The Weed Resistance of CitraBlue St. Augustine

Weeds are typically seen as a nuisance for lawn and garden gurus who pride themselves on having the best yard on the block. In Florida’s St. Augustine grass-heavy market, it can be a real challenge because of the open growth habit of the most common of the Florida varieties, Floratam St. Augustine. By open growth, we mean the spacing between grass blades and stolons allowing sunlight to get down to the soil level where weed seed germinates. But research at the University of Florida is changing the St. Augustine landscape. The university’s latest variety CitraBlue™ is the product of over a decade of research and thanks to a much tighter canopy, weeds don’t do well.

“CitraBlue has a unique dense growth habit compared to other cultivars of St. Augustinegrass,” said Dr. Kevin Kenworthy, the University of Florida breeder who developed CitraBlue. “Its density, compared to the more upright open growth habit of Floratam, shades the soil preventing weed emergence.”

The benefits to the environment can’t be diminished. Instead of needing control chemicals like 2, 4-D and glyphosate, a more natural prevention takes place based on grass thickness and compactness.  Any weeds that do make it to the surface will be easily identified thanks to their typical lighter green color between the dark, blue-green blades of CitraBlue. Find CitraBlue on the market across Florida now.

CitraBlue™ ‘FSA1602’ St. Augustine grass was developed by the University of Florida’s turfgrass breeding program under a sponsored Research Service Agreement with the Turfgrass Producers of Florida, Inc. (TPF). CitraBlue St. Augustine is exclusively licensed to TPF by Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., a direct support organization of the University of Florida. CitraBlue is marketed by Sod Solutions, Inc. and is now available throughout Florida.