With a little care and patience, plugs will easily renovate your yard. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Existing vegetation must be dead. However, late spring has moderately warm weather between 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Thoroughly water the planted area three to five times a day for up to 10 days. [8] The water should not pool on top of the sod or run off of it. One of the most common questions people ask is when to plant these plugs. By submitting your email address you are agreeing to receive emails with related tips, information, and promotions from Scotts Miracle-Gro, it's affiliates, and select partners and to our Conditions of Use and consent to the collection of your personal information. Even though st Augustine plugs can be planted in the mid-summer, it is certainly not advisable. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. Ferti-lome New Lawn Starter Fertilizer will give your plugs a kickstart and make them grow faster! St. Augustine grass identification is based on its bluish-green leaf color with wide, flat blades and low, creeping habit that allows it to form dense mats. Prevention is the best way to control chinch bugs. Since St. Augustine grass spreads so vigorously via its creeping stolons, it is easy to establish it from sod. If youre replacing an existing lawn, rent a sod-cutter to remove the old sod and vegetation. Planting in Rows Dig a row to the depth of your plugs using your hoe. Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. You need some tough, weather-tolerant St. Augustine grass. Surface Studio vs iMac - Which Should You Pick? After 14 to 15 days, your St Augustine grass has begun spreading, and firm roots are now established. Depending on the spacing, 18 plugs covers around 32 square feet. Dig holes in a diagonal planting pattern, so each group of four holes forms a diamond. The amount of space covered by a tray of St. Augustine plugs can vary by plant spacing. With proper soil preparation, adequate timing, and care, the rooted pieces of sod will gradually spread and fill every space within them, offering a dense beautiful carpet. Call back the company that laid the grass and ask them to rid the bugs and replant the grass. You want to avoid this because soil-covered crowns can rot and die. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. To check for chinch bugs, try a water test. Creating plugs from pieces of sod will help stretch the coverage area. Most St. Augustine seed is naturally sterile. 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. Before any mowing, make sure that the St Augustine grass plugs or sod are properly rooted and are growing robustly. Continue watering until the EZ Patch is completely saturated and no more water is being absorbed which may take several minutes. It is rare to grow St. Augustine grass from seed. Local shops usually have much better experts on hand to answer any questions you may have. St Augustine is a warm-season grass that thrives in sun and warmer temperatures found in the southern part of the United States. This will give your newly planted lawn enough time to establish before the harsh weather sets in. Summer is the peak growing season for St. Augustine grass. It will become green again when warm weather returns. If you are asking how many days it will take to fill the bare spots in your garden, well, it will depend much on the distance of the plugs. And if your lawn has bare or bald spots, its still a great option to fix them. After digging the holes, saturate the area by watering thoroughly but dont completely fill the holes with water. Give it enough water to dampen the first 1 in (2.5 cm) of soil. When will the best results occur? This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. 5. Plugs are the ideal method of planting St Augustine grass. This time is suggested because the grass will have plenty of time to establish itself before the winter months approach and dormancy takes over. It killed the sod; now I have dead brown grass. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Augustine grass is highly tolerant of soil salinity, producing satisfactory growth at salt levels as high as 16 mmhos. A goodgarden loamworks well. It is important that you dig 2-4 deep and remove the soil with the grass. Spacing multiple feet between holes and in a checkerboard pattern will help your yard heal quicker. One big drawback is that it does not do well with regular foot traffic, so if you're looking . Planting too deep also encourages diseases or insects. Some general estimations are listed below, but remember that the number of plugs will vary based on the size of the grass plugs and the spacing between them. If you allow your lawn to grow past 3 inches you risk the possibility of mowing down into the stems. Area must be cultivated, graded, then compacted to prevent subsequent settling. St. Augustine grass is a popular turf in Florida and other warmer