how to plant st augustine grass plugs

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Plugs should be placed 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) Plugs are small, like 2 to 3 inches in general. How to Get Rid of Them in Your Yard, Can Grass Grow in Sand? 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. Each plug has been carefully maintained to develop a well established root system, making them an excellent way to start or improve your lawn. Established roots mean less water and maximum success. Pay special attention to keeping the ground evenly moist until you see that the grass has not only sprouted, but also begun to spread. Your new lawn needs thorough watering in week 1 and week 2. In the fourth week, water 1-2 times every other day. When to Plant St. Augustine Grass [8] The water should not pool on top of the sod or run off of it. Our specialists recommend adding a small amount starter fertilizer to the holes. This grass can tolerate humidity, heat, and even salt, which makes it not only suitable for warm states but subtropical and coastal areas. 4 Ways to Bring it Back ,Planting Bermuda Grass Plugs ,How to Fix a Patchy Lawn - Floralawn,Bethel Farms Natural St. Augustine Sod Plug,St. St. Augustine grass not only tolerates warm temperatures but thrives in the hot sunny season. Planting the plugs isnt the end of the process. It grows best in tropical climates. St. Augustine grass. 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? You surely cant just leave your grass to fend for itself. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Learn from his research and experience. It's best if you put St. Augustine grass directly on the soil. By doing this you are putting fertilizer in direct contact with the developing roots. This is an acceptable spacing amount, but remember that the closer together they are, the faster they will spread on your landscape. Water the grass plugs Thoroughly water the planted area three to five times a day for up to 10 days. However, late spring has moderately warm weather between 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant your plugs or lay your sod Spread any mulch, fertilizer, or compost High nitrogen fertilizer or compost is best Otherwise use a balanced mix Care and upkeep Once your lawn is planted, you'll need to keep the soil moist for the first seven to 10 days so the roots can grow. And if your lawn has bare or bald spots, its still a great option to fix them. St. Augustine Palmetto is heat and shade tolerant. Plugs quickly establish and start spreading, which is why they are used to repair damaged areas or fill in the bare spots on your lawn. LawnMowerGuru.com, All Rights Reserved. Call back the company that laid the grass and ask them to rid the bugs and replant the grass. Planting the plugs too deep could cause the crowns to rot. Written by southernmedia February 5, 2021 One of the most common questions people ask is when to plant these plugs. Take a shovel or a plugger tool and make holes the right size to accommodate your St. Augustine grass plugs. You might be in too dry a climate for grass and/or sod. 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. Since St. Augustine grass spreads so vigorously via its creeping stolons, it is easy to establish it from sod. Get a soil test and adjust the pH if necessary. Did you find this article helpful? This product is sold in four 8-count packs. When you get a clean bill of health, rake the soil smoothly to remove large soil clods, chunks, and other debris. (You can also purchase St. Augustine sod, but it can be expensive.). Plan the desired pattern to plant the grass plugs. Can be used on landscape ornamentals . 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. So, the best time to grow it would be summer and spring. Each hole should be dug slightly larger than, but the same depth as, the plug's root ball. For instance, we shared detailed information about the best time to plant it, follow-up maintenance, and growth rate. Another important thing you must remember while digging holes is that it should have the same depth as your st. Augustine grasss root ball. Your lawn is an extension of your home, and we want to help you enjoy it. Now, place each plug in the pre-dug hole and press it firmly for the task at hand. Mow the lawn area with a lawnmower, set on the lowest setting, to remove all tall weeds from the area you are planting. 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). St. Augustine sod or plugs . ,How Do You Revive St. Augustine Grass? When planted 18 in. Passionate about gardening and water-related topics, hes dedicated to providing expert information and resources to help improve your home, health, and wallet. http://www.walterreeves.com/lawn-care/st-augustine-general-notes/, http://www.star-telegram.com/living/home-garden/neil-sperry/article155731284.html, http://www.walterreeves.com/lawn-care/st-augustine-planting-sod/, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/how-to-lay-sod, http://publications.tamu.edu/TURF_LANDSCAPE/PUB_turf_Maintaining%20St.%20Augustine%20Grass%20Lawns.pdf, https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/turf/publications/staug.html. Keep pets and other people away until you are finished. The time for planting St. Augustine is April and May. Finish by watering the grass plugs again. The plug method is a compromise in each respect. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Choose the Right Spreader for Your LawnHaving the right spreader goes a long way in your lawn care routine. Space plugs in a diamond pattern to reach the square footage coverage in the table above. This may vary from place to place. The stolons, often referred to as "runners," sprout and root at the nodes. It will make ideal-sized holes for the plugs. Keep the newly planted St Augustine grass plugs moist for two weeks; . Once planted, St. Augustine grass plugs will spread. You may start lowering the cutting height slowly by slowly every time you mow. Proper watering will encourage the plugs to form a deeper root system and grow up more established. 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. Deciding a grid pattern for your st. Augustine grass lawn is also a vital part. This article has been viewed 43,780 times. This will help the roots to be firm and stable in the soil. If you reside in a region that experiences frosty weather, this variety of grass isn't right for you. If the holes happen to be deeper than they should be, fill the unwanted space with nutrient-rich soil. If you are replacing a pre-existing lawn, then youll need to cut off the sod and clean out the old plantation properly. You can buy 1 pound of buffalo grass seed for about $50. Maintain 12 inches of spacing between the holes. It is rare to grow St. Augustine grass from seed. Once cultivated, St. Augustine grass propagates on its own through stolons, plugs, and sod. If you want to plant St. Augustine grass using plugs, the best time to do so is in the late spring or summer. 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. This period will last for well around 2 weeks, and once they start spreading, you can give them an inch of water per week. Do not apply pre-emergent herbicide to new plugs while they establish. They thrive in wet, humid environments. It thrives in temperatures between 80 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 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. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. When should I plant St Augustine grass? The water should not pool on top of the sod or run off of it. Measure the lawn or the area you want to plant the grass plugs in before purchasing them. Lets find out. Lawn Watering Tips - When Is the Best Time to Water Your Lawn? wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. 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. Take the details to your supplier for advice or use it to calculate your sod spacing intervals. The next step would be to water the plugs and ensure the field is well-irrigated properly. An easy way to start a St. Augustine lawn is to plant plugs of established grass. Avoid stepping on sod you have already laid. World rights reserved. Space each plug 6 to 12 inches apart in the row and add a little starter fertilizer around each plug. It's best to plant it during warm weather. You might be interested: What should I do before trying to lay more sod? Dig holes in a diagonal planting pattern, so each group of four holes forms a diamond. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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