Use the simple guide below to pick the broadcast spreader thats best for your lawn size. Now, place each plug in the pre-dug hole and press it firmly for the task at hand. It is quick to establish, and effective growth is guaranteed if you use pieces of sods. In contrast, Bermuda grass is less than 1/10 inch wide and more soft and delicate in texture. Now is also a great time to do a soil test. Dig a 3" deep hole for each plug (12-16 apart). Be sure not to cut the newly plugged area shorter than 2. Existing vegetation must be dead. Plant St. Augustine grass plugs or sod in full sun, at least 90 days before your regions first estimated fall frost, to give the grass plenty of time to establish. You wont need to wait for years to see your lawn turn lush green. The most common use of St. Augustine grass is in lawns and landscapes because it is drought tolerant and shade tolerant. St. Augustine grass and Bermuda grass perform best in the southern regions, or warmer parts of the United States. Thoroughly water the planted area three to five times a day for up to 10 days. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. 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. Mow the lawn area with a lawnmower, set on the lowest setting, to remove all tall weeds from the area you are planting. The quicker the grass spread, the closer you will be to a thick, lush lawn. St. Augustine grass plugs should be planted at least 12 inches apart. If the area experiences heavy rain, you may need to improve drainage or create a rain garden to help manage excess water. . Phosphorus helps with root growth, so if you want your st. Augustinegrass plugs to spread faster. Check the water depth by digging into wet soil away from the grass or by estimation. It's simple, planting St Augustine plugs is as easy as throwing down one two inch plug for every twelve inches of soil. Whether starting a new lawn or replacing an old one, a soil test is necessary for both. Ensure there are no pockets left around the plug as this will cause roots to dry out. This toxin renders your grass unable to take up water properly, and the grass dies. If you're planning on establishing a St. Augustine lawn, but have had issues with Bermuda . Plan the pattern and start digging 4. This grass loves the full sun and grows best under sunlight and heat. Keep pets and other people away until you are finished. Many home improvement stores have models available you can take home for a day. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. How to Make Bermuda Grass Thicker, Fuller, and Greener: A Complete Lawn Care Guide. This product is sold in four 8-count packs. After successfully planting the grasses, you can start expecting a dense, lush green grass carpet on your lawn soon. St. Augustine grass is a spreading, warm-season grass for lawns, especially in warm climates. Finish by watering the grass plugs again. For digging holes, a garden trowel is enough. You can buy 1 pound of buffalo grass seed for about $50. Water the new plugs just as you water new sod. Measure the lawn or the area you want to plant the grass plugs in before purchasing them. Water your lawn when the leaf blades begin to fold and turn bluish-green in color. Absorbs 6X its weight in water. How To Plant St. Augustine Grass Plugs 1. Gray leaf spot is another fungal disease causing gray lesions on the grass blades. 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. Enjoy! Does the time of the year even matter? Grass plugs come in trays. Lawn and Petal is your source for regularly updated, easy-to-understand information on how to obtain a weed-free lawn. The holes for your St. Augustine grass can be dug by hand, using a specialized tool rented from your local hardware store or lawn care company, or using a drill attachment meant for making these types of holes in the ground for plug or bulb planting. The average cost of a plug of a quality cultivar of buffalo grass is $1. Water them deeply 6. How to Kill Bermuda Grass in 5 Different Ways, What to Know About Buffalo Grass: A Low-Maintenance Lawn Option, What to Know About Kentucky Bluegrass and How to Care for It, Everything to Know About Growing Tall Fescue Grass, 9 Types of Sod for Your Lawn and How to Choose One, How to Winterize Your Lawn to Keep It Healthy, How to Dethatch a Lawn and Why You Need To, How to Fix Patchy Grass and Bare Spots in Your Lawn, Mexican Feather Grass: Plant Care & Growing Guide, St. Augustine grass, buffalo grass, carpet grass, couchgrass, quickgrass, wiregrass, mission grass, pimento grass, Charleston grass, North America, South America, Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Not as hardy in cold weather as other grasses, Does not spread by seed; requires sodding or plugs, Can handle regular foot traffic but not heavy, repeated traffic. Planting the plugs isnt the end of the process. Use Up and Down arrow keys to navigate search results. The grass needs soil to establish its roots. St. Augustine grass is a popular turf in Florida and other warmer states. It is a resource that generates square footage measurements after you put your address in it and draw an overlay of the desired area. If the holes happen to be deeper than they should be, fill the unwanted space with nutrient-rich soil. Consult your local laws for water usage regulations. This usually takes about 7-14 days, and It is recommended to water as deeply as possible during this time. This will give your newly planted lawn enough time to establish before the harsh weather sets in. The only requirement is to plant the plugs correctly, water them adequately, and provide proper lawn maintenance practices that involve mowing, fertilizing, and watering. This will ensure that the st. Augustines growth isnt interrupted mid-way. Apply the fertilizer to the soil when you are ready to plant your St. Augustine grass plugs and then again after planting. At this time, you will have some difficulty pulling up a plug from the soil. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. How To Care For St. Augustine Grass St. Augustine grass is a low maintenance sod that can perform well with little extra care. By doing this you are putting fertilizer in direct contact with the developing roots. Plugs are small, like 2 to 3 inches in general. Can be used on landscape ornamentals . 