St. Augustine Sod in Palm Beach County
St. Augustine Sod Installation
South Florida’s classic lawn grass, installed right: Floratam, Palmetto, CitraBlue and ProVista matched to your sun, shade and soil, with meticulous prep, same-day cut & install, and concierge after-care. Weighing other options? Compare Zoysia and Bermuda.
Why St. Augustine is South Florida’s go-to lawn
St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is the most widely planted lawn grass in South Florida. It’s a coarse-textured, warm-season grass that spreads by above-ground runners (stolons), handles heat and humidity, and, depending on the cultivar, tolerates more shade than Bermuda. Because it isn’t practical to grow from seed, St. Augustine lawns are established from sod. Not sure which grass fits? See choosing the best sod for South Florida.
Upsides
- Thick, carpet-like canopy that crowds out many weeds
- Built for South Florida heat, humidity and sandy soils
- Better shade tolerance than Bermuda; Palmetto, CitraBlue and ProVista handle roughly 4–6 hours of sun
- Good salt-spray tolerance for coastal properties
- Roots in quickly from sod and fills seams fast in warm weather
Considerations
- Chinch bugs: the #1 pest, especially on sunny, drought-stressed lawns (chinch bug guide)
- Fungus: large patch and gray leaf spot flare in wet or cool stretches
- Wear: handles moderate traffic but recovers more slowly than Bermuda
- Virus: Floratam is susceptible to sugarcane mosaic virus; Palmetto and CitraBlue are more tolerant
- Water: needs consistent irrigation through the dry season
Compare the St. Augustine varieties we install
| Cultivar | Shade | Look | Cut height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProVista™ | Good (4–6h) | Blue-green, very uniform | 2.0–3.5″ | Low-mow habit; glyphosate-tolerant |
| CitraBlue | Good (4–6h) | Blue-green, dense | 2.5–3.5″ | Shorter internodes; tidy seams |
| Palmetto | Good (4–6h) | Classic medium-green | 3–4″ | Plush, versatile |
| Floratam | Low (sun) | Coarser, vigorous | 3.5–4.5″ | Best in full sun |
| Seville (dwarf) | Good | Fine/low habit | 2–3″ | Neat, lower profile |
Rule of thumb: full, all-day sun points to Floratam; part shade or a sugarcane mosaic history points to Palmetto or CitraBlue; want less mowing? Look at ProVista.
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. The higher cut height supports deeper roots and keeps the lawn comfortable in summer heat.
What to Monitor: watch for chinch bugs on hot edges; avoid excess nitrogen and evening irrigation to limit large patch and 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 with a distinctive blue-green tone. See the full CitraBlue installation page for detail.
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 and fertility to avoid disease during humid stretches.
Is St. Augustine sod right for your yard?
Short version: if you want a dense, classic Florida lawn and your yard gets at least 4–6 hours of direct sun, St. Augustine is usually the right call. For heavy traffic or a finer, lower-cut look, compare Bermuda and Zoysia, or read St. Augustine vs. Zoysia.
Choose St. Augustine if you want…
- The classic Florida look: wide blades and a thick, cushioned canopy
- Some shade tolerance: Palmetto, CitraBlue or ProVista for yards with trees
- Coastal durability: good salt-spray tolerance near the Intracoastal and the beach
- Fast establishment: roots in quickly from sod in warm weather
Pick a different option if…
- Heavy play or pet traffic: Bermuda recovers from wear much faster
- You want a fine, manicured look: Zoysia gives a denser, finer texture
- Deep, all-day shade: under about 4 hours of sun, no turfgrass thrives; consider beds or groundcover
- No irrigation: St. Augustine needs consistent watering through the dry season
Common St. Augustine problems (and what helps)
Most St. Augustine decline has a diagnosable cause. For a deeper walkthrough, see why St. Augustine grass dies or our lawn fungus ID guide.
Chinch bugs
Yellowing, straw-colored patches that spread in hot, sunny areas, often along driveways and sidewalks.
- Confirm with a close inspection at the edge of the damage
- Targeted insecticide and rotation of product classes
- Proper watering and mowing height to reduce stress
Large patch (brown patch)
Circular orange-brown rings in cool, wet months, usually fall through spring.
