Palmetto St. Augustine Sod in Palm Beach County
Palmetto St. Augustine Sod Installation
Florida-favorite St. Augustine with better shade tolerance and a rich, medium-green look. Fresh-cut sod, meticulous prep, and clear after-care included.
Why choose Palmetto St. Augustine?
Palmetto is an improved St. Augustine that delivers a plush, carpet-like lawn with better shade tolerance than standard types. It thrives in Florida’s heat and humidity, handles a range of soils (including sandy coastal soils), and gives you that classic St. Augustine look with a slightly finer, softer leaf.
Upsides
- Shade-smart: performs with ~4–6 hours of sun or filtered light.
- Comfort: soft, dense canopy that stays cooler underfoot.
- Adaptable: tolerant of salt spray and varied Florida soils.
- Great seams: thick stolons knit quickly with proper install.
Considerations
- As with all St. Augustine, chinch bugs can be an issue—watch sunny, hot edges and along pavement.
- Can show large patch (cool/wet seasons) and gray leaf spot (hot/rainy) if overwatered/over-fertilized.
- Prefers a higher cut: maintain ~3–4″ for color, vigor, and shade performance.
Quick comparison — St. Augustine cultivars in Florida
| Cultivar | Shade | Salt | Traffic | Cut height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmetto | Good (4–6h) | Good | Moderate | 3–4″ | Improved shade vs. standard |
| Floratam | Low (full sun) | Good | Moderate | 3.5–4.5″ | Vigorous; prefers sun |
| CitraBlue | Good (shade-tuned) | Good | Moderate | 2.5–3.5″ | Shorter internodes; dense |
| Seville | Good (dwarf) | Good | Moderate | 2–3″ | Finer texture; lower cut |
| Sapphire | Good | Good | Moderate | 2–3″ | Blue-green; fast lateral |
| Bitterblue | Good | Good | Moderate | 3–4″ | Classic, shade-capable |
In-depth notes — St. Augustine options
Palmetto — shade-tolerant, plush, homeowner-friendly
Improved St. Augustine with better shade performance than standard types while keeping the classic look and density. Excellent for yards with filtered light or mixed exposure.
What to Monitor: monitor for chinch bugs on hot edges; avoid excess nitrogen and evening irrigation to limit large patch/gray leaf spot.
Floratam — vigorous, heat-loving, full-sun specialist
Very common in Florida for open, sunny lawns. Spreads fast and covers quickly but is less shade tolerant than Palmetto or CitraBlue.
What to Monitor: weaker in shade; deep, infrequent irrigation; standard chinch bug vigilance.
CitraBlue — dense, shade-tuned with shorter internodes
Modern selection aimed at better shade color and density. Can be kept a touch lower than Palmetto; forms a neat, uniform surface.
What to Monitor: manage airflow and avoid overwatering in shade to limit leaf diseases.
Seville — dwarf type; finer texture, lower cut
Shorter internodes and finer leaf give a tidy, manicured appearance. Great on smooth sites and smaller yards.
What to Monitor: can show thatch if over-fertilized; keep blades sharp at lower heights.
Sapphire — blue-green color; fast lateral spread
Known for a slightly bluer cast and rapid lateral growth that knits seams and recovers wear spots quickly.
What to Monitor: moderate fertility to avoid excessive growth and thatch.
Bitterblue — classic shade-tolerant selection
Older Florida standby appreciated for shade capability and proven performance in established neighborhoods.
What to Monitor: thoughtful water/fertility to avoid disease during humid stretches.
What to expect
Our St. Augustine installation process
- Site prep & grading. Remove old turf/weeds, correct grades, fine-rake for tight seams and drainage.
- Soil tune-up. Amend for pH and rooting as needed; water-in to settle.
- Same-day cut & install. Fresh harvest, tight staggering, roll for contact, and edge cleanup.
- Starter program. Wetting agent + starter nutrition appropriate to season/soil.
- After-care coaching. Watering schedule + first-mow plan, and we’re available for questions.
We handle HOA/gated access, COIs, and coordinated delivery windows.
Care basics for Palmetto St. Augustine
Watering (weeks 0–3)
- Days 0–7: Keep sod consistently moist; avoid standing water.
- 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 dislodge seams.
- Maintain 3–4″ for best color, vigor, and shade performance.
- Sharp blades prevent tip burn/browning.
Nutrition & health
- Moderate fertility; avoid heavy summer N that invites disease.
- Diseases: Watch for large patch in cool/wet seasons; gray leaf spot in hot/rainy spells. Water mornings only.
- Pests: Monitor for chinch bugs in sunny, stressed edges; treat early if patching or wilting appears.
Palmetto St. Augustine — quick answers
How much sun does Palmetto need?
It’s shade-tolerant for St. Augustine—aim for ~4–6 hours of sun or filtered light. Dense, all-day shade is tough for any warm-season grass.
What’s the best mowing height?
3–4″ is the sweet spot for Palmetto. Higher cut = deeper roots, better shade color, fewer weeds.
Will Palmetto handle foot traffic?
Moderate residential traffic is fine. Rotate play/wear areas when possible and keep blades sharp to reduce stress.
What issues should I watch for?
Chinch bugs on hot edges; large patch during cool/wet seasons; and gray leaf spot in warm, rainy stretches. Proper watering and moderate fertility prevent most problems.
St. Augustine sod in your city
Palmetto St. Augustine — Lush, Shade-Smart Coverage
Thick texture, excellent shade tolerance, and strong Florida performance. Get a fast quote and an expert installation plan today.