Everything you need to know about installing bitter blue St. Augustine sod
Bitter Blue, a variation of St. Augustine Floratam, is a popular grass used often on home landscapes. It is well adapted to the warm, humid areas like in southwest Florida. Bitter blue sod is well loved for its beautiful dark blue green color and it’s ability to handle both the heat and shade in areas like Tarpon Springs and Dunedin Florida. Read on for a deep dive into Bitter Blue and learn why it’s a great option for your home or work site.
Fast Facts about bitter blue sod
- Fine, dense texture
- Dark blue color
- Good in shady areas
- Ideal mowing height is 3-4 inches
- Great option for home or work sites
- Holds its color well in droughts
Installing bitter blue sod
Bitter blue establishes quickly and makes a great lawn from sod. It can be started from sod, springs, or plugs. Before laying bitter blue, we recommend removing all roots, rocks and other debris. We suggest removing vegetation using a non-selective herbicide. Before installing, a final grading can be done to ensure the soil is completely moistened and the sod can be established.
Watering
In Florida, we always recommend watering in the early morning hours. Mowing too late in the evening can put your lawn at risk of root disease. Bitter blue can handle longer periods of time without rain or irrigation, but good moisture will help your lawn keep its color. If your grass is looking darker or the blades are curled and wilted, it’s time to water or irrigate.
Mowing bitter blue
A big bonus of using bitter blue sod is its growth rate. Bitter blue grows slower than many varieties in Florida, meaning less mowing for you. The ideal mowing height is 3-4 inches.
During the winter months, bitter blue may dull in appearance. Many homeowners and lawn professionals may think it looks dead and be tempted to mow it. We do not recommend this. St. Augustine spreads by stolons, and mowing can scalp them and effect the deep root system. This time of year we suggest mowing less often, for this reason. You can water every 1-2 months at this point, depending on the temperatures in the cooler months. This is a good time to make sure pick up any debris.
In the hot, humid, Florida summers, mow your grass every 5-7 days to keep that 3-4 inch height. If drought conditions exist, mow less often.
While you certainly can remove the grass clippings after mowing bitter blue, we recommend leaving them to decompose and become a natural fertilizer.
Conclusion
Selecting a sod variety that performs well in Florida is important if you want a beautiful, healthy, and thriving lawn that can withstand the environmental factors of Florida. If you’re looking for a grass for your home or work site that can handle the shade, Bitter Blue is an excellent variety to consider.
If you want more information about how you can install and use Bitter Blue call or text our sod experts. You can learn more about how to measure your yard or site and use our sod wizard to get started today.