Benefits Of Having Grass In Your Yard

There are numerous benefits to growing grass in your yard for both the environment and for the people that live in your home.

A thick, healthy lawn is beneficial to the environment because it helps to filter dust, toxins and carbon dioxide from the air. It reduces soil erosion from water runoff and improves soil conditions. And surprisingly, it also helps to cool down the temperature.

Looking at the soothing green of grass relaxes the eye muscles, reduces tension and calms the mind. There is a reason walking barefoot on grass feels great - it causes the body to release endorphins (feel-good hormones). It also helps to stabilize the circadian rhythm of the body, giving you a restful sleep.

St. Augustine Grass: An Excellent Choice for Ennis, Texas Lawns

St. Augustine grass is popular in other warm climates, such as Hawaii, Mexico and Australia. This might give you a sense of why it does well in Ennis. It tolerates extreme summer heat in almost any type of soil, provided it is well-drained. It is a hardy grass, with broad, coarse-textured blades. It keeps its pleasant blue-green color even in the blazing sun. It is perfect for a great-looking lawn in this part of Texas and requires less maintenance than other varieties.

Choosing the grass for your yard or do-it-yourself landscaping project is an important decision. You want it to look healthy and lush throughout the season, yet allow you to spend more time enjoying it than maintaining it. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of St. Augustine grass that can help you decide if it is right for your outdoor living area:

Advantages

• Gorgeous light green to dark green turf
• Dense turf that helps to choke out weeds
• Compatible with most soil types
• Very tolerant to shade (unlike Bermuda grass)
• Remains green in soil temperatures warmer than 60 degrees
• Holds up well under normal family foot traffic

Disadvantages

• Course blades that may be less attractive than fine blades
• Poor tolerance where there is heavy foot traffic
• Low drought tolerance
• Loses color without irrigation
• Damaged by severe winter weather
• Can fall victim to insects and fungus

Tips For A Successful Lawn With St. Augustine Grass

It is a challenge to grow St. Augustine grass from seed, so the best way to get it started is by using sod. If you are covering or patching a small area, and you have even a bit of a green thumb, you will manage easily. For a larger project, our team of professional landscapers can take care of the installation for you. At our garden center, you will find that our staff is very friendly, and happy to answer your questions about having your sod delivered or installed. We can help you with all aspects of your landscaping project.

There are two ways you can purchase St. Augustine grass from our garden center:

• By the pallet - for larger areas, one pallet covers approximately 450 square feet.
• By the square - this is perfect for a touch-up, such as filling in a hole that your dog cannot resist, or a small area that now has more shade or sunshine.

Irrigation

St. Augustine grass does not always require daily irrigation, which is great when you are concerned about water conservation. The best way to water is only when the grass needs it. You will know because the blades turn a bluish color when it gets too dry. Or, when walking on the grass, you will be signaled it is time to water when the grass does not immediately spring back up where you stepped.

Allow the water to soak down to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. This encourages deeper root growth and your grass will survive longer between watering, especially during a period of drought.

Mowing

Most varieties of St. Augustine grass do best when you set your lawnmower blades to 3 or 4 inches. For a clean cut, sharp blades are very important. Dull blades will shred the grass, leaving it with brown color on the tips.

Care and Protection

This species of grass needs approximately 4 to 5 lbs of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft annually. Since it susceptible to a certain strain of fungus, it also requires applications of fungicide. We carry all of the supplies you need to maintain a healthy lawn. Ask any of our staff members in the garden center to explain how to apply fertilizer and fungicide on your lawn.

Come Visit Us At The Garden Center

Keep in mind what we said earlier - we can help you with all of your lawn care needs whether you plan to do it yourself, or you want a professional landscape crew to come in and do the work for you. We can install the sprinkler system and lay down the sod. Either way, bring us your questions! Since 2004 when we established our landscaping company and nursery, we have developed a reputation for our horticultural expertise and for our excellent, courteous customer service.

While you are at the garden center, we are happy to show you our collection of trees, plants, grasses and landscaping supplies. You will find that we have everything you need to fulfill your landscape design-build. Not quite sure if St. Augustine grass would be the best choice for your Ennis, Texas lawn? We will provide you with the information and tips necessary to make a decision. Give us a call or come on down and see us in person.