states. Enjoy! {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Plant-a-St-Augustine-Sod-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-St-Augustine-Sod-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Plant-a-St-Augustine-Sod-Step-1.jpg\/aid9724649-v4-728px-Plant-a-St-Augustine-Sod-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":" \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Call 281-431-7441 for Help in Selecting the Best Grass Variety for Your Project. We research, test, & and review the best products. Planting, Care, Similar Grasses, and Disadvantages. Soil pH amendment may also be done before the digging of the holes is done. If a disease is identified, you can apply St. Augustine Grass fungicide. How to Plant Grass Plugs Materials: Soil Analysis Kit Measuring Tape Sod Cutter, Rototiller or Glyphosate Auger Bit and Drill New Lawn Starter Box Step 1: Test Your Soil If you're planning to plant grass plugs throughout your entire lawn, the first step we recommend is testing the soil. St Augustine Seville Grass Plugs (32-Count) Natural, Affordable Lawn Improvement When it comes to st. Augustine grass, the most effective grid pattern for these plugs is a diamond one. The closer they are, the faster the bare spots will get filled up. Space the grass plugs about 6 inches (15 cm) apart. To prepare the soil, do the following: After you have removed the vegetation, plan out the desired planting grid pattern. 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. RainSaucers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, 2023 RainSaucers - Bringing Rain to Your Garden, What Is The Best Time To Plant St. Augustine Grass Plugs, How To Maintain Newly Planted St. Augustine Plants, How To Plant St. Augustine Grass Plugs Summary, How Long to Water Overseeded Lawn? For the best results, apply 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet (this should be spread over several applications). Weed resistance: Sodded St. Augustine instantly chokes out any weeds. St. Augustine grass will only stay green all year if the soil temperature remains 60 F or warmer. Once the plugs have begun to spread, the area can be mowed as needed. Wear protective clothing such as gloves, long sleeves, and a facemask. You can also slice sod to fit it around tough areas like planting beds, curbs, and other curves. 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. 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). St. Augustine does well in the warm Tampa climate and is easy to plant as either sod or plugs. But the size may vary. If the area experiences heavy rain, you may need to improve drainage or create a rain garden to help manage excess water. . You can prevent downy mildew through good garden hygiene: St. Augustine grass grows more quickly than many other lawn grasses. Keep the newly planted St Augustine grass plugs moist for two weeks; . Preparing the area also includes spreading the fertilizer and watering it properly. 5 Types of Grass for Sandy Soil, How to Keep Birds from Eating Grass Seed 10 Safe Ways, How to Tell if Grass Seed is Germinating (Ideal Requirements), Does Ryegrass Spread? Or if you are looking to start a whole new lawn in a small area, plugs are a great alternative to sod. Measure the lawn or the area you want to plant the grass plugs in before purchasing them. Plugs, on the other hand, are a much cheaper alternative. Learn how to plant St. Augustine grass plugs the right way with our expert techniques. Do I have to butt the sods together, or can I spread them apart for results? Plant the grass plugs at least 90 days before your regions first estimated fall frost. Firstly, no weeds. St. Augustine plugs can be planted year-round in tropical and sub-tropical climates where the grass does not go dormant. Houston Grass South is located just a few miles east of Sienna Plantation in Arcola, TX. 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 want to form this pattern, you must flag the spots diagonally so that each group of 4 plugs will make a diamond. Watering makes the ground more malleable and gives the roots of the St. Augustine grass plugs immediate moisture. Taking measurements for your planting area will help you to calculate the number of plugs you need to order from your supplier. Plugs are small, like 2 to 3 inches in general. St. Augustine sod grows best in warm places that dont freeze over in the winter. This warm-season plant can grow and thrive in a wide range of soil types with a pH between 5.0 to 8.0. Keep your lawnmower high approximately 3-3.5 inches tall for St. Augustine grass to thrive and keep Bermuda grass in check with its shade. Lawn Tips & Advice, Straight From The Experts! Additional Care Keep watering your newly planted grass plugs for 2 weeks. Rather you want to stagger the plugs in a diamond shaped pattern. If your holes end up being too deep, you can add a little nutrient-rich soil to fill in the extra space. Have valuable content in the lawn, garden, and pest niche to share? As a warm-season turfgrass, plant St. Augustine grass in spring and summer in full sun with at least 90 days to establish before first frost. It is important to continue to water the newly planted St. Augustine plugs for the next two weeks. We deliver the best