\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Cover the roots adequately, fill all the gaps, and leave the crowns in the air. Ensure that you cover the roots, but not the crown of the plug. Another crucial step is to remove weeds from the soil surface. Taking care of st. Augustine grass plugs after planting them are just as important. Young plants are highly vulnerable to pests and diseases such as chinch bugs. Add a 1/2-inch-thick layer of compost and lightly work into the top inch of soil. We deliver the best quality grass in Houston, and we do it at a competitive price too. Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. Harvest grass from an inconspicuous or area where grass is very thick. Kneel or walk on plywood instead. These months are advisable because they are neither excruciatingly hot nor undesirably cool. Thoroughly water the area before planting. Learn from his research and experience. Happily, the preventive measures required dovetail with the lawn care tasks you should be performing regularly (even if you don't fear a chinch bug infestation). Grass/sod can appear dead but come back. An alternative to purchasing prepared St. Augustine plugs are to make your own. Remember that using plugs as a method to grow st. Augustine grass is only a viable option when sod isnt a practical choice or when small areas need to be covered. Bermuda grass requires about 1 to 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet per year, vs. St. Augustine grass, which needs 3 to 6 pounds per 1,000 square feet annually. 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. 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. If you want to form this pattern, you must flag the spots diagonally so that each group of 4 plugs will make a diamond. This makes plugs a great choice for thin or bare spots in your lawn. Consult your local laws for water usage regulations. For best results, keep its soil evenly moist. The quicker the grass spread, the closer you will be to a thick, lush lawn. One big drawback is that it does not do well with regular foot traffic, so if you're looking . You can also use a hoe or shovel by inserting the blade vertically to cut out the desired piece. Next Read: Pick the Ideal Fertilizers for St. Augustine Grass. The plugs, which are rooted pieces of sod, gradually fill in the spaces between them, producing a full, beautiful lawn. The water should never linger on the soil or run off the grass. You can also use digital instruments such as the area calculator tool. Space the grass plugs about 6 inches (15 cm) apart. St. Augustine grass seed needs to be kept moist while it is establishing. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. St. Augustine will take root and spread faster in the right soil conditions. Extended periods of hot and dry weather, St. Augustine grass might start to die. St. Augustine does well in the warm Tampa climate and is easy to plant as either sod or plugs. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. 2002-2023 The Scotts Company LLC. Since St. Augustine grass spreads so vigorously via its creeping stolons, it is easy to establish it from sod. Additionally, you can put starter fertilizer on the holes so that the St. Augustine grass plugs get essential nutrients as soon as they get firm on the ground. Keep watering your newly planted grass plugs for 2 weeks. Planting the plugs too deep could cause the crowns to rot. There are a number of different types of St. Augustine grass. How to Get Rid of Them in Your Yard, Can Grass Grow in Sand? Last Updated: February 13, 2023 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. How you feed, mow and water your lawn can help it resist fungal diseases like dollar spot and brown spot. It will become green again when warm weather returns. There is still hope, your lawn can still look green and full of life. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. This may vary from place to place. 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. Of the warm-season grasses, St. Augustine grass is the most shade-tolerant. Many home improvement stores have models available you can take home for a day. St. Augustine grass plugs are the best way to repair bare spots in your lawn. You Can Barefoot Test Our Grass Varieties at Our Office. With a little maintenance, the sod may soon grow into a luxurious St. Augustine lawn. Preparing the area also includes spreading the fertilizer and watering it properly. Will St. Augustine grass take over weeds? Here are common St Augustine grass problems you should be aware of. Kill all the weeds or pre-existing lawn grass by spraying a non-selective herbicide. 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. It was fine and then turned to a straw-like color over the winter. Maintaining these plugs is extremely significant if you want a well-established lawn. 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 mowing St. Augustine for dethatching, cut the grass at a low blade height of 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. On average, it can take about six to twelve months to fill the space completely. You may even find them at some big stores like Home Depot or Lowes. Once planted, St. Augustine grass plugs will spread. Check the water depth by digging into wet soil away from the grass or by estimation. If you're planning on establishing a St. Augustine lawn, but have had issues with Bermuda . 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. Now that you know how to plant st. Augustine grass plugs, lets discuss some other important things. If there is any thatch (built-up dead tissue) or plant residue on the surface, youll need to remove it too. Passionate about gardening and water-related topics, hes dedicated to providing expert information and resources to help improve your home, health, and wallet. References. The water should not pool on top of the sod or run off of it. 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. When you get a clean bill of health, rake the soil smoothly to remove large soil clods, chunks, and other debris. It's not hard to plant a beautiful St. Augustine lawn on your own when you follow these tips from Scotts. Here's how to bring back dead St. Augustine grass and make it grow green again: 1. Fill the holes created with soil or sand. Plugs should be placed 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) . 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? Mowing This grass loves the full sun and grows best under sunlight and heat. Youll notice them carpeting your lawn, but mowing before it looks untidy is better. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Prepare the area to transplant the St. Augustine grass by removing all dead and diseased turf grass down to the bare soil. St. Augustine grass plugs are a great way to fill in bare and dead spots. 1. Gray leaf spot is another fungal disease causing gray lesions on the grass blades. This new growth spreads along the top of the ground, filling in the area between the plugs. At this mowing height, you'll be able to give the dethatching tool enough access without cutting off too much of the stolons, thus, preventing excessive damage to your lawn. Planting too deep also encourages diseases or insects. Its tolerance to heat, salt, and humidity makes it suitable for coastal yards and subtropical humid areas. Helps St. Augustine grass repair 60% faster. Give it a year to take hold. Each hole should be dug slightly larger than, but the same depth as, the plug's root ball. It prefers warmer weather and grows best when temperatures are at least 75-degrees Fahrenheit. Wear protective clothing such as gloves, long sleeves, and a facemask. These uninvited occurrences interrupt your plants steady growth and threaten to damage it in the early stages. Youll need to spread a phosphorus-rich fertilizer on the soil. Water as needed, especially during hot, dry spells. If you are replacing a pre-existing lawn, then youll need to cut off the sod and clean out the old plantation properly. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. 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 . Therefore, plugs, sod, and the seed should be planted in late spring or early summer. Aside from that, fertilizing the st. Augustine grass, every once in a while, will also encourage vigorous growth and a healthy lawn. We deliver grass sod all over the Houston area or you can pick up your fresh sod at our office. 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 . Finish by watering the grass plugs again. Weeds will compete with your grass for nutrients. Next, dig the holes for the plugs. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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