North Hopkins Panthers Defeat Campbell and Cumby
The North Hopkins’ baseball team is making up for lost time after the rainy weather earlier this week.
On Thursday (March 29), the Panthers got a no-hitter from three pitchers to defeat Campbell, 10-0 at home. Chase Williams got the win and he was followed on the mound by Caleb Wyatt and Wyatt Wharton. Colby Cameron was 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs, 3 runs scored, two walks and a double. Wharton was 2-3 with 2 RBIs,a run scored, a walk and a double. Williams also had a double.
Then on Friday (March 30), the Panthers defeated Cumby at home, 19-3. The Panthers led only 5-3 after three and a half innings but then exploded for 14 runs in the bottom of the fourth to end the game. Wharton got the pitching win allowing only 1 hit and three runs. Wyatt got the last Trojan out on a strikeout in the top of the fourth. The Panthers had 9 hits. Williams was 2 for 2 with 4 RBIs and a double. Wharton also had 4 RBIs. Brycen Gillespie was 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs and a double. Cameron had 2 RBIs. Blane Hocutt had a double.
PJC-Sulphur Springs Celebrates Cupcake Day
CUPCAKE TIME PJC-Sulphur Springs Center students enjoyed cupcakes and all the trimmings they could get on them during a recent special treat event. Pictured above making their own favorites are, from left, Precious Williams of Sulphur Springs and Crystal Hulse of Cumby.
As Medicare Issues New Cards; A New Scam Focused on Seniors Begin
March 30, 2018 – A Sulphur Springs citizen has received a call from someone attempting a new Medicare scam.
A new scam focused on seniors has begun as Medicare begins a yearlong program to replace all current Medicare cards for beneficiaries. The fact: The number on the card will no longer be the individual’s social security number but will be converted to an alphanumeric ID number. The scam: A phone call from someone saying they are with “Medicare” and you will need a temporary card which will cost between $5 and $50. No temporary cards are being issued by Medicare.
The new Medicare card will come to the beneficiary through the mail. Medicare never calls anyone unless a phone call is requested. All Medicare communications are by mail. The scam caller is asking for personal information, bank account or credit card numbers so they can process the temporary card. Again, there are no temporary cards that will be used by Medicare.
Medicare recipients will receive new cards with the new alphanumeric numbers between April 2018 and April 2019. Watch your mail for the new cards.
Hines Keynotes A & M-Commerce 2018 Mental Health Matters Day, April 2
COMMERCE, TX—A&M-Commerce welcomes Kevin Hines as the 2018 Mental Health Matters Day Keynote speaker, for his presentation Cracked, Not Broken, on April 2 at 2 p.m. in Ferguson Auditorium.
In 2000, two years after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Hines attempted to take his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. In the 20 years since his diagnosis, Hines has been a mental health advocate, receiving numerous accolades for his work. Hines has also produced a documentary, and released two bestselling books aimed at suicide prevention. He sits on several boards including the Survivors Committee of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, in addition to his policy work as an Ambassador to the National Council for Behavioral Health.
“We’re excited to have Kevin as our keynote to help challenge the stigma of mental health help-seeking,” said Dr. Nick Patras, Director of the university’s Counseling Center.
In addition to the keynote, the following workshops will be offered throughout the day to educate the community about mental health resources available on campus:
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)
8:30-l0AM & 3:30-5PM
BA343
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper training teaches ways to reduce suicidal behaviors, prevent suicide, and save lives. Taught by certified QPR trainers the session lasts 90 minutes, including a presentation and participant roleplay. This training is appropriate for faculty, staff, and students. (Register through Training and Development. Limited to 35 participants for each session.)
Exercise as Mental Medicine
4:00-6PM
MRC Classroom
This program focuses on education and the benefits of exercise and physical activity as a resource for mental health preventative care.
Faith and Mental Health
6 PM Wesleyan Campus Ministry
End the day with Rev. Brian Dierolf and the students of the Wesleyan Campus Ministry for a discussion focusing on the mind, body, spirit connection. The discussion will include a review of the campus resources available to students who are navigating mental health issues while coping with university life. The evening will conclude with a shared meal.
