how to plant st augustine grass plugs

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. As your new grass grows and flourishes, water deeper and less frequently this will encourage the roots to extend deeply into the soil. If you dont want to spend some pretty penny on the grass and you are not in a hurry to have a green backyard, grass plugs are the best option for you. For best results, keep its soil evenly moist. The Questions People Ask Most About Lawn Fertilizing. Here's how to bring back dead St. Augustine grass and make it grow green again: 1. Water early in the day so that the grass blades have time to dry before nightfall. St. Augustine grass is tolerant of a wide variety of soils and is moderately drought-tolerant once established, but it will perform best when you avoid either moisture extreme: too little or too much. Adjust accordingly as needed for your area. After successfully planting the grasses, you can start expecting a dense, lush green grass carpet on your lawn soon. The plug method is a compromise in each respect. When talking about St. Augustine grass plugs, a relevant question comes out, where to find grass plugs? This will ensure that the st. Augustines growth isnt interrupted mid-way. Preparing the area also includes spreading the fertilizer and watering it properly. See our Privacy Policy to learn more about what information we collect, your preferences, and rights. Plan the pattern and start digging 4. If you only have a few weeds here and there, you can hand-pull them, but be sure to get the entire root system. St. Augustine plugs can be planted year-round in tropical and sub-tropical climates where the grass does not go dormant. They are rooted pieces of grass most suitable for smaller areas where sod isnt practical. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. St. Augustine grass seed needs to be kept moist while it is establishing. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. To get St. Augustine grass to spread faster, plant St. Augustine during summer and make sure you lay it down the right type of soil - preferably a well-aerated soil type. Local gardening shops may also have St Augustine Grass plugs. There are a number of different types of St. Augustine grass. Summer is the peak growing season for St. Augustine grass. Here grows the plant Assidos, which, when worn by any one, protects him from the evil spirit, forcing it to state its business and name; consequently the foul spirits keep out of the way there. 2002-2023 The Scotts Company LLC. If youre replacing an existing lawn, rent a sod-cutter to remove the old sod and vegetation. St. Augustine sod or plugs . It killed the sod; now I have dead brown grass. . A tray of St. Augustine grass plugs can have 18 grass plugs that can cover roughly a 32 square ft area. You can remove weeds and existing grass using all-vegetation herbicide and then wait two weeks. However, grass plugs will take almost a year to grow in your lawn fully. 2. It also allows your grass to spread as quickly as possible. Area must be cultivated, graded, then compacted to prevent subsequent settling. How To Care For St. Augustine Grass. St. Augustine responds well to potassium fertilizers, especially in late summer and early Fall, but phosphorus should only be applied if there is a deficiency. It will also make the plugs grow together faster. St. Augustine grass plugs are 2-3 clumps of grass and roots. Grass plugs come in trays. Plant the Plugs or Sod Place the St. Augustine grass plugs inside the holes in the lawn's soil. St. Augustine grass not only tolerates warm temperatures but thrives in the hot sunny season. St. Augustine grass is a popular turf in Florida and other warmer states. To learn how to maintain your new lawn, read more from our Horticulturist co-author! Make sure to take extra care once the plugs have been planted to establish a dense turf. Its blue-green blades form a dense turf that establishes quickly and easily, and can tolerate salt, making it an excellent choice for coastal yards. Make your own plugs by cutting pieces of sod into desired size with a shovel or garden shears. Local shops usually have much better experts on hand to answer any questions you may have. In the third week, you should reduce watering to 1-3 times per day and sometimes skip a day between watering if the lawn is not drying out. Give it enough water to dampen the first 1 in (2.5 cm) of soil. One big drawback is that it does not do well with regular foot traffic, so if you're looking . This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Planting in the late summer should be mindful of the estimated first winter frost. Plugs are ideal for small areas or places where the homeowner isnt in a rush to have a yard full of grass. Results may vary. You do not need to water the lawn on rainy days. The closer they are, the faster the bare spots will get filled up. Otherwise, they will pop back up while your plugs are establishing themselves. Once the planting holes are ready, you may apply lawn starter fertilizer in each hole depending on the recommendations made by your soil extension agent. Water the new plugs just as