Palmetto St. Augustine performs well with limited sunlight, needing only 3-4 hours of direct sun daily, making it suitable for areas with tree shade. While it's a warm-season grass, Palmetto exhibits better cold tolerance than some other St. Augustine varieties and can handle light freezes. Palmetto is known for its relatively low maintenance requirements. Its slow vertical growth means less frequent mowing. Its density assists in keeping weeds at bay, including its resistance to thatch buildup. Palmetto has a natural resistance to chinch bugs and is also LVN (Lethal Viral Necrosis) resistant, a disease that can affect other St. Augustine varieties. 

Planting Plugs. Remove any existing sod/weeds from the area. For Palmetto St. Augustine grass, a spacing of 6-18 inches apart is recommended, with closer spacing resulting in quicker coverage. 

A trowel can be used to create a hole slightly bigger than the sod plug, making sure the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil surface. 

Use soil to fill in any gaps around the plug and water thoroughly to settle the soil and ensure good root-to-soil contact. 

Water the newly planted plugs daily for the first two weeks, or as needed to maintain consistent moisture. Avoid overwatering, especially in shady areas. 

Wait until the grass plugs have established and grown to at least 3-4 inches in height before the first mow, which usually takes 3-4 weeks. Once the grass is established, mow at the highest setting initially to avoid pulling up the plugs. 

Apply a pre-emergent herbicide in spring and fall to prevent weed seeds from germinating. Hand pull or use targeted herbicides following label instructions carefully when any weeds do emerge before it’s filled in.