To register for the workshops go to https://goo.gl/uo1oKE.
“Many of our students have expressed needing help in finding resources. This is one of the many reasons why we do counseling outreach on campus,” said Dr. Patras.
Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend this free event. The first 300 students will be given a free t-shirt and copy of Hines’ bestselling memoir, Cracked, Not Broken.
The event is sponsored by the Counseling Center, Campus Recreation, Office of the President, Lion Athletics, and Student Disability Resources and Services. Go to goo.gl/vS7DkH for more information.
Texas A & M University-Commerce Indoor Track and Field Claims Two National Champhionships
COMMERCE, TX— The Texas A&M University-Commerce indoor track and field teams claimed two National Championships at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships March 9-10.
The Lion men claimed 5th place, a program best, in the team standings, and the women placed 29th at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.
“I am tremendously proud of how our team came out and competed over the course of the two days at the National Championship,” said Lions head coach George Pincock. “It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to have two individual National Champions, and a team that finishes among the top-5 in the nation.”
Senior DeVontae Steele was the favorite to win the triple jump again as he claimed his second Division II title, setting a school record with the 12th-longest triple jump in Division II history on his final attempt.
The 4×400 meter relay team of Jude Christine, Dedrian Windham, D’lance Sharp, and Rashard Clark won the national title, by nearly two seconds, with the third-best time in Division II history. Windham earned first team All-American honors after placing third in the 400-meter dash. Clark earned first team All-American honors in the 200-meter dash after placing sixth and was named the Lone Star Conference Male Indoor Track Co-Athlete of the Year.
Florian Obst earned second team All-American honors with an 11th-place finish in the heptathlon and had a personal best in the 1,000 meter run.
“With the success of the men’s team, it is almost easy to miss some of the great amazing things the women’s team accomplished this year. I can’t remember a week were there wasn’t at least one school record set,” said Pincock. “For them to end the indoor season with five All-Americans is a milestone for this program and what I hope will be a catalyst for continued growth.”
The women’s 4×400 meter relay team of Minna Svaerd, Ro’nisha Simpson, Joy Spann, and Kamryn McKee set a new school record with their 5th-place finish. McKee secured first team All-American honors in the 400-meter dash with a 6th place finish.
Pincock was named LSC Men’s Track Coach of the Year for the second consecutive indoor season after leading the Lions to their fourth consecutive LSC indoor championship and 23rd overall LSC track title. This is his third LSC Coach of the Year honor including the 2017 outdoor award.
Miller Grove Place First in District 23-A District UIL Academic Meet; Compete Results for All Schools in District
Team Results
| School | Points |
| 1st – Miller Grove H S, Cumby | 542.5 |
| 2nd – Saltillo HS, Saltillo | 412 |
| 3rd – Sulphur Bluff HS, Sulphur Bluff | 343 |
| 4th – Fannindel HS, Ladonia | 42 |
| 5th – Roxton H S, Roxton | 35.50 |
Individual Results Top 6 in each event.
