By Brad Wier. Some Texas native plants — including St. Augustine grass — are poorly adapted to life in our corner of the state. The ongoing drought is no joke for St. Augustine grass. Often scoffed at for being a water hog, it’s technically native to Texas — a cosmopolitan species with a native range along beaches, shores, lagoons, marshes and roadside ditches all around the Atlantic (including Mexico and the Lone Star State).
And sure, with frequent water from gulf moisture its carpetlike texture could be the lushest, greenest and most Texas-appropriate turf available.
But here at the edge of the Hill Country, where an inch of water isn’t falling from the skies every week, it’s a good reminder that “Texas natives” aren’t always appropriate in every corner of the state. St. Augustine gets a particularly bad rap in part because it’s one of the thirstier warm-season turf grasses.
As every San Antonio homeowner growing St. Augustine already knows, in addition to water, the mowing, fertilizing and weeding requirements are daunting to keep up with during the warm season, especially without refreshing onshore gulf breezes.
In addition, St. Augustine is second to none for harboring chinch bugs, army worms, sod web worms, grub worms and mole crickets. There are also countless fungi that call this plant home. But the benefits don’t stop there! St. Augustine also provides excellent mosquito habitat (so you never feel alone in your yard).
Once-a-week watering can keep St. Augustine alive in the right settings, though not necessarily green. In this sixth year of drought, many homeowners and commercial landscapers are converting to easier alternatives — both native and non-native — from sedge and buffalo grass to frogfruit and bunchgrasses. And for shaded settings where St. Augustine does best, many are turning to resilient perennials.
So, if your landscape is showing dead patches and your landscaper is recommending re-sodding the existing lawn with St. Augustine this spring — choose wisely this April Fool’s Day.
Despite recent rains, the drought is continuing. And during Stage 3, replacing turf is not eligible for watering variances, meaning any re-sodded lawns have to be watered in by hand.
Instead, take it as the perfect opportunity to try out any of the many hardy perennials that are better adapted. Visit GardenStyleSA for more options.
Brad Wier is a SAWS Conservation Planner. Years in South Texas landscaping and public horticulture gave him a lasting enthusiasm for native plants that don’t die when sprinklers — and gardeners — break down. He’d rather save time and water for kayaking and tubing. He is a former kilt model, and hears hummingbirds.