quality grass in Houston, and we do it at a competitive price too. St. Augustine grass handles heat and humidity well, which is why it is popular in regions such as the American Southeast. Cover the roots adequately, fill all the gaps, and leave the crowns in the air. During the summer, maintain a fertilizing schedule such that you feed it every 6 to 8 weeks. We hope that this step-by-step guide helped you understand how to plant st. augustine grass plugs. Lawn and Petal is your source for regularly updated, easy-to-understand information on how to obtain a weed-free lawn. This makes plugs a great choice for thin or bare spots in your lawn. Plugs are suitable for tiny areas or when the homeowner isn't in a hurry to create a lawn. Water the new plugs just as you water new sod. Can I put St. Augustine grass over my existing grass? Pull out the entire root system; otherwise, theyll pop right back. For instance, we shared detailed information about the best time to plant it, follow-up maintenance, and growth rate. 2. Whether starting a new lawn or replacing an old one, a soil test is necessary for both. If you want to avoid this from happening, then make sure to keep a close eye on your st. Augustine grass plugs. You can also use a hoe or shovel by inserting the blade vertically to cut out the desired piece. This variety of grass is sensitive to cold weather. Now is also a great time to do a soil test. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. Remove any weeds from the soil. You may start lowering the cutting height slowly by slowly every time you mow. For digging holes, a garden trowel is enough. YARD PLUGGER cuts a 3" X 3" square plug of sod or soil - the size of most commercially available grass plugs. Once youve laid it, youll need to water it once a day for the first week. Plant Your Grass Plugs Place the plugs into the holes and ensure they're leveled with the ground. Ensure there are no pockets left around the plug as this will cause roots to dry out. 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. Like all new sod, St. Augustine needs to be water multiple times a day for the first couple of weeks. After considering all these requirements, it is safe to say that the best time to plant st. augustine grass plugs will be spring (late spring, to be particular) and summer (early summer). Buy fresh plugs and keep them moist. The time for planting St. Augustine is April and May. Do you live in a warm state with extreme heat no grass will tolerate? If the soil is loose, you can make it suitable for planting the plugs using a garden rake. To grow St. Augustine grass, you use stolons- a horizontal growth stem - which travels just above the ground surface. 1. Water the grass plugs Thoroughly water the planted area three to five times a day for up to 10 days. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Choose the best time to plant The best time to plant St. Augustine plugs is in the late spring or early summer. When you till the soil later, it serves as a natural fertilizer. With a little maintenance, the sod may soon grow into a luxurious St. Augustine lawn. Be sure your area is appropriate for sod as well. Each hole should be dug slightly larger than, but the same depth as, the plug's root ball. Plant a section of sod. Plugs can also be made from existing grass in your yard. If the soil is hard, break it down using a tiller. 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. You might need to adjust this in case of rainfall. Fertilizing St Augustine Grass. How far apart should you plant St Augustine plugs? This is a warm season turfgrass and loves heat, so it grows best when high temperatures are between 80- and 100-degrees F. However, it's not quite that easy. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Planting the plugs too deep could cause the crowns to rot. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Do Grasshoppers Bite? St. Augustine grass plugs are the best way to repair bare spots in your lawn. Ensure that you cover the roots, but not the crown of the plug. If things go right and factors are properly considered, youll have a lush and beautiful lawn in no time. Keep pets and other people away until you are finished. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. It's not hard to plant a beautiful St. Augustine lawn on your own when you follow these tips from Scotts. After you plant the plugs, you will notice the grass is spreading. The time taken ensures your grass plugs will not die off. Take the details to your supplier for advice or use it to calculate your sod spacing intervals. Afterward, water freely every day until the roots have firmly established and started spreading. You may even find them at some big stores like Home Depot or Lowes. St. Augustine grass is a spreading, warm-season grass for lawns, especially in warm climates. Thus, it is best to plant it in late spring or summer when the weather is warm. Extended periods of hot and dry weather, St. Augustine grass might start to die. If the holes are too deep, add a small amount of soil to level the plug. I had St. Augustine sod put down last summer. In doing so, make sure that you dont overdo it. Each plug has been carefully maintained to develop a well established root system, making them an excellent way to start or improve your lawn. