Question
i live in Orlando Florida, i have floritain sod i would like to know how to maintain the yard "when and what type of fertilizers, and how to keep the weeds out of the yard

Answer
FLORALAWN and FLORITAM are 'the most widely produced and used St. Augustinegrass' in your state according to the folks at University of Florida.  They are easily shocked by a Cold Wave and damaged badly when temps dip into the 20's, but they also top the list of the most drought-tolerant St. Augustine Grasses.  FLORALAWN and FLORITAM will grow you a beautiful Lawn ... IF you don't have Shade.  If you have Shade, please let me know so that we can go over your other options.

Now, any instructions you get, Craig, about growing Grass in Florida is going to be packed with a lot of warnings about chinchbugs, diseases and all kinds of Lawn problems.  I can help you with all of these.  In fact, I can tell you how to keep from getting them.

But I have to warn you that this step begins with your promise not to put down any 'pre-emergent weed control' or a 'grubkiller' or 'chinchbug killer' or 'fungicide' WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER.

Because these are almost always WORSE than the problems you're trying to solve.  Just because they are huge commercial successes does not mean they are good for you.

Is Coca-Cola good for you?

No.  But I'll bet you have some in your refrigerator right now anyway, if you're like most Americans.

Thing is, last I checked, no one was linking Coke to Alzheimer's and Parkinsons Disease, various Cancers, or any of the other negatives that go with those heavy chemical treatments.

Still with me?

St Augustine Grass has thick, dense roots that build into Thatch if not tended properly.  Thatch is at the root of MOST problems with St Augustine.  It provides a hiding place for Chinchbugs.  It binds chemically with insecticides and weakens them.  Among other things.

You get Thatch when dead plant matter and debris build up.  In a healthy Lawn in a warm Southern states like Florida, with healthy Grass and Soil, Grass clippings and dead roots break down naturally practically overnight.  Microbes work 24/7 to make that happen.  So anything you do to make them happy and healthy is going to contribute to the speedy breakdown of Thatch.  And anything you do to make them uncomfortable or sick is going to promote Thatch.

Mulching with Humus, Compost and/or Manure is microbe-friendly.  Nitrogen fertilizer, on the other hand, gets your Grass growing too fast for the Nitrogen Cycle to keep up.  Plus it's a Salt, so it does a real number on the microbes that break down Thatch.  Instead of covering your Floritam with those nasty powders, build up your Soil with a topdressing of something like aged Manure -- it's PACKED with NATURAL Nitrogen.  So is Bloodmeal.  Alfalfa meal.  Milorganite.

Chemicals like Weedkiller, Grubkiller, Fungus Killer, etc., turn your Turf into a tizzy.  These things just assault the flora and fauna in your Soil.  Grubkiller won't just kill Grubs.  It's a pesticide, and it will kill Ladybugs, Butterflies, even Earthworms.  Leave your Lawn
alone; say no to chemicals.

If you don't have one yet, get a mulching lawnmower to chop up your
Grass clippings before spraying them back on the Lawn.  They'll decompose 10x faster if you break them down.  Leaving the clippings would be a good move.  Try it, you'll like it.

A thick, strong Turf is the BEST way to win the war against Weeds no matter where you live.  Healthy St Augustine is tough enough to out-grow any Weed you put next to it.  Chinchbugs are probably not going to be a problem for you ever, because your Floritam is Chinchbug-resistant, and there are just too many other places your local Chinchbugs can call HOME without a lot of trouble.

One thing people with St Augustine tend to do is mow it too low.  Even landscapers will cut this Grass down to 2 inches during the growing season.

The problem with this is that roots respond by growing shallow.  You need to use EXTRA fertilizer and EXTRA water to offset this.  Constantly mowing reduces density and vigor, which is an open invitation for Weeds and pest problems.

Instead, for best results, mow at 3 to 4 inches.  You'll encourage longer, deeper roots.  Make sure mower blades are razor-sharp -- dull blades hack off the tips of the Grass and damage it.  Ouch!

There's also a right way, and a wrong way, to Water St Augustine Lawns.  Correct watering means you ONLY WATER WHEN THE GRASS NEEDS IT, preferably in the early morning, between 4:00am and 6:00am.   You'll not only have healthier Grass, but Thatch will build up more slowly.

For now, I would get started and pick up some Organic top dressings -- Humus, Manure, Compost.  Pick up a Birdbath and some Birdfeeders to invite your local Bird population over and control unwanted bugs.  Check the mower and get the blades sharpened if needed.

For the next few weeks, watch your Grass grow -- and make note of any discolorations or problems that might turn up.  After all, it's easier to prevent these Lawn problems than to solve them once they're up and running.

Sounds simple?  It is!  You do not have to spend a lot of money to have a first class picture perfect Lawn.  The Lawn chemicals people would like you to spend lavishly, but you do not need to do that.  When it comes to your Lawn, less really is more.  Thanks for writing.

L.I.G.