| Event | Place | School | Name | |
| Accounting | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Natalie White | |
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Jorja Bessonett | ||
| 3 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Chandra Lee | ||
| 4 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Michael Clover | ||
| 5 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Harli Watson | ||
| 6 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Trevor Moore | ||
| Calculator Applications | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Harrison C Fite | |
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Lorena Castro | ||
| 3 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Grant Earp | ||
| 4 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Hanna A Reyes | ||
| 5 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Anna Reeder | ||
| 6 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Ben Moore | ||
| Current Issues | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Turner J South | |
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Branson McGill | ||
| 3 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Kobe Robertson | ||
| 4 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Hunter Jefferson | ||
| 5 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Matthew Gurley | ||
| 6 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Emily Guajardo | ||
| Computer Applications | 1 | Fannindel HS Ladonia | Paul Doyle | |
| 2 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Trayton C South | ||
| 3 | Fannindel HS Ladonia | Summer Crocker | ||
| 4 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Hunter S Tubb | ||
| 5 | Fannindel HS Ladonia | Rebekah Fornof | ||
| 6 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Angellina L Brown | ||
| Editorial Writing | 1 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Garrett Tarver | |
| 2 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Karlie L Self | ||
| 3 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Emely Velasquez | ||
| 4 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Chandler Lee | ||
| 5 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Shelby Matlock | ||
| 6 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Jada S Wade | ||
| Feature Writing | 1 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Cheyenne Neal | |
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Shelby Matlock | ||
| 3 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Rosa Schones | ||
| 4 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Cara Ford | ||
| 5 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Demi Weatherford | ||
| 6 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Chandler Bain | ||
| Headline Writing | 1 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Shelby Matlock | |
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Demi Weatherford | ||
| 3 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Karlie L Self | ||
| 4 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Jessica Mullins | ||
| 5 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Michael Simmons | ||
| 6 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Maddy Smith | ||
| Informative Speaking | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Montana L Hurley | |
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Alexa Pelerose | ||
| 3 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Kaylon A Hume | ||
| 4 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Kaitlyn Hensley | ||
| 5 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | MaKenna K Morgan | ||
| Lincoln Douglas Debate | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Grant Sharp | |
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Jolee Fox | ||
| 3 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Garrett Hanna | ||
| Literary Criticism | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Demi Weatherford | |
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Jordan Clinton | ||
| 3 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Hannah Wartenbee | ||
| 4 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Sienna Collins | ||
| 5 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Lindsay Butler | ||
| 6 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Robin Holley | ||
| Mathematics | 1 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Trevor Moore | |
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Albert Serrano | ||
| 3 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Hanna A Reyes | ||
| 4 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Harrison C Fite | ||
| 5 | Fannindel HS Ladonia | Elizabeth Chesson | ||
| 6 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Grant Earp | ||
| Number Sense | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Brandon L Branom | |
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Trevor Moore | ||
| 3 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Nathan Valenzuela | ||
| 4 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Lindsay Butler | ||
| 5 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Branson McGill | ||
| 6 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Trayton C South | ||
| 6 | Roxton H S Roxton | Valentin Ramirez | ||
| 6 | Fannindel HS Ladonia | Lynn Schumacher | ||
| 6 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Grant Earp | ||
| News Writing | 1 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Anna Reeder | |
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Maddy Smith | ||
| 3 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Shelby Matlock | ||
| 4 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | David Rosas | ||
| 5 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Chandler Lee | ||
| Persuasive Speaking | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Madison M Goodwin | |
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Michael Simmons | ||
| 3 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | James Quigley | ||
| 4 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Dalena D Wilkins | ||
| 5 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Alley B Collette | ||
| 6 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Edi Olayo | ||
| Poetry Interpretation | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Alexis Serrano | |
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Natalie White | ||
| 3 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Karlie L Self | ||
| 4 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Keyara N Wade | ||
| 5 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Trinity R Roberts | ||
| Prose Interpretation | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Cassidy Seaney | |
