\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. A tray of 18 plugs will cover approximately 32 square feet. St. Augustine grass is a popular choice for lawns in the south. St. Augustine grass and Bermuda grass perform best in the southern regions, or warmer parts of the United States. Zoysia Sod Plugs - Large 3" x 3" Plugs - 18 Count Tray - Drought, Salt & Shade Tolerant Turf Grass It is important that you dig 2-4 deep and remove the soil with the grass. Then you can water it 2-3 times a week. St. Augustine plugs can be planted year-round in tropical and sub-tropical climates where the grass does not go dormant. St. Augustine grass will only stay green all year if the soil temperature remains 60 F or warmer. Plugs of St. Augustine grass, which are rooted fragments of sod, eventually fill up the spaces between them to create a lush, lovely lawn. We research, test, & and review the best products. Step 1: Preparing the Soil for St Augustine Grass. If a disease is identified, you can apply St. Augustine Grass fungicide. Grass plugs come in trays. Planting in Rows Dig a row to the depth of your plugs using your hoe. Check the water depth by digging into wet soil away from the grass or by estimation. This period will last for well around 2 weeks, and once they start spreading, you can give them an inch of water per week. If the soil is too alkaline, sulfur can be added to lower the pH level. Be sure your area is appropriate for sod as well. The amount of space covered by a tray of St. Augustine plugs can vary by plant spacing. Results may vary. Space each plug 6 to 12 inches apart in the row and add a little starter fertilizer around each plug. Give it enough water to dampen the first 1 in (2.5 cm) of soil. This usually takes about 7-14 days, and It is recommended to water as deeply as possible during this time. . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Are you a master of DIY projects. Check and fix any drainage problems and slope your lawn away from the house or garage and fill low areas to avoid cases of standing water in your yard. If you want to establish a St. Augustine turf and you are tight on budget, you need to think again. Aside from that, fertilizing the st. Augustine grass, every once in a while, will also encourage vigorous growth and a healthy lawn. Spring or Summer, when the temperatures are at least 80 degrees. Weeds will compete with your grass for nutrients. Your new lawn needs thorough watering in week 1 and week 2. It is expensive to establish St. Augustine because it can only be planted with sprigs, plugs, and sod. World rights reserved. The time for planting St. Augustine is April and May. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. It is rare to grow St. Augustine grass from seed. If you only have a few weeds here and there, you can hand-pull them, but be sure to get the entire root system. Provide St. Augustine grass with good drainage. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Ferti-lome New Lawn Starter Fertilizer will give your plugs a kickstart and make them grow faster! Our specialists recommend adding a small amount starter fertilizer to the holes. 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. Can be used on landscape ornamentals . St. Augustine grass handles heat and humidity well, which is why it is popular in regions such as the American Southeast. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. (You can also purchase St. Augustine sod, but it can be expensive.). Next Read: Pick the Ideal Fertilizers for St. Augustine Grass. Afterward, water weekly unless your lawn is receiving generous rainfall. You can remove weeds and existing grass using all-vegetation herbicide and then wait two weeks. Phosphorus helps with root growth, so if you want your st. Augustinegrass plugs to spread faster. However, the hole should be slightly larger. 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. Prepare the area to transplant the St. Augustine grass by removing all dead and diseased turf grass down to the bare soil. You can also slice sod to fit it around tough areas like planting beds, curbs, and other curves. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Once the plugs have begun to spread, the area can be mowed as needed. 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. Water as needed, especially during hot, dry spells. Each hole should be dug slightly larger than, but the same depth as, the plug's root ball. The key takeaway is to plant it the right way at the right time and take proper care afterward. I had a contractor lay down the sod. Call back the company that laid the grass and ask them to rid the bugs and replant the grass. The closer they are, the faster the bare spots will get filled up. When you get a clean bill of health, rake the soil smoothly to remove large soil clods, chunks, and other debris. 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. Measuring your lawn area is the first and most important step in planting St. Augustine grass plugs. Each hole should be spaced according to your plan, 6 to 12 apart. You can use a diagonal pattern method so that a diamond pattern forms with each group when you create a group of 4 holes. Thoroughly water the area before planting. Place the St. Augustine grass plugs inside the holes in the lawns soil. A tray of St. Augustine grass plugs can have 18 grass plugs that can cover roughly a 32 square ft area. Grid patterns may range from diamond to checkerboard patterns, but the plugs should be placed equidistantly in all cases. Gray leaf spot is another fungal disease causing gray lesions on the grass blades. 1. This helps the grass settle into the ground, but avoid using too much water. A goodgarden loamworks well. What should I do before trying to lay more sod? wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. St. Augustine Grass VS Zoysia: Who Will Win The Battle For Your Lawn. Keep pets and other people away until you are finished. A pound covers about 330 square feet. Another crucial step is to remove weeds from the soil surface. Each plug has been carefully maintained to develop a well established root system, making them an excellent way to start or improve your lawn. Water the soil until it is saturated. St. Augustine grass. Learn from his research and experience. Nitrogen aids deep root development, which is why its recommended to use nitrogen fertilizers once every 6-8 weeks. You Can Barefoot Test Our Grass Varieties at Our Office. Add more soil to fill the space because you want your plug snuggly placed inside. This part is crucial because when plugs are planted too deep in the soil, they become vulnerable to fungi and insects. It's not hard to plant a beautiful St. Augustine lawn on your own when you follow these tips from Scotts. 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