\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Once the newly planted st. Augustine plugs strongly establish their roots on the surface. It also has a high tolerance for salt water, which makes it perfect for coastal areas. If the area experiences heavy rain, you may need to improve drainage or create a rain garden to help manage excess water. Clear the site of weeds, stones, and debris. St. Augustine grass seed needs to be kept moist while it is establishing. Plant the plugs in sections every 6 apart. Planting St Augustine Grass Plugs is simple. By doing this you are putting fertilizer in direct contact with the developing roots. Have valuable content in the lawn, garden, and pest niche to share? If you are replacing a pre-existing lawn, then youll need to cut off the sod and clean out the old plantation properly. (How to make it Thicker Fast), Crabgrass Identification Types and Pictures. This will normally take about 7-14 days for the roots to establish. Now, you can use an adequate non-selective herbicide to do this job but remember to wait 2 weeks afterward to allow the herbicides effects to dematerialize. 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? Make slightly larger holes than the plugs; this will make it easier to plant them. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Does the time of the year even matter? Apply phosphorus fertilizer and keep a good watering schedule to help with quicker root and foliage development. Extended periods of hot and dry weather, St. Augustine grass might start to die. Looking for some answers when it comes to feeding your lawn? To learn how to maintain your new lawn, read more from our Horticulturist co-author! St. Augustine grass handles heat and humidity well, which is why it is popular in regions such as the American Southeast. St. Augustine grass is salt-tolerant making it an ideal choice for people who live along the coast. How to Get Rid of Them in Your Yard, Can Grass Grow in Sand? If the soil is too alkaline, sulfur can be added to lower the pH level. Dig holes in a diagonal planting pattern, so each group of four holes forms a diamond. 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. apart in a prepared lawn. It's best if you put St. Augustine grass directly on the soil. Nutrients and moisture within the soil. It is rare to grow St. Augustine grass from seed. In most southern climates, St. Augustine grass is the coveted turf of choice, while Bermuda grass is an invasive nuisance. The average cost of a plug of a quality cultivar of buffalo grass is $1. Planting the plugs too deep could cause the crowns to rot. Lastly, water the plugs again. Using a sod plugger tool, insert it into the ground, twist and lift. Transplant these self-created plugs into other areas of your yard. Grass plugs are turf plants that are grown in trays. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. 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. 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 will make ideal-sized holes for the plugs. You surely cant just leave your grass to fend for itself. Be sure not to cut the newly plugged area shorter than 2. Monitor them How Fast Do St. Augustine Plugs Grow? 2002-2022 The Scotts Company LLC. 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. Now is also a great time to do a soil test. The first step is to examine and calculate the area of the space needing plugs. Houston Grass South is located just a few miles east of Sienna Plantation in Arcola, TX. How To Care For St. Augustine Grass. You can buy 1 pound of buffalo grass seed for about $50. A tray of 18 plugs will cover approximately 32 square feet. Before any mowing, make sure that the St Augustine grass plugs or sod are properly rooted and are growing robustly. Take plugs from the sod with the ProPlugger every 3 apart. Just follow these steps: Choose the best time to plant Calculate square footage and spacing Prep the site Plant the grass plugs 1. Here grows the plant Assidos, which, when worn by any one, protects him from the evil spirit, forcing it to state its business and name; consequently the foul spirits keep out of the way there. It will also make the plugs grow together faster. Now that you know how to plant st. Augustine grass plugs, lets discuss some other important things. Plugs, on the other hand, are a much cheaper alternative. St. Augustine grass plugs should be planted at least 12 inches apart. Place the St. Augustine grass plugs inside the holes in the lawns soil. Share it with your fellow lawn owners and help them out as well. Youll notice them carpeting your lawn, but mowing before it looks untidy is better. You can learn more about this here. If you allow your lawn to grow past 3 inches you risk the possibility of mowing down into the stems. Local gardening shops may also have St Augustine Grass plugs. Step 1: Preparing the Soil for St Augustine Grass. Here are common St Augustine grass problems you should be aware of. After you have measured the area that you want to be covered by st. Augustine grass, the next step would be to prepare it and ensure its ready for the plugs. It is easier to flag where you will place St. Augustine plugs before digging. St. Augustine grass will only stay green all year if the soil temperature remains 60 F or warmer. With proper care, St. Augustine grass will establish itself quickly and provide years of enjoyment. 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. Rake all the debris from the area and rototill the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Your email address will not be published. This warm-season plant can grow and thrive in a wide range of soil types with a pH between 5.0 to 8.0. When will the best results occur? Be sure to thoroughly wet without causing water to pool. World rights reserved. We deliver grass sod all over the Houston area or you can pick up your fresh sod at our office. Plant a section of sod. How far apart should you plant St Augustine plugs? One of the most common questions people ask is when to plant these plugs. St. Augustine grass is used primarily for lawns as it does not tolerant traffic as well as some other warm season species. Let it root in for at least 3 weeks. When the soil and growing conditions are ideal, St. Augustine sod will develop firm roots and start to spread quickly within 14 days post-installation. You might be interested: For digging holes, a garden trowel is enough. After that, you need to maintain one inch of water every week. Directions. A goodgarden loamworks well. Learn how to work with nature, the climate and your watering system to water your lawn efficiently. Grid patterns may range from diamond to checkerboard patterns, but the plugs should be placed equidistantly in all cases. An alternative to purchasing prepared St. Augustine plugs are to make your own. When it comes to st. Augustine grass, the most effective grid pattern for these plugs is a diamond one. Plugs are small, like 2 to 3 inches in general. Your lawn is an extension of your home, and we want to help you enjoy it. Within a short time, you will notice the St. Augustine grass thriving on your lawn. Overview. Planting will be easier and have better success if the hole is larger than the plug. Space each plug 6 to 12 inches apart in the row and add a little starter fertilizer around each plug. 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. 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 you feed, mow and water your lawn can help it resist fungal diseases like dollar spot and brown spot. Planting St. Augustine Grass Through Plugs. Now the fun begins. The southern law chinch bug has probably been feeding on the stems, this causes the straw colour and some patches to appear. By doing so, you are giving your grasses sufficient time to get prepared for the upcoming extreme weather. % of people told us that this article helped them. It grows best in tropical climates. If it is dead, this might be due to bugs. St. Augustine is a broad bladed, medium green colored grass; St. Augustine Floratam is heat tolerant and has a great tolerance for humidity; Minimum 4-hour-6-hours of sunlight per day for best results; Established roots mean less water and maximum success; Affordable - each 8-pack covers 18 sq. Mow and Mulch for Optimal Growth It is quick to establish, and effective growth is guaranteed if you use pieces of sods. Did you find this article helpful? Apply the fertilizer to the soil when you are ready to plant your St. Augustine grass plugs and then again after planting. The optimum height for mowing St Augustine grass is 3.5 to 4 inches. 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. Written by southernmedia February 5, 2021 Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Conversely, if there isnt enough rainfall, water the grass plugs more frequently or install an irrigation system. Therefore, plugs, sod, and the seed should be planted in late spring or early summer. Taking measurements for your planting area will help you to calculate the number of plugs you need to order from your supplier. Your new lawn needs thorough watering in week 1 and week 2. Once cultivated, St. Augustine grass propagates on its own through stolons, plugs, and sod. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Water to pool 6 inches plug from the soil is loose, you can it. Among the earliest signs and keep a note that mildew or brown or! Not apply pre-emergent herbicide to new plugs while they establish area is appropriate for sod as well as some warm! Because in these seasons, the average cost of a quality cultivar of buffalo grass seed needs to kept. 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