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Jocelyn Helterbrand | ||
| 3 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Ryan N Vance | ||
| 4 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Margaret Smith | ||
| 5 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Alley B Collett | ||
| 6 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Kaylon A Hume | ||
| Ready Writing | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Cami Froneberger | |
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Jordan Clinton | ||
| 3 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Andi Resendiz | ||
| 4 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Garrett Tarver | ||
| 5 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Graycie Hodges | ||
| 6 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Luz M Correa | ||
| Biology | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Micah S Johnson | |
| Chemistry | 1 | Roxton H S Roxton | Hunter Carter | |
| 1 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Nathan Valenzuela | ||
| Science | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Micah S Johnson | |
| 2 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Jacob J Watts | ||
| 3 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Turner J South | ||
| 4 | Roxton H S Roxton | Jason Mitchell | ||
| 5 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Nathan Valenzuela | ||
| 6 | Fannindel HS Ladonia | Elizabeth L Chesson | ||
| Physics | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Turner J South | |
| 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Micah S Johnson | ||
| Social Studies | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Jordan Clinton | |
| 2 | Roxton H S Roxton | Raymond Blalock | ||
| 3 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Brittney Peeples | ||
| 4 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | Brennon L Seymore | ||
| 5 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Bianca Castro | ||
| 6 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Kobe Robertson | ||
| Spelling and Vocabulary | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Hayley Wren | |
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Garrett Tarver | ||
| 3 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Lorena Castro | ||
| 4 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | Lindsay Butler | ||
| 5 | Roxton H S Roxton | Sebastian Meek | ||
| 6 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | Cami Fronenberger | ||
| 6 | Roxton H S Roxton | Kaylee Dillard | ||
Teams Results:
| Event | Place | School | ||
| Accounting | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | ||
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | |||
| Calculator Applications | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | ||
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | |||
| Current Issues | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | ||
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | |||
| Journalism | 1 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | ||
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | |||
| Literary Criticism | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | ||
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | |||
| Mathematics | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | ||
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | |||
| Number Sense | 1 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | ||
| 2 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | |||
| Science | 1 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | ||
| 2 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | |||
| Social Studies | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | ||
| 2 | Roxton H S Roxton | |||
| Speech | 1 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | ||
| 2 | Sulphur Bluff HS Sulphur Bluff | |||
| Spelling and Vocabulary | 1 | Saltillo HS Saltillo | ||
| 2 | Miller Grove H S Cumby | |||
One Act Play District Results:
Miller Grove & Saltillo plays advanced
Miller Grove One Act Play also advanced from Bi District to Area March 31 at Grayson County Community College
Wildcats Take Over in Middle Innings for 8-2 Win in Greenville
After a slow start, the Wildcats’ baseball took over their game with Greenville in the middle innings to register an 8-2 win Thursday evening (March 29) in Greenville. The game was moved from Sulphur Springs to Greenville Thursday due to wet grounds at new Wildcat Park.
The Lions jumped out in front with 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning. It was the fourth inning before the Wildcats could tie the game with a pair of runs of their own. A Tyler Armstrong RBI single helped the Wildcats’ cause in the top of the fourth. A Ryan Humphries RBI single in the top of the fifth gave the Wildcats their first lead at 3-2. The Wildcats stretched out the lead with a four run top of the sixth to go up 7-2. Austin Dodd, Kaden Argenbright and Humphries all had singles in the big inning. The Wildcats scored one more run in the top of the seventh to go up 8-2.
Kamren Harrison had a big night at the plate going 2 for 3 with an RBI, a run scored, a walk and a double. Humphries was 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Argenbright was 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs. Dodd, Dawson Draper and Armstrong all had an RBI.
Triston McCormick got the pitching win going all seven innings allowing only 2 runs on 7 hits with 8 strikeouts and only 1 walk. The Wildcats improved to 4-0 in district play. They are 11-7 for the season and they have won 8 straight games.
The Wildcats play next on Good Friday at 2 p.m. in Mount Pleasant. The game was moved to Friday after rain outs on Tuesday and Wednesday. Left unanswered was why the game was not played on Monday, like softball did, before the rains came for two days after that.
Wildcats, Lady Cats Soccer Seasons End at Bi-District
Lovejoy 2, Wildcats 1
The Lovejoy Leopards scored a goal with just 2:18 left in the second half that proved to be the difference in a hard fought 2-1 bi-district win over the Wildcats’ soccer team Thursday evening at Pirate Stadium in Wylie. Both teams scored earlier in the second half after a scoreless first half. Both of Lovejoy’s goals were scored by Caleb Toomey. His first goal put the Leopards on top, 1-0 at the 26:31 mark of the second half. Just 32 seconds later, the Wildcats evened the score with a goal from Enrique Arellano assisted by Ricardo Torres at the 25:59 mark of the second half. Wildcats Coach Nicky Wiggins said after the game Lovejoy players congratulated the Wildcats on how well they played. The game was the last one for 14 Wildcats seniors. The Wildcats end the season with a 13-13 record. They had a district record of 6-6.
