How To Get St Augustine Grass To Grow Back
St. Augustine grass is one of those warm-season favorites that looks lush and forgiving—until a brown patch or bare spot appears. If you’re asking “How to get St Augustine grass to grow back,” you’re in the right place. I’ve nursed my own lawn through drought, chinch bug attacks, and fungal scares, and I’ll share practical, step-by-step advice that actually works. Let’s get your lawn thriving again.
First, assess what’s wrong
Before you rush into treatments, take a good look. St. Augustine recovers differently depending on the cause of the damage. Walk your lawn and ask:
- Are the brown areas dry and crisp, or soft and mushy?
- Is the damage spreading or isolated to patches?
- Are there insects, mold, or fungal signs (blackened stolons, white spores, etc.)?
- When did the decline begin—after drought, cold snap, heavy rain, or recent lawn work?
These clues tell you whether the grass is dormant, diseased, insect-damaged, or physically removed.
Encourage natural regrowth from stolons
St. Augustine spreads by above-ground stolons (runners), so healthy lawn nearby can often fill small gaps. Here’s how to give it the best chance:
- Water deeply and infrequently—about 1 inch of water per week, applied in the morning. Overwatering encourages disease; underwatering stops stolon growth.
- Raise mowing height to 3.5–4 inches. Taller blades shade stolons and promote lateral spread.
- Avoid heavy traffic on damaged areas so stolons can root and spread without being crushed.
- Remove dead grass and light thatch (more than 1/2 inch of thatch can prevent regrowth). Dethatch gently with a rake or vertical mower if necessary.
- Fertilize cautiously during the growing season (late spring through summer) with a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer—follow label rates and your soil test recommendations.
In my yard, when I gave areas a consistent deep weekly watering and let the mower sit a notch higher for a month, the lawn filled in from the edges much faster than I expected.
When to repair with plugs or sod
If patches are larger than a few square feet or plenty of healthy grass isn’t nearby, you’ll have better luck with mechanical repair:
- Plugs: Quick, inexpensive, and effective. Purchase St. Augustine plugs or make your own from healthy turf. Plant plugs every 12–18 inches in the patch, press soil around them, and keep soil moist until established. Expect several weeks to a few months to fill in.
- Sod: The fastest fix. Use sod or sod strips to cover large damaged areas immediately. Keep new sod watered daily at first, then taper to deep watering.
- Sprigs: Similar to plugs but lighter—sprigs are stolons with roots used for larger restorations. Best done during warm weather when stolons actively grow.
My favorite approach for a moderate-size dead patch is plugs in a grid pattern—cheap, low-maintenance, and it looks natural as it fills in.
Treat pests and diseases promptly
Two common culprits that prevent St. Augustine from growing back are chinch bugs and fungal diseases like brown patch or take-all root rot. Here’s how to handle them:
- If you find tiny insects, lace-like blades, or rapid yellowing, call your local extension service for identification or use a soap flush test to detect chinch bugs.
- For confirmed chinch bugs, insecticidal treatments labeled for St. Augustine can help. Follow directions carefully and consider professional help for severe infestations.
- For fungal issues, improve drainage and reduce evening irrigation. Fungicides may be necessary for aggressive outbreaks, but cultural controls (proper mowing, watering, and aeration) are often the best long-term defense.
- Soil tests are invaluable if root rot or nutrient deficiency is suspected—adjust pH and nutrients based on results.
“Treat the cause, not just the symptom. Too often we replant without fixing drainage, pests, or soil imbalance, and the problem comes right back.”
Timing and seasonal tips
Timing matters with warm-season grasses like St. Augustine. The best time to encourage regrowth, plant plugs, or lay sod is when soil temperatures are consistently above 70°F—typically late spring through summer in most regions.
- Avoid heavy renovation in early spring or fall when the grass is not actively growing.
- In frost-prone areas, protect recovering grass from cold snaps—cover small patches if hard freeze threatens.
- Don’t fertilize heavily late in the fall; new growth before winter can be damaged by cold.
Maintenance checklist to keep it coming back
Once your St. Augustine starts recovering, keep it healthy with a simple routine:
- Water deep and infrequent. Morning-only irrigation helps prevent disease.
- Mow high and often enough to remove no more than one-third of blade height at a time.
- Aerate compacted areas in late spring or early summer to encourage root growth.
- Topdress thin spots with a mix of topsoil and compost to improve rooting.
- Follow soil test recommendations for fertilization and liming.
Final thoughts from my garden
When my backyard suffered a patchy winter dieback, I tried letting it regrow naturally first, then plugged stubborn areas after a month. Within two seasons the lawn looked fuller than before. Patience, correct diagnosis, and consistent care are the three ingredients that get St. Augustine to bounce back.
If you stay observant, treat the underlying problem, and give the lawn the right conditions—water, light, nutrients, and space—your St. Augustine will almost always grow back. If you’re unsure about pests or disease, don’t hesitate to contact your county extension office; their advice is tailored to your region and can save you time and money.
Happy gardening—watch those stolons spread, and enjoy the green comeback.
