Our north-Florida backyard has a fairly steep slope... what I call "the
hill". When we moved into our home about four years ago, "the hill"
had a fresh layer of Centipede grass (from sod) growing on it.
However, over the last few years, whenever I get some grass die-out I
quickly get erosion problems. I've backfilled parts of my hill with
some the best Florida "topsoil/black dirt", but for a large section of
the hill it's to no avail. Enter Saint Augustine. With it's deep root
structure, I'm thinking, and hoping, it'll "stick" to the hill much
better than Centipede.

1) Is my thinking correct?

2) And, if so, how will the Saint Augustine "mix" with Centipede? Will
the two varieties look okay mixed or next to each other?

Notes:
- I fertilize the hill once in late spring/early summer with a light
application of 15-0-15.
- The hill gets a mininum of foot traffic.
- The hill gets sunshine all day long.
- The hill doesn't get a lot of supplemental water. I only water it
when things start to get really dry.

Thanks in advance,
Patrick

On 5 Sep 2006 16:54:49 -0700, wrote:

2) And, if so, how will the Saint Augustine "mix" with Centipede? Will
the two varieties look okay mixed or next to each other?

The St Augustine, Charleston will outgrow centipede if it gets enough
water, and works better than centipede in part sun. I prefer
centipede because it doesn't have to be cut quite as often and
requires a bit less water, but if you want something that will
withstand drought conditions and don't mind the seed sprouts (About a
foot tall three days after cutting.) plant bahaia. It is far more
drought tolerant, but once you plant the seed you have it for three
years, since some of the seed may lay dormant for a couple years
before sprouting.

I'd put in a sprinkler line for the hill and keep up the centipede,
but that is just me.

Regards,

Hal Middle Georgia