Wylie East 2, Lady Cats Soccer 1
The Lady Cats’ soccer team gave a strong Wylie East team quite a game before the Lady Raiders eked out a 2-1 win in a bi-district game at Rockwall’s Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadum Thursday night (March 29). The Lady Cats utilized a Keeley Hudgins goal in the first half to take a 1-0 lead into the halftime locker room. Wylie East fought back in the second half to tie the game and then finally take the lead. The Lady Cats had six seniors who played their final game for Sulphur Springs Thursday night. The Lady Cats end the season with a record of 15-8-3. They were 7-5 in district play.
Tira News: March 29, 2018
By Jan Vaughn
Rachel Lewis reported, “A memorial service was held for Travis Eugene (Gene) Lewis on Saturday, March 24th, 2018 at the Tira cemetery. He passed on December 19, 2017 in Georgia.” She shared that he donated his body to science for a lasting gift to humanity. Gene was the fifth child born to Thomas Barney Lewis and Edna Lee Speaks Lewis. Surviving are Wanda Lewis Clayton, Gary J. Lewis and wife Rachel of Sulphur Springs; Dorothy Lewis Hargrave of McKinney; Judy C. Lewis and Richard G. Lewis of Irving; a step-daughter and step-son, Tarah Harriel Voyles of Thomasville, Georgia and Michael (Bubba) Jackson of Rome, Georgia; and many nieces and nephews.
Landon and Laiken Joslin shopped in Greenville on Saturday and enjoyed dining on Japanese food at Shogun. Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden stayed with their “Gimmee” Tiffany and aunt Jaidyn. The kids had fun painting buckets for Easter.
Chip and I were in Georgetown, at Union on the 8th , on Saturday evening to attend the wedding of Paige Shafer and Travis Stafford. Paige is the great-granddaughter of the late Lloyd and Beulah Smiddy of Tira. She is the daughter of Tim and Teresa (Smiddy) Barcus and Mike Shafer and granddaughter of Gail and the late Jerry Wayne Smiddy. Chip and I drove to Hill Country Resort on Canyon Lake on Friday afternoon. On the way, we stopped in Waco and had dinner with our son, Delayne Vaughn, at Old Chicago. The next day we enjoyed a drive among the hills and along the River Road, just out of Gruene, where we had a delicious meal at The Gristmill River Restaurant overlooking the Guadalupe River. We met our nephew, Michael Horn and his wife and daughter, Tracy and Lani, at Cracker Barrel in San Marcos on Sunday and had lunch and a good visit with them before returning home.
I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very blessed Easter!
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945- 2190 or 903-438- 6688 or [email protected].
Understanding your Lawn: St. Augustine Grass By Mario Villarino
Understanding your lawn: St Augustine grass
As our temperatures steadily increase and maintain temperatures, so is our desire and interest in the garden and lawns. After last weekend, the consultations coming to the extension offices related to lawn issues increased significantly. Common questions related St. Augustine grass lawns. St Agustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze), is a perennial robust grass widely used for pastures and lawns. In the warmer climates of the tropics and subtropics it rivals bermudagrass in importance. St. Augustine grass is adapted to moist, coastal areas with mild winter temperatures. It is known to be tolerant of high summer temperatures, and St. Augustine grass retains its color at temperatures as much as 10° lower than those which discolor bermudagrass.
St. Augustine grass tolerates moderate shade, being as good or better than other warm season grasses for shaded sites. However, under densely shaded conditions, St. Augustine grass develops thin, spindly turf. So long as fertility and drainage are adequate, St. Augustine grass tolerates a wide range of soil types. St. Augustine grass grows satisfactorily at a pH range from 5.0 to 8.5, but develops a chlorotic appearance in highly alkaline soils (above pH 7.5). It does not tolerate compacted or waterlogged soil conditions. St. Augustine grass is highly tolerant of soil salinity, producing satisfactory growth at salt levels as high as 16 mmhos. Bermudagrass will tolerate only slightly higher salt levels.
