\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Take plugs from the sod with the ProPlugger every 3 apart. Planting the plugs incorrectly can lead to a loss of resources. DO NOT use potting soil mixes with heavy organic matter content as filler. St. Augustine Grass VS Zoysia: Who Will Win The Battle For Your Lawn. Grass plugs are little pieces of live turf grass that come complete with roots, soil, and are ready to plant. Measure the lawn or the area you want to plant the grass plugs in before purchasing them. The closer they are, the faster the bare spots will get filled up. Plant plugs as soon after purchase as possible. Otherwise, sod is easy to plant over cleared and tilled ground. It does require regular watering to remain healthy and depending on drought conditions could potentially need additional irrigation. Brown patch is a fungal disease that can form circular patches of brown grass. In the fourth week, water 1-2 times every other day. Planting the plugs too deep could cause the crowns to rot. How to Plant St. Augustine Grass Plugs Tips for Success, 1) Decide How Far Apart to Plant St. Augustine Grass Plugs, 3) Prep the Soil for Planting the St. Augustine Plugs, 4) Drill or Dig the Holes for Your St. Augustine Grass Plugs. You can use a mower at its highest setting (3-4) inches to cut this grass. Gray leaf spot is another fungal disease causing gray lesions on the grass blades. Monitor the grass for signs of disease and take action promptly if a problem is detected. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Ferti-lome New Lawn Starter Fertilizer will give your plugs a kickstart and make them grow faster! Once cultivated, St. Augustine grass propagates on its own through stolons, plugs, and sod. Afterward, water freely every day until the roots have firmly established and started spreading. If you want to plant some, wait until the spring or early summer, then spray a glyphosate weedkiller over the planting area to protect the plants from competing grasses. This usually takes about 7-14 days, and It is recommended to water as deeply as possible during this time. After 14 to 15 days, your St Augustine grass has begun spreading, and firm roots are now established. Though sod is the most perfect option for establishing a new lawn from scratch, its very costly as well. With proper care, St. Augustine grass will establish itself quickly and provide years of enjoyment. These sod plugs are packaged in trays for convenient shipping and easy installation. How to Grow St. Augustine Grass From Seed. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Does the time of the year even matter? Once you have taken the measurements per square foot, go to your nearest gardening store and buy the plug trays. 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. 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). The larger the spacing, the longer it will take for the plugs to grow together. The only requirement is to plant the plugs correctly, water them adequately, and provide proper lawn maintenance practices that involve mowing, fertilizing, and watering. Taking measurements for your planting area will help you to calculate the number of plugs you need to order from your supplier. To grow St. Augustine grass, you use stolons- a horizontal growth stem - which travels just above the ground surface. St. Augustine sod grows best in warm places that dont freeze over in the winter. The plug method is a compromise in each respect. After the holes have been dug, thoroughly water the area. You wont need to wait for years to see your lawn turn lush green. Suppose you have followed the above-listed method for how to plant st. augustine grass plugs. This grass is best for coastal areas. It also has a high tolerance for salt water, which makes it perfect for coastal areas. Enjoy! Your new lawn needs thorough watering in week 1 and week 2. Here's how to bring back dead St. Augustine grass and make it grow green again: 1. Our specialists recommend adding a small amount starter fertilizer to the holes. Lastly, water the plugs again. Just follow these steps: Choose the best time to plant Calculate square footage and spacing Prep the site Plant the grass plugs 1. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Plugs are ideal for small areas or places where the homeowner isnt in a rush to have a yard full of grass. Use Up and Down arrow keys to navigate search results. Mow at or above two inches for the first few times. Kill all the weeds or pre-existing lawn grass by spraying a non-selective herbicide. St. Augustine grass. Sow 1/3 to 1/2 of a pound of the seed per 1,000 square feet. Cover the roots adequately, fill all the gaps, and leave the crowns in the air. Grass/sod can appear dead but come back. By doing so, your st. Augustine will have immediate moisture and establish deep roots more quickly. Plan the desired pattern to plant the grass plugs. Remove any weeds from the soil. Planting in the late summer should be mindful of the estimated first winter frost. Helps repair St. Augustinegrass 60% faster* *Results 15 days after application vs. untreated control. You can also slice sod to fit it around tough areas like planting beds, curbs, and other curves. The roots and turf are both susceptible to pests and diseases. You can use a tape measure but take driveways, sidewalks, shrubs, trees, and other landscaping elements of your entire lawn into consideration. Safely place the plugs in the holes one after the other as you securely tap the soil around them to ensure proper soil-plug contact. Within two weeks, your St. Augustine plugs should be well rooted and on their way to spreading. How To Care For St. Augustine Grass. This will normally take about 7-14 days for the roots to establish. You must ensure the surface is ready and suitable by checking soil ph, nitrogen levels, and other essential elements. With a little maintenance, the sod may soon grow into a luxurious St. Augustine lawn. This product is sold in four 8-count packs. 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. It can be pretty pricey. Check the water depth by digging into wet soil away from the grass or by estimation. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. After two weeks, the weeds should be dead. You can make your St Augustine grass spread faster, and grow thick and dense through the following ways: St Augustine grass is an easy-to-maintain grass that establishes quickly. Within a short time, you will notice the St. Augustine grass thriving on your lawn. St. Augustine grass plugs should be planted at least 12 inches apart. Plugs are the more common method of planting St Augustine grass. Taking care of st. Augustine grass plugs after planting them are just as important. St. Augustine will take root and spread faster in the right soil conditions. These uninvited occurrences interrupt your plants steady growth and threaten to damage it in the early stages. It thrives in temperatures between 80 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Exercise caution the first time you mow to avoid pulling up the sod. We may earn compensation from some providers below. This grass can tolerate humidity, heat, and even salt, which makes it not only suitable for warm states but subtropical and coastal areas. A tray of St. Augustine grass plugs can have 18 grass plugs that can cover roughly a 32 square ft area. This will help you plan how many holes you 'll need to dig and decide whether you 'll need more grass plugs. You need to plant St. Augustine grass sod or plugs when there is full sun. After about a month I fertilized with a pink fertilizer. There are a number of different types of St. Augustine grass. 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. Place the plugs 5. You can also use a hoe or shovel by inserting the blade vertically to cut out the desired piece. St. Augustine can be planted easily in the summer, however, during the establishment of a St. Augustine lawn in the summer, it is vital that the grass is kept moist. But, if you are lucky enough to find the seed and want to try your hand at it, sow it in late spring to early summer. Hi, I'm Sean, the senior editor here at Fertilizer Pick. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Plant Your Grass Plugs Place the plugs into the holes and ensure they're leveled with the ground. St. Augustine grass does better in a soil pH range between 6.0 and 7.5, which is slightly acidic to neutral. If the holes are too deep, add a small amount of soil to level the plug. Considering that youve already flagged the spots in diamond patterns, you need to dig holes properly. on center, SodPods covers 72 sq. If you spread them apart, weeds will grow between sods. Adjust accordingly as needed for your area. This part is crucial because when plugs are planted too deep in the soil, they become vulnerable to fungi and insects. Use a garden trowell to dig holes. Typically, holes will be between 2-4 deep. Then you can water it 2-3 times a week. This grass loves the full sun and grows best under sunlight and heat. MANUAL SOD CUTTER is great for transplanting grass plugs of all types of turf grasses including zoysia, Bermuda, centipede, St. Augustine and many others so you can choose the best sod to repair your lawn. For best results, keep its soil evenly moist. Imidacloprid 2F Select T/I is a highly effective insect control product and termiticide that offers prevention and control over a wide array of common lawn and garden insects. Use a starter fertilizer that is high in phosphorous. St. Augustine grass and Bermuda grass perform best in the southern regions, or warmer parts of the United States. Fill in any space around the plugs with soil to secure. St Augustine Seville Grass Plugs (32-Count) Natural, Affordable Lawn Improvement Phosphorus helps with root growth, so if you want your st. Augustinegrass plugs to spread faster. St. Augustinegrass does require water to stay green during periods of drought, however it doesn't need more water than other grass species to remain green. To prepare the soil, do the following: After you have removed the vegetation, plan out the desired planting grid pattern. In zones 7 to 12, you can start a lawn of St. Augustine grass any time during the growing season. Area must be cultivated, graded, then compacted to prevent subsequent settling. If the soil is hard, break it down using a tiller. Six to 8 weeks after planting, feed withScotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food. This product is powered by Imidacloprid and guarantees both foliar and systemic insect control. Rather you want to stagger the plugs in a diamond shaped pattern. Weed resistance: Sodded St. Augustine instantly chokes out any weeds. Water the grass plugs Thoroughly water the planted area three to five times a day for up to 10 days. 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. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. You do not have to remove the old plant matter. Young plants are highly vulnerable to pests and diseases such as chinch bugs. After successfully planting the grasses, you can start expecting a dense, lush green grass carpet on your lawn soon. St. Augustine grass is an aggressive grower and can compete with weeds. If you get frost during the colder months, it may damage your St. Augustine grass. Water the soil until it is saturated. Bermudagrass will tolerate only slightly higher salt levels. In areas where the grass will go dormant, plant your plugs after the last frost of the winter. Rake the area clean so the new transplant has contact with the soil. The water should not pool on top of the sod or run off of it. Lawn Tips & Advice, Straight From The Experts! You can buy 1 pound of buffalo grass seed for about $50. The abovementioned method is an extremely easy way to set up your st. Augustine lawn. Make a sketch map of the area on the paper and include every dimension. 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. Youll need to monitor them regularly and keep a note that mildew or brown spots are among the earliest signs. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. It's not hard to plant a beautiful St. Augustine lawn on your own when you follow these tips from Scotts. ft. once established. Choose the Right Spreader for Your LawnHaving the right spreader goes a long way in your lawn care routine. A goodgarden loamworks well. 2. However, late spring has moderately warm weather between 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though st Augustine plugs can be planted in the mid-summer, it is certainly not advisable. Spacing multiple feet between holes and in a checkerboard pattern will help your yard heal quicker. Maintaining these plugs is extremely significant if you want a well-established lawn. The bugs will float to the surface. Summer is the peak growing season for St. Augustine grass. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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