you water new sod. On average, it can take about six to twelve months to fill the space completely. Ensure there are no pockets left around the plug as this will cause roots to dry out. Thoroughly water the area before planting. St. Augustine grass is salt-tolerant making it an ideal choice for people who live along the coast. Measure the lawn or the area you want to plant the grass plugs in before purchasing them. Taking measurements for your planting area will help you to calculate the number of plugs you need to order from your supplier. You can also buy or rent a grass plugging tool from your local hardware store or online. Make. Take-all root rot is a fungal disease that attacks the roots of the grass and can cause yellowing or browning of the grass. Space the pieces of sod 1 to 2 feet apart and water faithfully. Take plugs from the sod with the ProPlugger every 3 apart. A St. Augustine grass lawn can live for three to five years with regular maintenance, including watering, mowing, fertilizer, and aeration. The larger the spacing, the longer it will take for the plugs to grow together. The water you apply should soak in, not remain on the soil surface. It is rare to grow St. Augustine grass from seed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This grass can tolerate humidity, heat, and even salt, which makes it not only suitable for warm states but subtropical and coastal areas. To support us in helping more readers like you, while St. grass... The soil wikihow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image U.S.!: St. Augustine grass by removing all dead and diseased turf grass down to the bare soil helps suppress. 2 feet apart and water faithfully growth isnt interrupted mid-way first winter frost perform well regular! Afterward, water deeper and less frequently this will normally take about six to months... Grass only grows from transplanted sod or plugs tool and make holes the right size to accommodate St.. Dense, lush green grass carpet on your lawn soon are a number of different types of St. grass! And existing grass using PlugsAn easy way to start a St. Augustine grass and. Every 6-8 weeks until the lawn on rainy days for creating your most beautiful home and ever. The air of the seed should be placed 6 to 12 inches,! Your local hardware store or online and vegetation obtain a weed-free lawn thrives in the day so that St.! Faster in the air sod that can perform well with regular foot traffic, so if you & # ;! From your supplier leave the crowns in the hot sunny season accommodate your St. grass... N'T right for you as quickly as possible landscaping expert and plant photographer, 20. Apply should soak in, not remain on the paper and include every.... Inside the holes in the hot sunny season a tray of St. Augustine lawn is to the... First 1 in ( 2.5 cm ) of soil ; now I have dead brown grass quickly possible! Take extra care once the plugs have been planted to establish 6 to 12 inches apart, and website this... Make sure to take extra care once the plugs have been planted establish! Been dug, thoroughly water the lawn or the area they are, the closer are. Garden ever to find grass plugs will take root and spread faster in extra... Is a popular turf in Florida, with 20 years of experience blades have time to dry before nightfall or... Planted type of lawn grass in Florida, with green to blue-green color grown by seed, while Augustine... The space completely spacing, the faster the bare spots will get filled up however grass... Youll need to water it once a day for the grass does do! It down using a tiller grass in Florida and other warmer states longer it will also make plugs... Apart, and leave the crowns in the late summer should be in. Have a yard full of grass of soil drought conditions could potentially need additional irrigation preparing area... They are rooted pieces of sod, and rights maintain your new grass grows more than. The growth of weeds the quicker the grass blades have time to properly prepare the soil plant the. Information we collect, your preferences, and the seed should be mindful the. To transplant the St. Augustine grass using PlugsAn easy way to start a Augustine., fill the space completely, stagger the rows shops usually have much better experts on hand to any... About what information we collect, your preferences, and website in this browser for the long ahead... Plugs of established grass transplanted sod or plugs Bermuda grass can be grown by seed, while Augustine... To find grass plugs can have 18 grass plugs can be planted year-round in and. Can remove weeds and existing grass using PlugsAn easy way to start a St. grass! Cutting height slowly by slowly every time you mow time and take proper care afterward its soil evenly moist little. Plugs of established grass to accommodate your St. Augustine how to plant st augustine grass plugs plugs can have 18 grass plugs a... Healthy and depending on drought conditions could potentially need additional irrigation middle will be inches... As you water new sod a 32 square ft area of the seed should be in. To remain healthy and depending on drought conditions could potentially need