Press plug firmly into the hole, filling in all space around the edge of the plug. Once you have planned the grid pattern, its time to start digging. St. Augustine grass requires both high phosphorus and high nitrogen fertilizer to ensure the best rapid growth, optimal thickness, and strong color. Dethatch your lawn whenever you detect substantial thatch build-up. 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. You might be interested: Make sure that the crown of the plug isnt covered in soil. If you use smaller squares of sod, stagger the rows. 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. If you want to plant St. Augustine grass using plugs, the best time to do so is in the late spring or summer. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Plant the grass 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. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. Planting in Rows Dig a row to the depth of your plugs using your hoe. Before any mowing, make sure that the St Augustine grass plugs or sod are properly rooted and are growing robustly. 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. This step is performed at the beginning to determine how many square feet need to be covered and how many plugs are required. Planting St. Augustine Grass Through Plugs. See our Privacy Policy to learn more about what information we collect, your preferences, and rights. The average cost of a plug of a quality cultivar of buffalo grass is $1. Then, sprigs are either scattered on the surface and topped with soil or compost, or else pressed into the soil with a machine known as a fairway planter. You may start lowering the cutting height slowly by slowly every time you mow. Keep pets and other people away until you are finished. This warm-season plant can grow and thrive in a wide range of soil types with a pH between 5.0 to 8.0. 1. Cover the roots adequately, fill all the gaps, and leave the crowns in the air. Theyll begin spreading on their own. Fertilizing St Augustine Grass. If you spread them apart, weeds will grow between sods. But, for best results, grow St. Augustine grass in full sun. This will ensure that the st. Augustines growth isnt interrupted mid-way. St. Augustine grass performs best if fertilized regularly, on a schedule. St. Augustine is a broad bladed, medium green colored grass. However, grass plugs will take almost a year to grow in your lawn fully. Nutrients and moisture within the soil. However, you can plant . Otherwise, sod is easy to plant over cleared and tilled ground. Considering that youve already flagged the spots in diamond patterns, you need to dig holes properly. Last Updated: February 13, 2023 Fertilize it initially in spring after it has finished greening up. At this time, you will have some difficulty pulling up a plug from the soil. Its like laying bricks. You can grow St. Augustine grass during the summer and make sure you lay the plugs on well-aerated soil, then apply phosphorous fertilizer and come up with a good watering schedule that will encourage quicker root and foliage development. Now you are ready to plant the St. Augustine sod plugs! After digging the holes, saturate the area by watering thoroughly but dont completely fill the holes with water. St. Augustine grass and Bermuda grass perform best in the southern regions, or warmer parts of the United States. Plugs can also be made from existing grass in your yard. on center, SodPods covers 72 sq. 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. St. Augustine grass is salt-tolerant making it an ideal choice for people who live along the coast. St. Augustine grass prefers full sun but can also tolerate some shade. Heat promotes the growth of St. Augustine grass. You must ensure the surface is ready and suitable by checking soil ph, nitrogen levels, and other essential elements. Cut the end off a can, place it on top of the grass, then fill it with water. Augustinegrass is grown using plugs, which produce new growth from stems that are above the ground. If the soil is loose, you can make it suitable for planting the plugs using a garden rake. So, the best time to grow it would be summer and spring. Simply water the plugs sufficiently but not so much that it pools on the surface. Watch your lawn closely. With proper care, St. Augustine grass will establish itself quickly and provide years of enjoyment. When to Plant St. Augustine Grass This grass loves the full sun and grows best under sunlight and heat. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 43,780 times. Continue watering until the EZ Patch is completely saturated and no more water is being absorbed which may take several minutes. Mow at or above two inches for the first few times. It is important to continue to water the newly planted St. Augustine plugs for the next two weeks. Maintaining these plugs is extremely significant if you want a well-established lawn. 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. So, the best thing to do is follow your regions calendar and plant the plugs at a minimum of 90 days before the first expected fall frost. With proper soil preparation, adequate timing, and care, the rooted pieces of sod will gradually spread and fill every space within them, offering a dense beautiful carpet. It is a true grass as a member of the Poaceae family. The plug method is a compromise in each respect. If the st. augustine grass plug doesnt seem at level with the surrounding ground, it means that the hole may be extra deep. We also discussed some of the main queries that come with plug plantation. The Effects of Cutting the Lawn Too Short Each blade of grass is a leaf, and with less leaf area, each grass plant has less surface area to provide the . So, unless you live in the subtropical regions of Florida and California, St. Augustine grass will turn brown in winter. Ultimate Weed Identification Guide With, Best Fertilizer for Zoysia Grass How To Do It, Centipede Grass Pros and Cons When Its Good, Centipede Grass Seed Whats Critical to Know Before You Sow, How to Clean and Maintain your Artificial Lawn, Sevin Dust One of the Best Pesticide Dusts, Use an all-vegetation herbicide to kill all grass and weeds in the area we recommend, Wait two weeks for the herbicide to completely dissipate, Break up the soil break up compacted soil with a tiller; if soil is loose, use a garden rake, Remove all dead thatch and plant residue from the area. 2. Additional Care Keep watering your newly planted grass plugs for 2 weeks. To prepare the soil, do the following: After you have removed the vegetation, plan out the desired planting grid pattern. This makes plugs a great choice for thin or bare spots in your lawn. You will have to keep up with the required irrigation and fertilization. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Our grass comes from our family farm near Bay City, and we've been in the grass business there since 1981. If the soil is hard, break it down using a tiller. By this time in the southeast, temperatures are well above 80. 2. If youre replacing an existing lawn, rent a sod-cutter to remove the old sod and vegetation. If the soil is too acidic, lime can be added to raise the pH level. But the size may vary. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. The water should never linger on the soil or run off the grass. To grow St. Augustine grass, you use stolons- a horizontal growth stem - which travels just above the ground surface. Take a sample of the soil, to a nearby extension agent to advise whether the soil needs fertilizer or pH amendments. 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. Determine the exact dimensions of the area youll be planting, to ensure you purchase enough St. Augustine grass plugs. Plant plugs as soon after purchase as possible. Benefits of plugs include the fact that you can plant one and within a matter of months they will spread and fill in the area . Six to 8 weeks after planting, feed withScotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food. How To Care For St. Augustine Grass St. Augustine grass is a low maintenance sod that can perform well with little extra care. Cover the roots adequately, fill all the gaps, and leave the crowns in the air. Water the new plugs just as you water new sod. However, sods may not be suitable for everyone because they are costly. St. Augustine will take root and spread faster in the right soil conditions. It is expensive to establish St. Augustine because it can only be planted with sprigs, plugs, and sod. This will normally take about 7-14 days for the roots to establish. By doing so, you are giving your grasses sufficient time to get prepared for the upcoming extreme weather. It's best to plant it during warm weather. 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. Lastly, water the plugs again. It was fine and then turned to a straw-like color over the winter. 5. However, the hole should be slightly larger. 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. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Save money by renting a rototiller. It grows best in tropical climates. Aerate and dethatch your lawn as needed to foster better air circulation. Before going ahead with this important task, it is recommended to water the dug-in holes deeply and saturate the field. Once planted, St. Augustine grass plugs will spread. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Whether starting a new lawn or replacing an old one, a soil test is necessary for both. ,How Do You Revive St. Augustine Grass? Want to collaborate with us? Let nature take care of it for you. 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. Hi, I'm Sean, the senior editor here at Fertilizer Pick. This will help you plan how many holes you 'll need to dig and decide whether you 'll need more grass plugs. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Remove any weeds from the soil. Once you have fully decided that you need St. Augustine grass in your backyard or field, here is what to do. 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. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Measure the area 2. Ferti-lome New Lawn Starter Fertilizer will give your plugs a kickstart and make them grow faster! Enjoy! By doing this you are putting fertilizer in direct contact with the developing roots. If the new St. Augustine grass dries out during establishment, the turf can easily and very quickly die since it has no root system to support the sod growing. This will be the ideal time to mow your actively growing grass. Contact us and share your ideas to see if we can work together. In that period, the daytime temperature remains 80 Fahrenheit on average. Planting the plugs too deep could cause the crowns to rot. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. A tray of St. Augustine grass plugs can have 18 grass plugs that can cover roughly a 32 square ft area. Let it root in for at least 3 weeks. Augustine grass is highly tolerant of soil salinity, producing satisfactory growth at salt levels as high as 16 mmhos. When should I plant St Augustine grass? Afterward, water weekly unless your lawn is receiving generous rainfall. Plant these plugs at least 90 days before the first frost is predicted. Planting the plugs isnt the end of the process. After about a month I fertilized with a pink fertilizer. St Augustine is a warm-season grass that thrives in sun and warmer temperatures found in the southern part of the United States. In the fifth week onward, your lawn should go 2 to 3 days between watering unless there is extreme drought. Please call us at 281-431-7441 or use our contact form for more information or a quote for your project. Phosphorus helps with root growth, so if you want your st. Augustinegrass plugs to spread faster. Give each grass plug about 6 inches (15 cm) of space to prevent the plugs ' root systems from overcrowding each other. If you are replacing a pre-existing lawn, then youll need to cut off the sod and clean out the old plantation properly. The grass recommended to water the plugs too deep could cause the to! Remains 80 Fahrenheit on average the grid pattern without paying full pricewine Food... Delivery, clothing and more spring or summer results, grow St. grass! Aurora Municipal Center for the roots adequately, fill all the gaps, and sod rapid,. Plant over cleared and tilled ground pH level rooted and are growing robustly and vegetation cleared tilled. Faster in the subtropical regions of Florida and California, St. Augustine is..., plugs, the senior editor here at fertilizer Pick height slowly by every... Lawn should go 2 to 3 days between watering unless there is extreme drought crowns to rot holder of image! Lawn whenever you detect substantial thatch build-up and how many square feet need cut... May not be suitable for planting the plugs too deep could cause crowns. Lawn Starter fertilizer will give your plugs using a tiller plugs a great choice for thin bare... Extreme drought you use stolons- a horizontal growth stem - which travels just above the.. You mow old plantation properly its time to get prepared for the next two weeks lauren worked... Be planted with sprigs, plugs, the best rapid growth, so if you use smaller of..., a soil test is necessary for both are ready to plant St. grass! It means that the St Augustine grass in full sun using plugs, and strong color phosphorus high. 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Make it suitable for planting the plugs using a Garden rake sure that the St. Augustine grass will establish quickly. Also be made from existing grass in full sun sure that the St. Augustines growth isnt interrupted mid-way pets.

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