St Augustine Saturated with Water

[Big Lou]

Need your help regarding our St. Augustine grass.

With the record setting rains patches of the St. Augustine in a lower area of our lawn is saturated and suffering. I am hoping you can provide me with the proper guidance. The grass is easily pulled up. I take that to me the root system is compromised. There are about eight patches effected. Some not as bad as others. Truly looking forward to your guidance.

 

[Chuck]

As long as this heavy rain event we are having lasts there isn't anything we can do. I haven't been able to do anything in my garden for almost a month except pick a bunch of cucumbers and peaches. Your grass is pretty tough and if/when it finally stops raining and dries out will be the time to access any damage.

 

[Big Lou]

Thanks

 

[marlingardener]

Lou, let your grass alone until things dry out a bit (hopefully within my lifetime!). Chuck is right--there is absolutely nothing we can do right now except put on waders and hope for the best. St. Aug is pretty tough, and even though you can pull up chunks, and think that the root system is compromised, it may not be. Most likely it is suffering from chlorosis, which is the yellowing and is caused by a superabundance of water, among other things. When things start to dry out, give your grass a gentle feeding of a high-nitrogen fertilizer (by gentle, I mean at half the recommended rate) .

 

[Big Lou]

Sounds like a plan. I use Scotts Max. Is that okay?

 

[marlingardener]

Lou, I don't know. I'll have to look Scotts Max up to see its components.

 

[Big Lou]

Thanks for your help.

 

[Chuck]

Lou, I don't know. I'll have to look Scotts Max up to see its components.

Its a 22-2-2 mix. Perfect for burning up whats left of the root system.

 

[grouie]

Is there no way to let out water from the lawn. Just a suggestion - you can create a culvert in the middle of the lawn for the water to drain out. or even around it and later filled up when rain stops completely.

 

[Big Lou]

Its a 22-2-2 mix. Perfect for burning up whats left of the root system.

Well that eliminates Max!

 

[Big Lou]

Is there no way to let out water from the lawn. Just a suggestion - you can create a culvert in the middle of the lawn for the water to drain out. or even around it and later filled up when rain stops completely.

A French drain may help.

 

[Big Lou]

I posted on Neil Sperry's (Dallas area horticultural expert) FB page. He stated the problem may be Take-All Root Rot. He also suggested I take samples to a nursery for review.

 

[marlingardener]

Lou, before you go to expense and effort, remember that this is a very unusual year for Texas rainfall.
We have lived here on the farm for eight years. The first year was much like this one--water in the bar ditches, puddles everywhere, and our pond (stock tank) up and over its banks. There have been two instances of this in eight years, which hardly merits drastic measures to contain or drain the excess water.
If you think a French drain or deepening a drainage area is practical, go ahead. You know your yard better than I do!

 

[Big Lou]

Not to worry, nothing now. Far to soggy to do anything in the yard. I am one to really think things out. We're going to ride these storms out then evaluate our options. Most worry now is with the problematic grass spots. We lost the entire area of St Augustine a few years back. If the problem is Take-All Root Rot the specific diseased grass and dirt will have to be removed.

Thanks.

 

[Chuck]

Well that eliminates Max!

These heavy rains are probably a blessing in disguise for your lawn and gardens. You have a beautiful place BTW. I would surmise that for years they have been on a chemical diet and during all of those years different types of mineral salts have been building up and building up to where there is little if any organic matter, micro-nutrients or microbial life left in your soil. These floods we have been having have leached out all of these chemical residues leaving you with a terrific platform to begin a completely organic program. It will not be all that expensive nor will it be easy, but if you do it in a controlled, one step at a time manner you will, guaranteed, end up the envy of the neighborhood. I will be more than happy to guide you through all of the processes but I do not use any chemicals, ever. There is no need and your lawn and gardens will cost less and less to maintain each year and become something not only beautiful but healthy as well..