St. Augustine grass is used primarily for lawns as it does not tolerant traffic as well as some other warm season species. It produces satisfactory turf at moderate levels of maintenance, effectively competes with weeds and other grasses and has only a few serious pests. After establishment the success of St. Augustine grass as a lawn grass depends largely on management. Mowing, fertilization and supplemental watering are required to maintain a dense, green, weed-free turf of St. Augustine grass. The growth rate of St. Augustine grass is dependent on temperature, moisture availability and nutrient availability. Any one of these factors can limit the rate of growth of this species. In the spring with mild daytime temperatures and cool night temperatures, St. Augustine grass greens up, but makes little growth. As day and night temperatures increase during late spring and summer, the growth rate increases.
Thus, an established turf of St. Augustine grass may require mowing every 2 weeks in early spring and as often as every five days by late spring if nitrogen fertilizer is applied. St. Augustine grass is responsive to nitrogen fertilizer in terms of color and growth rate. On sandy soils St. Augustine grass requires about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per month during the growing season to maintain satisfactory color and density. At rates above 1 pound per 1,000 square feet, St. Augustine grass produces lush growth that is highly susceptible to insects and diseases. On heavier textured soils 1/2 pound of nitrogen every month is adequate to maintain good color and growth. Thatch accumulation is also a problem when nitrogen fertilization exceeds the required rate.
Pests. Several insect pests cause serious damage to St. Augustine grass lawns. The Southern lawn chinch bug is the most serious pest on St. Augustine grass where the insect if active most of the year. In other states it ranks among the most serious pests along with SAD, brownpatch and white grub.
Timely applications of insecticides will control chinch bugs. Two or more treatments are required during the growing season in most areas, and as many as 5 or 6 may be required in some areas. White grub are also a serious pest on St. Augustine grass lawns. The grubs are the larvae of the May beetle or June bug that develop in the summer and fall just below the soil surface. The grubs feed on roots of St. Augustine grass and cause significant losses of turf during some years.
Damage usually appears the following year as dead areas of grass that can be easily lifted from the lawn. Grub control is difficult since the larvae are often quite large when detected and feed below the soil surface. Also, for them to be effective, insecticides must be drenched into the soil where the insects feed. Since some insecticides are tightly bound to the thatch layer of St. Augustine grass, drenching the material into the soil is difficult.
St. Augustine grass is susceptible to a number of turfgrass diseases including brownpatch, SAD, gray leaf spot, Helminthosporium, Pythium, rust, downy mildew and others. All of these diseases, except SAD, are caused by fungi and can be controlled by good management and fungicides. SAD is a virus disease for which there is no chemical control. Only resistant varieties of St. Augustine grass are effective against this disease. Floratam, Seville, Raleigh and several experimental varieties have shown good resistance to the SAD virus.
Brownpatch and gray leaf spot are the most serious diseases caused by fungi attacking St. Augustine grass. Although these diseases rarely kill St. Augustine, they severely weaken and thin the grass to the degree that the lawn is unsightly. Preventive applications of fungicides are most effective against these diseases.
A healthy St. Augustine grass lawn effectively crowds out most weeds. But St. Augustine grass that is not properly maintained or is weakened by insects or disease can be invaded by grassy and broadleaved weeds. Cool season weeds such as henbit, chickweed and clover are a serious problem in dormant St. Augustine grass. These weeds can be controlled by hormone-type herbicides in early spring.
Annual grassy weeds such as fescue, annual bluegrass and crabgrass are best controlled by timely applications of preemergence herbicides. Perennial grasses such as dallisgrass and bermudagrass are difficult to control in St. Augustine grass turf. Nonselective products can be applied as directed sprays to these weeds to obtain control. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic, please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email [email protected].
Coming UP
Basic Vegetable Training with the Hopkins County Master Gardeners, Tuesday April 24, 2018 at the Hopkins County Extension Office 7:00 to 9:00 PM. $10 at the door.
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
