Best lawn mowers for st. augustine grass (2026)

Here is your comprehensive buying guide for maintaining a healthy St. Augustine lawn.

St. Augustine grass is the diva of the turf world. It’s thick, lush, and beautiful, but it hates being cut too short (scalping) and it hates dull blades that shred its thick stolons. The “best” mower for this grass isn’t a specific brand; it’s the right blade setup and the correct deck size for your property.

This guide focuses on the components that turn a standard mower into a St. Augustine machine. We are prioritizing mulching blades (for returning nitrogen to the soil) and replacement parts that keep your deck cutting cleanly.

Our Top Picks at a Glance

• MaxPower 561713XB (42" Set): The best mulching upgrade for most standard riding mowers cutting St. Augustine.
• Orbit Traveling Sprinkler: The ultimate “set it and forget it” tool for keeping St. Augustine hydrated in the heat.
• Husqvarna HU700F Drive Wheels: The essential fix if your self-propelled mower is dragging instead of cutting.
• MaxPower 331376XB (Toro 22"): The go-to blade for a push mower to avoid shredding St. Augustine runners.
• UDC Parts 038-0005-00 (Bad Boy 54"): The high-lift blade for zero-turn owners who bag clippings or cut wet grass.
• UDC Parts 942-0616A (Cub Cadet 42"): A budget-friendly Gator-style blade for 42" decks that mulches St. Augustine well.
• UDC Parts 131-4547-03 (Toro 22"): A direct alternative to the MaxPower Toro blade; slightly cheaper but equally effective.
• UDC Parts 138497 (Craftsman 38"): The high-lift option for older 38" decks that need more airflow to lift St. Augustine.

How We Chose These Mowers

We didn’t choose complete mowers. We chose the critical components that make your current mower work perfectly for St. Augustine grass. Our criteria were:

1. Blade Geometry (Mulching vs. High-Lift): St. Augustine needs a sharp, consistent cut. Mulching blades (with a curved, wing-like design) are preferred because they suspend the clippings and chop them into fine dust that settles into the thatch. High-lift blades are for bagging or if you have a lot of wet, thick growth.
2. Fitment Accuracy: St. Augustine is sensitive to vibration. A blade that doesn’t fit perfectly (wrong center hole or offset) will cause a poor cut and stress the spindle. We prioritized blades with exact OEM cross-references.
3. Material & Hardness: Cheap blades dent. We looked for commercial-grade steel (usually heat-treated) that stays sharp longer. St. Augustine is tough on edges.
4. User Feedback (St. Augustine Specific): We filtered reviews for keywords like “St. Augustine,” “mulch,” “thick grass,” and “shredding.” High ratings alone weren’t enough; the product had to work for this specific grass type.

Detailed Reviews

MaxPower 561713XB 2 Commercial Mulching Blade Set for Many 42 in. Cut

Best for: Owners of 42" Craftsman, Husqvarna, or Poulan riding mowers who want the absolute best mulch quality for St. Augustine. Price: $32.98

This is the single most important upgrade you can make for a 42" deck cutting St. Augustine. The OEM blades on most box-store riders are “standard” lift blades that throw clumps. The MaxPower 561713XB uses a deep, aggressive sail that creates a strong vacuum inside the deck. This lifts the thick, heavy St. Augustine blades up before cutting them, preventing the “ripped” look that leads to browning. The only weakness is that they are heavy; you might need to clean under your deck more often to prevent buildup. Verdict: If you own a 42" rider, buy these before you buy a new mower.

Orbit Traveling Tractor Water Sprinkler

Best for: Anyone with a large, open St. Augustine lawn who hates moving hoses. Price: $99.98

St. Augustine needs 1-1.5 inches of water per week, preferably in one deep soak. This sprinkler is not a mower, but it is a critical tool for lawn health. It crawls along your hose, pulling itself across the lawn. It’s fantastic for St. Augustine because it waters slowly (reducing runoff) and covers wide, irregular shapes. The cast-iron body is durable. The weakness is that it can get stuck on steep slopes or tight corners. Verdict: The best $100 you can spend to keep your St. Augustine from going dormant during a dry spell.