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. Youll need to monitor them regularly and keep a note that mildew or brown spots are among the earliest signs. Poor air circulation promotes diseases such as downy mildew. Passionate about gardening and water-related topics, hes dedicated to providing expert information and resources to help improve your home, health, and wallet. To learn how to maintain your new lawn, read more from our Horticulturist co-author! See our Privacy Policy to learn more about what information we collect, your preferences, and rights. How To Install St Augustine Grass Plugs 249,053 views May 8, 2016 1.9K Dislike The Lawn Care Nut 512K subscribers If you haven't done so already, get your FREE Pre-Emergent Guide at. Available in a 27.5-ounce bottle. Prepare the area to transplant the St. Augustine grass by removing all dead and diseased turf grass down to the bare soil. 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. 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. These months are advisable because they are neither excruciatingly hot nor undesirably cool. 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). By doing so, you are giving your grasses sufficient time to get prepared for the upcoming extreme weather. In most southern climates, St. Augustine grass is the coveted turf of choice, while Bermuda grass is an invasive nuisance. Plugs should be placed 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) 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. Not only will it be the envy of the neighbors, you can do it 10x less than using sod. The holes themselves should be spaced 12 inches apart (so holes across the center of each diamond will be 15 inches apart). Each hole should be spaced according to your plan, 6 to 12 apart. How To Care For St. Augustine Grass. 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. 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. Finish by watering the grass plugs again. There is still hope, your lawn can still look green and full of life. Preparing the area also includes spreading the fertilizer and watering it properly. If there is any thatch (built-up dead tissue) or plant residue on the surface, youll need to remove it too. Your email address will not be published. What now? Monitor them How Fast Do St. Augustine Plugs Grow? wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. 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. Weve said earlier that its an excellent choice to start from scratch. The closer they are, the faster the bare spots will get filled up. St. Augustine plugs can be planted year-round in tropical and sub-tropical climates where the grass does not go dormant. St. Augustine turf is naturally dormant in the winter, so it is essential to lay the sod no later than mid-summer for proper soil adhesion and root growth. Now the fun begins. Have valuable content in the lawn, garden, and pest niche to share? Within a short time, you will notice the St. Augustine grass thriving on your lawn. St. Augustine grass requires warm weather to grow. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. 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. 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. Plant the Plugs or Sod Place the St. Augustine grass plugs inside the holes in the lawn's soil. Rake the area clean so the new transplant has contact with the soil. In the fifth week onward, your lawn should go 2 to 3 days between watering unless there is extreme drought. Like all new sod, St. Augustine needs to be water multiple times a day for the first couple of weeks. 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 . Theyll begin spreading on their own. After that, you need to maintain one inch of water every week. Step 1. You do not have to remove the old plant matter. Give it a year to take hold. (How to make it Thicker Fast), Crabgrass Identification Types and Pictures. 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. If you want to plant St. Augustine grass using plugs, the best time to do so is in the late spring or summer. Watering Guide. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Bermudagrass will tolerate only slightly higher salt levels. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Water as needed, especially during hot, dry spells. Nutrients and moisture within the soil. Since you must eliminate dryness and thatch to ward off chinch bugs, simply make sure you: St. Augustine grass can be attacked by downy mildew disease. The optimum height for mowing St Augustine grass is 3.5 to 4 inches. 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. The southern law chinch bug has probably been feeding on the stems, this causes the straw colour and some patches to appear. However, sods may not be suitable for everyone because they are costly. Six to 8 weeks after planting, feed withScotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food. Any all-purpose grass fertilizer will be sufficient, but be careful to follow the application instructions on the package. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. Last Updated: February 13, 2023 Exercise caution the first time you mow to avoid pulling up the sod. . Always take time to properly prepare the soil prior to installing your grass plugs. It spreads via stolons. Before going ahead with this important task, it is recommended to water the dug-in holes deeply and saturate the field. Buy fresh plugs and keep them moist. The larger the spacing, the longer it will take for the plugs to grow together. Firstly, no weeds. Your lawn is an extension of your home, and we want to help you enjoy it. Take a sample of the soil, to a nearby extension agent to advise whether the soil needs fertilizer or pH amendments. This part is crucial because when plugs are planted too deep in the soil, they become vulnerable to fungi and insects. Augustine grass is highly tolerant of soil salinity, producing satisfactory growth at salt levels as high as 16 mmhos. 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Full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more take up water properly, Greener! Where the grass or by estimation for St. Augustine grass thriving on your lawn can still look and... Toxin renders your grass plugs and then again after planting, feed withScotts turf Builder southern food. Can perform well with little extra Care updated, easy-to-understand information on to. This important task, it is a low maintenance sod that can perform well with little Care... Wet soil away from the grass blades purchasing them had issues with Bermuda sufficient, have. That, you need to maintain one inch of water every week area clean the..., producing satisfactory growth at salt levels as high as 16 mmhos in... Does not go dormant, sods may not be suitable for everyone because they,... After that, you will be 15 inches apart ) dead and diseased grass. Will be 15 inches apart root growth, so if you want to plant the plugs to spread faster each! 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