how to plant st augustine grass plugshow to plant st augustine grass plugs

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. An easy way to start a St. Augustine lawn is to plant plugs of established grass. We may earn compensation from some providers below. St. Augustine grass plugs are the best way to repair bare spots in your lawn. So, the only option left in hand is grass plugs. Most St. Augustine seed is naturally sterile. Please call us at 281-431-7441 or use our contact form for more information or a quote for your project. In zones 7 to 12, you can start a lawn of St. Augustine grass any time during the growing season. Plugs can be spaced 12 or more inches apart but the closer together they are spaced, the faster the grass fills in for complete coverage. Next, apply a non-selective herbicide 2 weeks before planting to kill weeds; make sure you use a product that doesnt leave a residual that would harm the newly planted St. Augustine grass. Place the plugs 5. If you want to form this pattern, you must flag the spots diagonally so that each group of 4 plugs will make a diamond. Want to collaborate with us? Here's how to bring back dead St. Augustine grass and make it grow green again: 1. The plug method is a compromise in each respect. The average cost of a plug of a quality cultivar of buffalo grass is $1. It is important that you dig 2-4 deep and remove the soil with the grass. Heat promotes the growth of St. Augustine grass. After two weeks, continue watering the area with 1 of water per week. Augustine grass grows best in the warmth of spring and summer, when high temperatures are normally 80-100 F. And if you were to ask for the best time for growing St. Augustine grass in the U.S., I would say: you can grow your grass from May all the way to July. To ensure strong growth and deep roots, apply one-half pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually during the growing season (spring through fall). The grass needs soil to establish its roots. You might be in too dry a climate for grass and/or sod. The first step is to examine and calculate the area of the space needing plugs. After the holes have been dug, thoroughly water the area. St. Augustine grass. St. Augustine does well in the warm Tampa climate and is easy to plant as either sod or plugs. Planting the plugs isnt the end of the process. Measure the lawn or the area you want to plant the grass plugs in before purchasing them. Ultimate Weed Identification Guide With, Best Fertilizer for Zoysia Grass How To Do It, Centipede Grass Pros and Cons When Its Good, Centipede Grass Seed Whats Critical to Know Before You Sow, How to Clean and Maintain your Artificial Lawn, Sevin Dust One of the Best Pesticide Dusts, Use an all-vegetation herbicide to kill all grass and weeds in the area we recommend, Wait two weeks for the herbicide to completely dissipate, Break up the soil break up compacted soil with a tiller; if soil is loose, use a garden rake, Remove all dead thatch and plant residue from the area. Youll notice them carpeting your lawn, but mowing before it looks untidy is better. For instance, we shared detailed information about the best time to plant it, follow-up maintenance, and growth rate. Meet Mattias Jonsson, the head of content at RainSaucers. The best way to ensure that your holes are perfectly dug is by using a grass plugging tool, these are generally available in local gardening tools, and you can use them without much effort. Rake all the debris from the area and rototill the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. While I no longer live on a farm today, I still enjoy spending time on my garden and sharing my knowledge with friends and fellow garden enthusiasts. St. Augustine grass not only tolerates warm temperatures but thrives in the hot sunny season. St. Augustine plugs needs at least 90 days before the first frost. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Cover the roots adequately, fill all the gaps, and leave the crowns in the air. Water the new plugs just as you water new sod. When you till the soil later, it serves as a natural fertilizer. St. Augustine will take root and spread faster in the right soil conditions. You might need to adjust this in case of rainfall. It's best if you put St. Augustine grass directly on the soil. St. Augustine grass is susceptible toinfestations of chinch bugs. Water your lawn when the leaf blades begin to fold and turn bluish-green in color. Benefits of plugs include the fact that you can plant one and within a matter of months they will spread and fill in the area . St. Augustine grasses do not produce enough viable seeds for commercialization. This tool makes perfectly-plug-sized holes with a lot less work on your part. . Just follow these steps: Choose the best time to plant Calculate square footage and spacing Prep the site Plant the grass plugs 1. Watering makes the ground more malleable and gives the roots of the St. Augustine grass plugs immediate moisture. In most southern climates, St. Augustine grass is the coveted turf of choice, while Bermuda grass is an invasive nuisance. Stores like Lowes and The Home Depot sell 18 grass plugs to a tray. Plant Your Grass Plugs Place the plugs into the holes and ensure they're leveled with the ground. Join our mailing list to keep tabs on how to care for your lawn! Otherwise, they will pop back up while your plugs are establishing themselves. This will give your newly planted lawn enough time to establish before the harsh weather sets in. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Each hole should be dug slightly larger than, but the same depth as, the plug's root ball. This grass is best for coastal areas. A goodgarden loamworks well. There are a few green twigs coming back to life but I think it's dead. Examples include: St. Augustine grass has traditionally been propagated via sod (plugs), and it is in this form that turf farms or their retailers sell it to homeowners and landscapers. Then you can water it 2-3 times a week. It is important to continue to water the newly planted St. Augustine plugs for the next two weeks. This is an acceptable spacing amount, but remember that the closer together they are, the faster they will spread on your landscape. It does require regular watering to remain healthy and depending on drought conditions could potentially need additional irrigation. What now? Helps St. Augustine grass repair 60% faster. Always take time to properly prepare the soil prior to installing your grass plugs. This period will last for well around 2 weeks, and once they start spreading, you can give them an inch of water per week. [8] The water should not pool on top of the sod or run off of it. Press one plug firmly into each hole, making sure each is level with surrounding ground. Even though st Augustine plugs can be planted in the mid-summer, it is certainly not advisable. Additional Care Keep watering your newly planted grass plugs for 2 weeks. Creating plugs from pieces of sod will help stretch the coverage area. % of people told us that this article helped them. By using our site, you agree to our. Be sure your area is appropriate for sod as well. When should I plant St Augustine grass? Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Check and fix any drainage problems and slope your lawn away from the house or garage and fill low areas to avoid cases of standing water in your yard. (You can also purchase St. Augustine sod, but it can be expensive.) Additionally, you can put starter fertilizer on the holes so that the St. Augustine grass plugs get essential nutrients as soon as they get firm on the ground. The most common use of St. Augustine grass is in lawns and landscapes because it is drought tolerant and shade tolerant. . This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If you look at the list of warm-season grass, you will find St. Augustine grass to be one of the most common grasses in it. However, you can plant . wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The bugs will float to the surface. Is it ok try plant St Augustine Grass in Sand or Plant only in Rich Fertilizer TopSoil. St. Augustine grass plugs should be planted at least 12 inches apart. St. Augustine grass plugs are a great way to fill in bare and dead spots. Augustinegrass is grown using plugs, which produce new growth from stems that are above the ground. (You can also purchase St. Augustine sod, but it can be expensive.). You can learn more about this here. 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.