Raleigh St. Augustine

About Raleigh St. Augustine

Raleigh St. Augustine grass was released by the North Carolina Experiment Station in 1980 as a cold tolerant, SAD resistant strain (St. Augustine Decline). Raleigh has a finer texture than Flora tam and develops a dense turf much like the Texas common strain of St. Augustine grass. Raleigh is also more shade tolerant than Flora tam.

Raleigh St. Augustine has a medium leaf size. Although it is the most shade tolerant warm season grass, Raleigh still requires 3 to 4 hours of direct sun light. 2 to 3 slow release nitrogen source fertilizer applications per year with a 3-1-2 ratio fertilizer is necessary for a green healthy lawn. Ideal mowing height is 2 to 3 inches.

Raleigh needs to be watered 1 in every week during the fall, winter and spring. During the extreme heat of summer grass needs to be watered 1 in every 2-3 days as needed. Potential disease problems are gray leaf spot in the summer and brown patch in the fall. Both of these diseases are enhanced by over watering and fertilization. These diseases can be prevented by an application of fungicide.

Turf Characteristics