Front Drive Wheels Fit for Husqvarna HU700F Mower

Best for: Owners of Husqvarna HU700F (or similar) self-propelled mowers with worn-out drive wheels. Price: $28.99

A self-propelled mower with bald front wheels is useless on St. Augustine. The thick, dense turf creates high rolling resistance. These OEM-style replacement wheels have aggressive tread that grips the stolons without tearing them. If your mower is slipping or hard to push, this is the fix. The weakness is that they are specific to the HU700F and a few other models; check your deck part number. Verdict: A cheap, perfect fix that restores your mower’s ability to pull through thick grass.

MaxPower 331376XB Commercial Mulching Mower Blade for 22" Toro Recyclers

Best for: Toro Recycler owners who want a true commercial-grade blade for frequent St. Augustine cuts. Price: $23.48

The Toro Recycler is already a great mulching mower, but the stock blade is thin. The MaxPower 331376XB is thicker and has a more pronounced “wing” that creates a stronger vortex. This is critical for St. Augustine because it keeps the clippings suspended long enough to be chopped into fine particles that decompose quickly. The weakness is that it is slightly noisier than the stock blade due to the increased airflow. Verdict: The best upgrade for a Toro Recycler; you will see a noticeable improvement in clip size.

UDC Parts 038-0005-00 Mower Blades Replacement for Bad Boy 54 Inch

Best for: Bad Boy zero-turn owners who bag clippings or cut tall, wet St. Augustine. Price: $40.88

This is a high-lift blade, not a true mulching blade. It is designed to create maximum airflow to throw clippings into a bag or out a side discharge. For St. Augustine, this is ideal if you are cutting it when it’s 4-5 inches tall (the proper height) and need to remove the bulk. The weakness is that it leaves a rougher finish than a mulching blade if you try to mulch with it. Verdict: The best choice for Bad Boy owners who bag their St. Augustine clippings to prevent thatch.

UDC Parts 942-0616A Mower Blades Replacement for Cub Cadet 42 Inch XT1

Best for: Cub Cadet XT1 or Craftsman T110 owners on a tight budget who need good mulching performance. Price: $26.88

This is a Gator-style blade (serrated edge). It works well on St. Augustine because the serrations help cut through the tough, fibrous blades. It is a solid, mid-range mulching blade. It won’t create as strong a vacuum as the MaxPower 561713XB, but it is significantly cheaper and still much better than a standard blade. The weakness is that the serrations dull faster on St. Augustine’s silica content. Verdict: A great value for the price; just plan on sharpening them mid-season.

UDC Parts 131-4547-03 Lawn Mower Blades Replacement for Toro Recycler 22 Inch

Best for: Toro Recycler owners who want a slightly cheaper alternative to the MaxPower blade. Price: $31.88

This is a direct replacement for the Toro 108-9764-03. It is a Gator-style mulching blade. It performs nearly identically to the MaxPower 331376XB, but with a serrated edge. For St. Augustine, the serrations can help on the first cut of the season when the grass is thick and reedy. The weakness is that the serrations can leave a slightly “chewed” look if you cut too infrequently. Verdict: A solid, reliable choice that is functionally equal to the MaxPower for most users.

UDC Parts 138497 193957 Lawn Mower Blades Replacement for Craftsman 38 Inch

Best for: Owners of older 38" Craftsman or Husqvarna decks with less airflow. Price: $28.39

Older 38" decks often lack the deep, baffled design of modern 42" decks. This high-lift blade compensates for that by creating more upward airflow. This is crucial for St. Augustine because if the blade doesn’t lift the grass, it will lay over and get scalped. The weakness is that it is not a mulching blade; you will need to bag or side-discharge to avoid clumps. Verdict: A lifesaver for older 38" decks that struggle to cut thick St. Augustine cleanly.

What to Look for When Buying

1. Blade Type: Mulching vs. High-Lift vs. Standard: For St. Augustine, mulching blades are the gold standard. They have a curved, “winged” design that creates a vacuum. High-lift blades are for bagging or if you have a lot of wet, tall grass. Standard blades (flat) are terrible for St. Augustine; they will shred the stolons.
2. **Deck Size vs. Lot