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. After that, cover the roots only and leave the crowns above ground. The maintenance requirements begin once the st. augustine grass plugs reach a mowable height. (You can also purchase St. Augustine sod, but it can be expensive.) Then thoroughly water the area to soften the soil for easier hole digging and planting of the plugs. You Can Barefoot Test Our Grass Varieties at Our Office. It also allows your grass to spread as quickly as possible. It was fine and then turned to a straw-like color over the winter. Propagation: Bermuda grass can be grown by seed, while St. Augustine grass only grows from transplanted sod or plugs. Stores like Lowes and The Home Depot sell 18 grass plugs to a tray. Its tolerance to heat, salt, and humidity makes it suitable for coastal yards and subtropical humid areas. Dethatch your lawn whenever you detect substantial thatch build-up. You can also buy or rent a grass plugging tool from your local hardware store or online. Space the pieces of sod 1 to 2 feet apart and water faithfully. St. Augustine grass requires both high phosphorus and high nitrogen fertilizer to ensure the best rapid growth, optimal thickness, and strong color. You can grow St. Augustine grass during the summer and make sure you lay the plugs on well-aerated soil, then apply phosphorous fertilizer and come up with a good watering schedule that will encourage quicker root and foliage development. The first step is to examine and calculate the area of the space needing plugs. St. Augustine grass is used primarily for lawns as it does not tolerant traffic as well as some other warm season species. This may vary from place to place. If you put flags in the desired places, it will be easier to identify the spots and dig holes. 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. You can remove weeds and existing grass using all-vegetation herbicide and then wait two weeks. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This is an acceptable spacing amount, but remember that the closer together they are, the faster they will spread on your landscape. Nutrients and moisture within the soil. References. Common diseases affecting St. Augustine grass include brown patches, gray leaf spots, and take-all root rot. 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. This grass is best for coastal areas. Exercise caution the first time you mow to avoid pulling up the sod. 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. These months are advisable because they are neither excruciatingly hot nor undesirably cool. Plant the Plugs or Sod Place the St. Augustine grass plugs inside the holes in the lawn's soil. St. Augustine grass is a popular choice for lawns in the south. Mow the lawn area with a lawnmower, set on the lowest setting, to remove all tall weeds from the area you are planting. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Give it a year to take hold. . St. Augustine grass is an aggressive grower and can compete with weeds. Augustine ,How to Make St. Augustine Grass Spread Quickly and Grow Thicker ,St. Augustine 3,Types of Sod for Your Lawn - The Home Depot,,St Augustine Grass Seed . Grass/sod can appear dead but come back. You can learn more about this here. Will St. Augustine grass take over weeds? It's simple, planting St Augustine plugs is as easy as throwing down one two inch plug for every twelve inches of soil. Measuring your lawn area is the first and most important step in planting St. Augustine grass plugs. Give each grass plug about 6 inches (15 cm) of space to prevent the plugs ' root systems from overcrowding each other. This toxin renders your grass unable to take up water properly, and the grass dies. 2002-2023 The Scotts Company LLC. Plant plugs as soon after purchase as possible. In the fourth week, water 1-2 times every other day. By doing so, you are giving your grasses sufficient time to get prepared for the upcoming extreme weather. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Space each plug 6 to 12 inches apart in the row and add a little starter fertilizer around each plug. Deciding a grid pattern for your st. Augustine grass lawn is also a vital part. Maintaining Your New St. Augustine Grass LawnOnce your new St. Augustine grass lawn starts to fill in and the grass blades reach a mowable height, cut the grass with the mower set to one of the highest settings (3-4 inches). Grass plugs are turf plants that are grown in trays. There are a few green twigs coming back to life but I think it's dead. Each hole should be spaced according to your plan, 6 to 12 apart. Your email address will not be published. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This product is sold in four 8-count packs. So, the best time to grow it would be summer and spring. 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.
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