Just moved into a new house with St. Augustine grass (used to have bermuda, I acknowledge that bermuda is a superior turfgrass but I'm also not going to replace my lawn).

The yard is currently in excellent shape and I want to keep it that way. What type of fertilizer should I use on the St. Augustine to keep it healthy? I'm in Dallas if that matters.

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Just moved into a new house with St. Augustine grass (used to have bermuda, I acknowledge that bermuda is a superior turfgrass but I'm also not going to replace my lawn).

The yard is currently in excellent shape and I want to keep it that way. What type of fertilizer should I use on the St. Augustine to keep it healthy? I'm in Dallas if that matters.

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Would 2 pounds of cattle manure per square foot work?

started using Lesco from the John Deere landscaping close to my neighborhood this year. The stuff is awesome. Highly recommend it. My FIL uses it as well and his yard is immaculate.

I go with the TAMU textbook 3-1-2 ratio.

http://publications.tamu.edu/TURF_LANDSCAPE/PUB_turf_Maintaining%20St.%20Augustine%20Grass%20Lawns.pdf

You have to get the soil tested by the Ag Extension office to determine what type of nutrients your soil needs. It's cheap and will make a huge difference. Once you identify the type of fertilizer, apply it according to the major holidays to keep yourself on schedule:

Start at Easter
Apply again at Memorial Day
4th of July
Labor Day
Winterize at Halloween

Never use a weed and feed. Those should be two separate things.

Balan or a similar pre-emergent in February, in early Summer, and again before the early fall weeds appear.

http://publications.tamu.edu/TURF_LANDSCAPE/PUB_turf_Maintaining%20St.%20Augustine%20Grass%20Lawns.pdf

This is my Lawn Bible. My St. Augustine has exploded the last two years.

I'm going to switch to Lesco stuff too. Their retailers are a long way from my place though.

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I'm sure you will get some differing opinions on this but I follow Randy Lemmon's schedule.

http://www.randylemmon.com/lawns/fertilize.html

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All of Randy's stuff is Gulf Coast oriented -- may work in Dallas, but there are likely some better resources for Dallas folks.

Good point. I missed that in the OP.

Ok, what is a good brand 3-1-2 fertilizer? And where can you get it in B/CS?

I buy a Lesco 15-5-10 (3-1-2 ratio) from Home Depot

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I'm sure you will get some differing opinions on this but I follow Randy Lemmon's schedule.

http://www.randylemmon.com/lawns/fertilize.html

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All of Randy's stuff is Gulf Coast oriented -- may work in Dallas, but there are likely some better resources for Dallas folks.

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Randy now is on a DFW station and he has confirmed that the schedule is still absolutely valid. The dates may slip by a few weeks due to a possible longer cold season BUT the schedule os accurate as far as what to apply.

My understanding is the HD Lesco is not the same as the Lesco at John Deere. TTFWIW

Have no idea, but I can't imagine there are too many magic beans in one slow release 3-1-2 vs. another slow release 3-1-2. I've just had plenty of success with the one I've been buying from HD for many years. I'm sure I've occassionally mixed in some non-Lesco 3-1-2 at certain times if it wasn't in stock, etc.

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My understanding is the HD Lesco is not the same as the Lesco at John Deere. TTFWIW

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It's not.

Thanks for all the responses.

I like that holiday schedule. Easy to remember.

Started finding Lesco at HD this year, too. Awesome stuff.

HD doesn't have Lesco fert. Anywhere else?

nm
HD had Vigaro 15-5-10 so I bought that. Prob pretty close to same quality.

Scotts fert is very good as well.

I always liked anything with Atrazine. Harder to find now but its still out there.

I've used the Fertilome Greenmaker (18-0-6) slow release and have been very happy with it. It's got some sulfur to help with the alkaline soils, and iron to keep iron levels in line.

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I always liked anything with Atrazine. Harder to find now but its still out there.

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I can guarantee your trees hate the atrazine.

Atrazine kills trees.

I hate Scott's. I get mine from the feed store.

I watered mine to death

Agree wholeheartedly with the 3-1-2 nitrogen/phosphorous/potash blend. But why buy a 15-5-10 and pay for all that filler?
Buy a 21-7-14 or a 24-8-16 from Producers Cooperative and get value. Do the math.
We sell it for $17/lb bag in NE Texas.

I work at John Deere Landscapes and can say that the Lesco fertilizers available at HD is a great product, but you're better off coming to a JDL branch and getting our Lesco fertilizer instead. The 28-3-10 ratio this year has yielded amazing results, even with the saturation we experienced in DFW.

You guys that come into our stores, curious to see which locations you're visiting.

What is Neil Sperry 's handle on Texags?

I go to he Keller location Great place to pick up all I need. BTW how much is Celsius running? I have a nice mix of dallys (sp?) And sedge in my yard that I have not been able to get under control yet

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I go to he Keller location Great place to pick up all I need. BTW how much is Celsius running? I have a nice mix of dallys (sp?) And sedge in my yard that I have not been able to get under control yet

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Well I'll start by saying that it's an agency product, meaning that Bayer sets the price. That means across the board you can't override the cost toake it cheaper. The current price is $93, but as you know, for residential use it will last forever. The mix rate is so small that a bottle will last you a long time. For applicators, it does not last as long because they treat lawns all day every day. It is one of the top 3 herbicides we sell on a quantity basis because the results are undeniable. The guys (and gals) at Keller are good people.

Glad I seen this thread. Just stopped by Producers today and picked up some of the Brazos Best. I used it a long time ago, and it didn't seem to work well, so I used Scotts instead. After getting a soil test, I've decided to give Brazos Best another try. Seems I'm at a point where only parts of the yard grows well.

I've never heard of the holiday schedule to fertilize, but seems like it would be easy for me to remember, so why not. lol

A lot of north Texas soils need only nitrogen. The only way to know for sure is a soil test.

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A lot of north Texas soils need only nitrogen. The only way to know for sure is a soil test.

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I live in Tyler, have done the soil analysis, and I only need nitrogen.

Get that grass wet before fertilizing and water pretty good thereafter. You've been warned.