Customer's front yard is under big oaks and gets maybe 4 hours of filtered sun.

Don't sell them Floratam. It requires 6–8 hours of direct sun minimum. Under oaks with 4 hours of filtered light, it will thin out, get diseased (gray leaf spot, take-all root rot), and die within 1–2 years.

Tell them this:

1. Floratam is the wrong grass. It has the lowest shade tolerance of all St. Augustine cultivars.
2. Better St. Augustine options: Palmetto, Seville, CitraBlue, or Bitterblue. These tolerate 4–5 hours of filtered/dappled light if tree roots aren't stealing all the water.
3. The real problem is the oaks. Tree roots outcompete grass for water and nutrients. The canopy blocks light and rainfall.
4. Honest alternatives: Mulch beds (pine straw, cypress) with shade plants (cast iron plant, ferns, asiatic jasmine, bromeliads). Groundcovers: Mondo grass, liriope, or Asiatic jasmine (once established). Artificial turf (if they insist on green carpet). Hardscape: Flagstone/pathways with moss or dichondra in joints.

If they push back: "I warranty my work. I won't install Floratam here because it will fail. I’ll install Palmetto/CitraBlue if you accept the risk of thinning, or I’ll design a mulch/plant bed that looks good year-round."

Code/Standard: FFL (Florida-Friendly Landscaping) Principle #1: Right Plant, Right Place. UF/IFAS explicitly lists Floratam as "Poor" shade tolerance vs. "Good" for dwarf cultivars.

Floratam St. Augustine grass requires 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive (UF/IFAS Extension, ENH11). With only 4 hours of filtered sun under big oaks, this site is too shady for Floratam. It will thin, weaken, and become prone to disease and weed invasion over time.

Recommendation: Switch to a shade-tolerant alternative suited for low-light conditions under trees:

• Seville St. Augustine – More shade-tolerant than Floratam (4–6 hours of filtered sun acceptable).
• Palmetto St. Augustine – Good shade tolerance, darker green, finer texture.
• Zoysia japonica (e.g., ‘Empire’ or ‘Zeon’) – Tolerates moderate shade (4–5 hours filtered sun), drought-resistant, lower maintenance.
• Or consider groundcovers like Asiatic jasmine, liriope, or native ferns if grass isn’t essential.

Important: Avoid over-fertilizing or overwatering in shade — this encourages fungal diseases (e.g., brown patch, take-all root rot). Mow higher (3.5–4”) to maximize leaf area for photosynthesis.

If the customer insists on Floratam, advise them it will likely fail within 1–2 seasons and require costly re-sodding. Better to choose the right grass for the site now.

Note: Always check local HOA or municipal rules — some restrict grass types. For tree health: avoid filling soil or sodding tightly against trunks; keep mulch ring 2–3” deep, pulled back from bark.