fungal watch: gray leaf spot (wet, hot), large patch (cool, wet) if over-watered or over-fertilized.
- Higher cut: looks best at ~3.5–4.5″; scalps if cut too low.
Where Floratam fits among St. Augustine options
| Cultivar | Shade | Look | Cut height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floratam | Low (needs sun) | Coarse, bold texture | 3.5–4.5″ | Heat/salt hardy; very vigorous |
| Palmetto | Good (4–6h) | Medium-coarse, plush | 3–4″ | Better in part-shade vs. Floratam |
| CitraBlue | Good (4–6h) | Blue-green, dense | 2.5–3.5″ | Short internodes; tidy seams |
| ProVista™ | Good (4–6h) | Blue-green, uniform | 2.0–3.5″ | Low-mow habit; glyphosate tolerant* |
| Seville (dwarf) | Good | Fine/low habit | 2–3″ | Neat, lower profile |
*Use herbicides only per label on healthy, established turf.
Floratam — the specifics
Texture & vigor. Coarse blades and vigorous stolons help Floratam carpet large areas quickly and knit seams fast after installation or repair.
Light & sites. Designed for sun. It struggles in tree shade or between buildings; for mixed light, consider Palmetto, CitraBlue, or Seville.
Water & drought. Prefers deep, infrequent watering. Will slow and bronze in drought, then rebound rapidly with rain/irrigation.
Pests & disease. Be proactive on chinch bugs (scattered yellowing near hot concrete is an early sign). Manage gray leaf spot (summer/rainy) and large patch (cool/wet) by watering mornings only and avoiding heavy nitrogen.
Mowing. Keep it tall: ~3.5–4.5″. The higher canopy shades soil, improves drought tolerance, and reduces weeds. Sharp blades prevent tip fray.
What to expect
Our Floratam installation process
- Prep & grading: remove old turf/weeds, correct grades, fine-rake for tight seams and drainage.
- Soil tune-up: amendments as needed for pH/rooting; water-in to settle.
- Same-day cut & install: fresh harvest, tight staggering, rolling for soil contact, crisp edges.
- Starter program: season-appropriate wetting agent + nutrition.
- After-care plan: watering schedule, first-mow timing, and text support.
We handle HOA access, COIs, and delivery windows—no surprises.
Care basics for Floratam
Watering (weeks 0–3)
- Days 0–7: Keep consistently moist; avoid puddling.
- Days 8–14: Taper frequency as roots set; check under corners.
- Days 15–21: Transition to deep/less frequent (~1″/week incl. rain).
Mowing
- First mow when rooted (~10–14 days); don’t shift seams.
- Maintain ~3.5–4.5″ for best look and vigor.
- Sharp blades prevent tip burn/browning.
Nutrition & health
- Moderate fertility; avoid heavy summer nitrogen.
- Pests: watch for chinch bugs on hot, sunny edges; treat early.
- Diseases: manage gray leaf spot/large patch with morning watering and thatch control.
Floratam — quick answers
How much light does Floratam need?
Full sun. Aim for 6–8+ hours of direct sunlight. In shade, it will thin; consider Palmetto/CitraBlue for part-shade sites.
What mowing height works best?
~3.5–4.5″. Taller cut improves drought tolerance, keeps color, and reduces scalping.
Is Floratam good by the coast?
Yes—St. Augustine has good salt tolerance and Floratam handles typical coastal conditions with proper irrigation and soil management.
What issues should I watch for?
Chinch bugs in hot, sunny areas; gray leaf spot (wet/hot) and large patch (cool/wet) if turf stays moist or nitrogen is heavy. Water mornings only; keep thatch in check.
St. Augustine sod in your city
Floratam St. Augustine — Built for Full Sun & Florida Heat
Coarse texture, deep color, and fast establishment in sunny yards. Get a fast quote and a pro installation plan today.