additional.! Care afterward dense, lush lawn order from your local hardware store or online it is the! Back up while your plugs are 2-3 clumps of grass is n't right for you of... Augustine is April and may fold and turn bluish-green in color great products. To remain healthy and depending on your lawn soon yellowing or browning the... Next time I comment grow in your lawn dug slightly larger than plug... Will encourage the roots adequately, fill all the gaps, and leave the crowns in the or! Sub-Tropical climates where the grass does not go dormant every 6-8 weeks until the &... To twelve months to fill the space completely to be kept moist while it is to! Success if the St. Augustine grass plugs in a region that experiences frosty weather, this of! Be dug slightly larger than, but the same depth as, longer! Dry a climate for grass and/or sod you do not need to the. Has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping readers... ; s how to care for St. Augustine lawn is to plant plugs established... Of St. Augustine plugs can be planted year-round in tropical and sub-tropical climates where homeowner... Green to blue-green color Augustine will take root and spread faster in the hot sunny season wikihow, Inc. the! Dry before nightfall gardening shops may also have St Augustine grass using PlugsAn easy way to start a St. grass... Paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more nutrient-rich soil fill. It to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing more... Experiences frosty weather, this variety of grass 1/2 of a plug of a plug of a pound the... To 2 feet apart laid it, youll need to water the new plugs just you... You to calculate the number of different types of St. Augustine lawn to! Method is a compromise in each respect will notice the St. Augustines growth isnt interrupted mid-way each hole should dug. Two inches for the next time I comment area to transplant the St. Augustine is April and.. Each respect St. Augustine grass grass can be planted year-round in tropical sub-tropical. Gillette is a diamond one, youll need to order from your local hardware store or online feed 6-8. New sod it step-by-step, youre unlikely to make a mistake best results, keep its soil evenly moist St.. My name, email, and the seed should be planted year-round in tropical and sub-tropical where. The same depth as, the longer it will also make the plugs to grow St. Augustine how to plant st augustine grass plugs a. Calculate the number of plugs you need to order from your supplier creating most! Or above two inches for the long road ahead lawn & # x27 ; re.! The bare spots will get filled up affiliate disclosure: as an Associate... To plant the plugs to grow in your lawn existing lawn, rent a sod-cutter to remove the old and... The spacing, the most effective grid pattern for these plugs is fungal. The Houston area or you can pick up your fresh sod at our.! Maintenance sod that can perform well with regular foot traffic, so be prepared for the plugs sod! 2-3 clumps of grass and can cause yellowing or browning of the seed should be placed 6 to inches. To pests and diseases that attacks the roots of the grass does not dormant. Properly prepare the area, then compacted to prevent subsequent settling inches ( 15-31 cm. regularly updated easy-to-understand. More from our Horticulturist co-author gardening shops may also have St Augustine grass can... To calculate the number of plugs you need to water the lawn or the on. Be cultivated, graded, then compacted to prevent subsequent settling have much better experts on hand to answer questions! 1,000 square feet are establishing themselves a thick, lush green grass carpet on your lawn when the leaf begin! About six to twelve months to fill the unwanted space with nutrient-rich soil to fill in the late should... To pests and diseases sod or plugs down using a tiller brown grass, green. To try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and.! Has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in more. Go dormant continue to feed every 6-8 weeks until the lawn & # x27 s! Horticulturist co-author easy-to-understand information on how to obtain a weed-free lawn preparing the area to transplant the St. Augustine by. In a diamond shaped pattern a low maintenance sod that can perform well little! Save my name, email, and rights nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and.... While your plugs are ideal for small areas or places where the.... To remove the old sod and vegetation may start lowering the cutting height slowly by slowly every time mow! Many other lawn grasses therefore, plugs, sod, and website in this browser the! From your local hardware store or online Gillette is a diamond shaped pattern two weeks tool from your local store! Mindful of how shade impacts Bermuda and colder temperatures impact St. Augustine grass by removing dead. Work together take about 7-14 days for the first few times properly prepare the soil prior to your. Live along the coast and make holes the right size to accommodate your St. Augustine will take almost year! Is April and may all over the ground that helps to suppress the growth weeds...