how to plant st augustine grass plugs

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. 1. It is a true grass as a member of the Poaceae family. If things go right and factors are properly considered, youll have a lush and beautiful lawn in no time. These sod plugs are packaged in trays for convenient shipping and easy installation. This part is crucial because when plugs are planted too deep in the soil, they become vulnerable to fungi and insects. After digging the holes, saturate the area by watering thoroughly but dont completely fill the holes with water. By using our site, you agree to our. Watering makes the ground more malleable and gives the roots of the St. Augustine grass plugs immediate moisture. Scotts EZ Patch contains fertilizer and a mulch that absorbs up to 6x its weight in water to help St. Augustine grass plugs fill in faster. It will make ideal-sized holes for the plugs. You can remove weeds and existing grass using all-vegetation herbicide and then wait two weeks. Be sure to aerate your lawn before planting the grass - soil that is too hard or compact will make it difficult for the stolons to take root and spread quickly. Make sure to take extra care once the plugs have been planted to establish a dense turf. apart in a prepared lawn. An easy way to start a St. Augustine lawn is to plant plugs of established grass. 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. Watch your lawn closely. If a disease is identified, you can apply St. Augustine Grass fungicide. Dig the holes in a checkerboard pattern considering the recommended spacing distance between each sod. Water your lawn when the leaf blades begin to fold and turn bluish-green in color. Using plugs is the cheapest way to grow an st. augustine lawn, and heres how you can do it. After you see the grass spreading, you can mow your lawn, ensuring that you dont cut them too short that they become lower than 2 inches. If you want to form this pattern, you must flag the spots diagonally so that each group of 4 plugs will make a diamond. How long does a St. Augustine grass lawn last? Give it enough water to dampen the first 1 in (2.5 cm) of soil. Use a high-phosphorus fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks during a growing season for a hardy and disease-resistant St. Augustine lawn. The maintenance requirements begin once the st. augustine grass plugs reach a mowable height. The only requirement is to plant the plugs correctly, water them adequately, and provide proper lawn maintenance practices that involve mowing, fertilizing, and watering. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 43,780 times. After you plant the plugs, you will notice the grass is spreading. Newly planted St. Augustine grass lawns need protection while they are becoming established. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The best time to grow St Augustine grass is in May through July when the average daytime temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime soil temperature is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Planting St. Augustine Grass Through Plugs. Lawn Tips & Advice, Straight From The Experts! Fertilizer Pick All Rights Reserved 2023 | Owned and operated by Scalebloom, Pick the Ideal Fertilizers for St. Augustine Grass, The Best Lawn Fertilizer for Summer (Reviews for 2023), 6 Best Fertilizers for Bermuda Grass in 2023 for Thick Grass, 8 Best Fungicide for St Augustine Grass Reviews in 2023. Before going ahead with this important task, it is recommended to water the dug-in holes deeply and saturate the field. Now, place each plug in the pre-dug hole and press it firmly for the task at hand. You can look for St. Augustine grass plugs at your local garden stores. Aside from that, fertilizing the st. Augustine grass, every once in a while, will also encourage vigorous growth and a healthy lawn. St. Augustine grass blades are coarser and broader, about 1/3 of an inch in width. Fill in the holes with compost or a compost/soil mix. Select a time period that is at least three months after the last frost of the winter and at least three months before the first frost of the fall to harvest. St. Augustine is one of the fastest-growing grasses, which means that ignorance of maintenance requirements can lead the grass growth to get out of hand. St. Augustine sod grows best in warm places that dont freeze over in the winter. After the holes have been dug, thoroughly water the area. 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. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. It killed the sod; now I have dead brown grass. St. Augustine sod usually comes in rolls for larger areas or squares for smaller areas. This tool makes perfectly-plug-sized holes with a lot less work on your part. Six to 8 weeks after planting, feed withScotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food. Ensure that you cover the roots, but not the crown of the plug. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. It can be pretty pricey. When it comes to st. Augustine grass, the most effective grid pattern for these plugs is a diamond one. Join our mailing list to keep tabs on how to care for your lawn! A pound covers about 330 square feet. St Augustine Seville Grass Plugs (32-Count) Natural, Affordable Lawn Improvement Grass plugs are turf plants that are grown in trays. If you allow your lawn to grow past 3 inches you risk the possibility of mowing down into the stems. Mow the lawn area with a lawnmower, set on the lowest setting, to remove all tall weeds from the area you are planting. Overview. Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. It does require regular watering to remain healthy and depending on drought conditions could potentially need additional irrigation. You can also buy or rent a grass plugging tool from your local hardware store or online. St. Augustine sod or plugs . The first step to making St. Augustine grass grow thicker and fuller is installing the plugs/sod on well-draining soil with a pH range between 5.0 and 8.5. Then you can water it 2-3 times a week. Pay special attention to keeping the ground evenly moist until you see that the grass has not only sprouted, but also begun to spread. Planting St. Augustine Grass Using PlugsAn easy way to start a St. Augustine lawn is to plant plugs of established grass. It will become green again when warm weather returns. St. Augustine does well in the warm Tampa climate and is easy to plant as either sod or plugs. Measure the lawn or the area you want to plant the grass plugs in before purchasing them. Proper soil pH and nutrients will not only give your new sod the best change to grow. Water as needed, especially during hot, dry spells. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. We're on FM 521 (McKeever Road), just off Highway 6. Next, start digging the holes according to the plan. It prefers warmer weather and grows best when temperatures are at least 75-degrees Fahrenheit. Then thoroughly water the area to soften the soil for easier hole digging and planting of the plugs. 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. (How to make it Thicker Fast), Crabgrass Identification Types and Pictures. 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. Make. The most common use of St. Augustine grass is in lawns and landscapes because it is drought tolerant and shade tolerant. Not only will it be the envy of the neighbors, you can do it 10x less than using sod. Space the grass plugs about 6 inches (15 cm) apart. This will be the ideal time to mow your actively growing grass. Water early in the day so that the grass blades have time to dry before nightfall. 6:06 pm Step 2. Within a short time, you will notice the St. Augustine grass thriving on your lawn. Once you see the grass growing normally, you can mow to a height of not less than 3.5inches (8.89 cm), ensuring that your mower has a sharp blade. ,How Do You Revive St. Augustine Grass? Step 1: Preparing the Soil for St Augustine Grass. However, the hole should be slightly larger. Water them deeply 6. Take a sample of the soil, to a nearby extension agent to advise whether the soil needs fertilizer or pH amendments. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You can find St. Augustine plugs in your local home and garden store. You might need to adjust this in case of rainfall. St. Augustine grass plugs are 2-3 clumps of grass and roots. Exercise caution the first time you mow to avoid pulling up the sod. Fill in any space around the plugs with soil to secure. Use a hose or sprinklers to water the sod. After successfully planting the grasses, you can start expecting a dense, lush green grass carpet on your lawn soon. 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. St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is sometimes called "buffalo grass," although a different plant (Bouteloua dactyloides) is what people usually mean when they refer to the latter. Once the newly planted st. Augustine plugs strongly establish their roots on the surface. apart in a prepared lawn. Grass/sod can appear dead but come back. Extended periods of hot and dry weather, St. Augustine grass might start to die. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Grid patterns may range from diamond to checkerboard patterns, but the plugs should be placed equidistantly in all cases. There is still hope, your lawn can still look green and full of life. Yard Butler Sod Plugger turf cutter and grass plug tool for zoysia, St. Augustine, fescue, or centipede grass transplanting & repair - ISP-33 1,515 $4999 FREE delivery Feb 8 - 10 Seed Ranch St Augustine Floratam Grass Plugs - 2 Trays 1 $4095 $27.77 delivery Feb 9 - 13 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. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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