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The first step is killing any current nutgrass plants, either through application of herbicides or sugar, by digging up the plants and rhizomes, or by using soil solarization. To discourage new nutgrass plants from forming, ensure proper landscape drainage and bring shade into areas of the lawn that are consistently damp.

St. Augustine is a hardy grass that’s relatively easy to grow, but it requires regular lawn maintenance to stay healthy. It’s best to keep up with a regular fertilization schedule during the growing season, plus a yearly dethatching to help it properly absorb air and moisture. Watering is also important, so be sure to water it enough to keep the soil moist.

In most municipalities, landscaping companies require a business license to operate legally, and some require additional licenses, like general contractor licenses. You can use Angi's our contractor licensing tool to confirm if a company in your area holds the necessary licensing. Equally as important as the license is insurance. Before hiring any lawn care company, you should confirm that it is fully insured. This measure protects you from lawsuits, and it also protects the employees in the case of an injury or unemployment.

Technically, yes—and you may have some successful growth—but this isn’t the ideal way to fill in sparse areas. By clearing leaves and debris, amending the soil, and aerating it properly before you lay the seeds, you’re providing the most ideal conditions for them to germinate.