Winter Survival of St. Augustinegrass Cultivars

Abstract

St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze] has low freezing tolerance and suffers winter injury in the southeastern United States. Laboratory methods have determined that the lethal cold temperature of St. Augustinegrass stolons and buds is between -4.5 °C and -7.7 °C. The field survival of St. Augustinegrass to winter freezing is poorly known because most field reports have been based on a single location experiencing a single winter minimum air temperature. The objective of the study was to assess the winter survival of St. Augustinegrass cultivars across a range of winter minimum air temperatures occurring in experimental plantings at 24 Florida counties, following a severe Arctic cold front that moved through Florida beginning 21 Dec. 1989. Except for two counties, the limit for St. Augustinegrass winter survival was a minimum air temperature between -6 °C and -9 °C. Based on a nonlinear estimate using a 3-parameter sigmoidal model (r2 = 0.70, P < 0.0001), 50% survival of St. Augustinegrass would be predicted at -7.9 °C. Time since planting had no relationship with survival. Differences among St. Augustinegrass cultivars were observed at only two counties.