- Avoid excess nitrogen in cool weather
- Water early in the morning only
- Preventive fungicide where it recurs
Gray leaf spot
Gray-brown, diamond-shaped leaf spots in hot, humid weather, often on new sod.
- Avoid heavy summer nitrogen
- Improve airflow and drainage
- Fungicide when active
Sugarcane mosaic virus
Yellow streaking and mottling that spreads, most often in Floratam.
- No cure once infected
- Replace with tolerant cultivars like Palmetto or CitraBlue
- SCMV treatment & replacement
Sod webworms
Chewed, ragged blades and thin patches; small tan moths flying low at dusk.
- Confirm larvae with a soap flush
- Treat promptly during active feeding
- Monitor through summer and fall
Take-all root rot
Thinning, yellowing turf with short, dark, rotted roots, worse after heavy rain.
- Correct drainage and soil pH
- Reduce stress: mowing height, irrigation
- Consider soil testing before replacing
St. Augustine care calendar for South Florida
Timing matters more than product. For fertilizer specifics, see when to fertilize your lawn in Florida and our St. Augustine treatment schedule.
Spring (March–May)
- Resume fertilization as the lawn greens up
- Spring pre-emergent for summer weeds
- Start chinch bug scouting as temperatures climb
- Raise mowing height heading into summer
Summer (June–September)
- Check your city’s summer fertilizer restrictions; many Palm Beach County cities limit nitrogen and phosphorus
- Peak chinch bug and webworm season
- Mow high and water early in the morning
- Watch for gray leaf spot after heavy rain
Fall (October–November)
- Fall pre-emergent for cool-season weeds
- Potassium to build stress and disease resistance
- Large patch risk begins as nights cool
- Reduce irrigation as rains taper
Winter (December–February)
- Growth slows, but South Florida St. Augustine rarely goes fully dormant
- Avoid heavy nitrogen in cool weather
- Water only as needed
- Scout for large patch
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: amendments as needed for pH and 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 and nutrition.
- After-care plan: watering schedule, first-mow timing, and text support.
We handle HOA/gated access, COIs, and coordinated delivery windows. Need help choosing between cultivars? Compare CitraBlue, Floratam, and the broader St. Augustine overview.
Care basics for new St. Augustine sod
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 and 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 warm, rainy spells. Water mornings only.
- Pests: Monitor for chinch bugs in sunny, stressed edges; treat early.
Want hands-off establishment? Our concierge sod care covers the first weeks, and our first-mow guide explains when new St. Augustine is ready to cut.
St. Augustine sod: quick answers
Which St. Augustine variety is best for my yard?
For full, all-day sun, Floratam is the most vigorous option. For part shade or a history of sugarcane mosaic virus, Palmetto or CitraBlue are stronger picks. If you want a lower-growing lawn that needs less mowing, look at ProVista.
How much shade can St. Augustine handle?
Shade-tolerant cultivars like Palmetto, CitraBlue and ProVista do well with roughly 4–6 hours of direct sun. Floratam wants 6–8+ hours. Below about 4 hours, no lawn grass holds up long term.
What height should I mow St. Augustine?
Generally 3.5–4″ for Floratam and 2.5–4″ for most other cultivars. Mowing too low is one of the most common causes of thinning. See Florida mowing heights.
How often should I water new St. Augustine sod?
Frequently at first, then taper as roots knit in. The right schedule depends on the season; see our new sod watering schedule.
How much does St. Augustine sod installation cost?
It depends on square footage, cultivar, access and how much removal and soil prep is needed. See sod installation cost in South Florida for current ranges, or request a quote.
Can St. Augustine be grown from seed?
Not practically. St. Augustine is established from sod (or plugs for small repairs), which is why new lawns are sodded.
My HOA is asking me to re-sod. What should I do?
Start with our guide: My HOA is asking me to re-sod. For community-wide projects, see HOA sod installation.
Palm Beach County
Where we install St. Augustine
We handle St. Augustine projects throughout Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Boynton Beach. See the full list of cities on our sod installation service areas page.
St. Augustine — South Florida’s Classic Lawn
Floratam, Palmetto, CitraBlue or ProVista, matched to your sun, shade and soil and installed with proper prep. Tell us about your yard and we’ll recommend the right cultivar.