Quality Second to NOne in the Houston Area

Palmetto St. Augustine: The Proven Solution for Shady Houston Lawns

TPalmetto St. Augustine is the ideal choice for Houston homeowners dealing with the limited sunlight caused by beautiful, mature tree canopies. While standard Raleigh grass often thins out under established oak or pecan trees, Palmetto thrives on just four to five hours of direct sunlight. It features a finer blade than Raleigh, a vibrant deep green color, and a “barefoot softness” that sets it apart visually and texturally. Its massive root system allows it to compete effectively for nutrients and moisture in older neighborhoods like Sugar Land, The Heights, and Memorial. Grown at our family farm in Bay City and delivered fresh to Arcola, Palmetto is a reliable, cold-hardy, and drought-resistant variety that ensures you don’t have to cut down your trees to have a green lawn.

Get a Quote

Ask a Question

Palmetto St. Augustine Table Of Contents

Palmetto St. Augustine: The Proven Solution for Shady Houston Lawns

Comprehensive Video Guide: Why Palmetto is Houston’s Favorite Shade Grass

In this video, Michael Romine explains why Palmetto St. Augustine is the go-to solution for Houston yards where “standard” grass just won’t grow due to limited sunlight.

The Shade Solution: You don’t have to cut down your trees to have a green lawn; Palmetto is specifically designed to contend with limited sunlight.
Finer Aesthetics: Palmetto features a semi-dwarf growth pattern with narrower blades than Raleigh St. Augustine, providing a more refined look.
The “Barefoot” Factor: This variety is exceptionally soft to the touch and maintains a deep, rich green color that stands out in any neighborhood.
Massive Root System: Its aggressive root structure helps the grass gather moisture and nutrients, allowing it to “fight” with large oak or pecan trees for survival.
Sunlight Comparison: While Raleigh needs six to seven hours of sun, Palmetto can thrive on just four to five hours.
Drought Resistance: It offers good drought resistance, staying green longer than other varieties when the Texas weather turns dry.

Palmetto St. Augustine Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification	Michael’s Pro-Tip
Best Use	Shady lawns & older neighborhoods	The “Original Shade Solver” for mature Houston yards.
Sun Requirement	4–5 Hours Direct Sun	Still needs direct sun; it’s not a “silver bullet” for total shade.
Mowing Height	2.5″ to 4″	Keep it at 4″ in dense shade to expose more leaf tissue to light.
Watering During Summer	1″ Per Week	Avoid over-watering in shade as evaporation is lower.
Fertilization	3 Times Per Year	Use Nitro-Phos products formulated for the Texas Gulf Coast.
Texture	Finer & Softer	Known for its high “barefoot softness factor”
Root System	Massive / Deep	Helps the grass compete with large tree roots for resources.
Disease Watch	Brown Patch & Gray Leaf Spot	Use a fungicide during spring/fall transition seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions About Palmetto St. Augustine

Is Palmetto St. Augustine a “silver bullet” for total shade in Houston?

No, Palmetto is not a silver bullet. While it handles shade significantly better than Raleigh or Bermuda, it still requires four to five hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive. If your yard is in total darkness all day, you may still struggle to grow any variety of grass.

How should I mow my Palmetto grass if it’s in a shadier area?

Michael recommends maintaining a height of four inches in densely shaded areas. This taller height ensures there is more leaf tissue exposed to what little sunlight is available, allowing the grass to gather as much energy as possible. In more moderate temperatures or sunny spots, you can go as low as two and a half to three inches.

Why is it important not to over-water Palmetto St. Augustine?

Because Palmetto is usually planted in shadier areas, moisture does not evaporate as quickly as it does in full sun. Over-watering in these conditions can easily lead to fungus problems like Brown Patch or Gray Leaf Spot. An inch of water per week is usually ample.

Michael’s Management Strategy for Palmetto

Shade Adaptation

In heavily shaded areas, Michael recommends keeping the grass taller (around 4 inches) to maximize the surface area available for photosynthesis.

Fungus Prevention

Because Palmetto is typically planted in cooler, shadier spots where moisture lingers, it is more susceptible to Brown Patch. Stay on top of your fungicide applications during the “brown patch seasons” when temperatures transition.

Drought Resilience

Thanks to its aggressive root system, Palmetto will stay greener longer than Raleigh during dry spells, but it still requires a consistent one inch of water per week.

Palmetto St. Augustine Grass

Easy Care and Shade Tolerance

240

Price is for each pallet covering 450 sq. feet. Harvested fresh for your order and sold only by the pallet.
At some times of the year we can provide you with half-pallets and grass pieces. Please call 281-431-7441.
When available, Palmetto pieces are $2.85.

Get a Quote

Call Us at 281-431-7441 today!

We can answer your questions and give you a quote over the phone. Or use one of the buttons below to send us a message. We will respond by the next business day.

Newly Installed Palmetto St. Augustine Grass

Monday	8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday	8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday	8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday	8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday	8:00 AM - 4:00 PM