Turf & Ornamental Division

COMMON TURF GRASSES

ST AUGUSTINE

The most commonly used turf grass in Florida.  St Augustine grass comes in a number of varieties.

• Advantages

• Good Shade Tolerance
• Good salt tolerance
• Establishes quickly from sod
• Dark green color

EMPIRE ZOYSIA

Drought tolerant, with a beautiful green color, soft texture and lower maintenance needs

• Advantages

• Requires less Nitrogen
• Holds green color longer
• Low growing and dense
• Chinch bug resistant

The “Job” of Turfgrass In Our Environment

Functional Benefits

Aesthetic Benefits

• Reduces soil erosion
• Reduces leaching
• Reduces surface runoff
• Dust stabilization
• Heat Dissipation
• Noise Abatement
• Glare Reduction

• Quality of life
• Mental health
• Safe play area
• Community pride
• Increased property values
• Compliments and ties together the rest of the landscape

TURF GRASS DISEASES

• Usually occurs from Fall to Spring
• 1 to 3” diameter of damaged grass contain spotted lesions on grass blades
• Commonly found in lawns that are nitrogen deficient

• Occurs from late spring to early fall
• Symptoms include small sized spots that are green to brown in color.
• Produces spores in the center of the spot, giving them a velvety-gray appearance.

• Usually observed between late spring and early summer, especially during periods of heavy rainfall.
• St Augustine grass, under stress, is more susceptible to disease development.
• The disease is very similar in pattern on the lawn and symptoms to that of Gray Leaf Spot—but management

• Prevalent in Florida.
• Usually occurs when temperatures are below 80 and  extended periods of high moisture (irrigation, rainfall and high humidity). 
• Grass is usually killed in patches that can expand to several feet in diameter.

TURF DAMAGING INSECTS

CHINCH BUGS

WHITE GRUBS

SOD WEB-WORMS

MOLE CRICKETS

FIRE ANTS

• About 1/5 inch long, black with white patches on wings
• Most devastating pest to St Augustine grass
• Sucks plant juices causing injury

• Attack all turfgrass species in Florida
• Feeds on root systems of turf causing serious damage
• Damaged grass can be rolled back like a carpet

• Larvae are greenish with black spots
• Worms feed on grass blades causing damage within two weeks of hatching
• Adults are dingy brown moths and do not feed on grass blades

• 1 inch long, light brown, well adapted for tunneling through soil
• Several species are prevalent in Florida

• Stings, does not bite
• Stings may cause serious injury, even death to people, pets and livestock

4274 Independence Court    Sarasota    FL  34234

Phone: 866 848 1100                                  Email: info@pestguardtermite.com