LSU AgCenter ranks it the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass. TurnKey Grass lays it across River Ridge with our own crews, and for shaded lots it’s usually where we start the conversation.
St. Augustine GrassRiver Ridge
St. Augustine Sod in River Ridge
St. Augustine sod in River Ridge fits two things you’ll find here: near-neutral Schriever clay across most of the area, and lawns that lose part of the day to trees.
St. Augustine for your River Ridge yard
Parish
Jefferson ParishBest for
Shaded front yards, oak-lined lotsPallet coverage
About 450 sq ft eachEstimates
FREE on all servicesLicensed & Insured, Best Price GuaranteeFREE Estimates4 Grass Varieties14 Metro Cities
01 · River Ridge
Will St. Augustine grow under your trees?
Up to a point. LSU says St. Augustine performs best in full sun and tolerates moderate shade, but even it “won’t grow well in dense shade.” Most turfgrasses want 4 to 6 hours of full sun, and a live oak with spreading branches can cast shade deep enough to beat any lawn grass.
A few habits buy you more room under a canopy:
- 01
Mow higher in the shade
Mow higher in the shade: LSU suggests 3 to 3.5 inches there, against 2.5 to 3 inches in sun, to give the blades more leaf area.
- 02
Feed shaded turf lightly
Feed shaded turf lightly: LSU caps each feeding of shaded turf at 0.5 pound of nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet.
- 03
Let light in
Let light in: An older LSU publication notes that thinning trees or limbing them up to 6 to 8 feet lets more light reach the grass.
- 04
Know when to stop
Know when to stop: Where the ground under a tree gets almost no direct sun, sod won’t hold, and we’ll tell you so on the visit.
02 · River Ridge
How does St. Augustine handle River Ridge soil?
LSU puts St. Augustine’s ideal pH at about 6.5, inside a workable range of 6 to 7.5. That lines up well with one River Ridge soil and less well with the other.
The clay side has a second catch. LSU lists St. Augustine among the grasses hit hardest by winter turf decline in wet, poorly drained soil, and Schriever stays saturated near the surface from December through April. Good grade at install is the best defence, which is why our River Ridge sod installation prep starts with the low spots.
| River Ridge soil | Surface pH | St. Augustine fit | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schriever clay (most of the area) | About 7.3 | Inside the workable range | Take-all root rot favors soil pH above 6.5 and long rainy spells. Wet winter soil also invites winter decline. |
| Cancienne silt loam (natural levee) | About 5.7 | Below the range until limed | LSU notes many yards need lime. Let a soil test set the rate. |
03 · River Ridge
Which pests and diseases show up first?
- 01
Southern chinch bugs
LSU calls the southern chinch bug primarily a St. Augustine problem. It likes thick thatch, full sun and hot, dry weather, runs 3 to 4 generations a year in Louisiana and does most of its damage from mid to late summer. LSU’s check is a soap flush, 1 tablespoon of lemon-scented soap in a gallon of water, and it recommends treating once you count 25 to 30 chinch bugs in a 1-foot square.
- 02
Large patch
This fungus shows up mostly in spring and fall, when nights run 60 to 75 F. On St. Augustine, look for a yellowish cast at the edge of the patch. Water early in the morning and keep nitrogen at recommended rates and timing.
- 03
Take-all root rot
It can look a lot like chinch bug damage, so check for bugs before you treat anything. Extended rain and soil pH above 6.5 both favor it, and River Ridge’s Schriever clay has a typical surface reading of about 7.3.
Our summer care tips for St. Augustine cover the hot months in more detail.
04 · River Ridge
A St. Augustine care calendar for River Ridge
Weighing it against a sun grass? Compare Bermuda and St. Augustine side by side, or look at zoysia for River Ridge, the next most shade-tolerant option.
- 01
April
April: first feeding, about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.
- 02
June
June: second feeding at the same rate.
- 03
August
August: an optional third, keeping the year at 3 pounds or less.
- 04
All season
All season: mow at 2.5 to 3 inches in sun and never take more than a third of the blade.
- 05
Winter
Winter: St. Augustine has the lowest cold tolerance of the four grasses we lay. River Ridge is zone 9b, with average extreme lows of 25 to 30 F, so hold off on late-season feeding.
Get St. Augustine laid on your River Ridge lot
Tell us where the shade falls and where water sits after rain. We’ll check both on a free visit, recommend whether your lot calls for St. Augustine, and quote the prep. See the full St. Augustine sod service or our River Ridge lawn overview, then request your estimate.
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I recently had St. Augustine Grass installed by their team yesterday, and I’m amazed at the transformation. My lawn is now thick, healthy, and beautiful. TurnKey Grass’ service exceeded my expectations.
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I can’t thank TurnKey Grass enough for their St. Augustine Grass. My front yard has never looked better. Their service was impeccable from start to finish. They provided expert advice on maintenance and care, making it a seamless experience. I will probably hire them again If I needed to.
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