When st. Augustine grass will not receive its sufficient water supply, it will suffer from drought issues, and your responsibilities will increase. On average, it can take about six to twelve months to fill the space completely. Measure the lawn or the area you want to plant the grass plugs in before purchasing them. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. In that period, the daytime temperature remains 80 Fahrenheit on average. Additional Care Keep watering your newly planted grass plugs for 2 weeks. One of the most common questions people ask is when to plant these plugs. Make slightly larger holes than the plugs; this will make it easier to plant them. Plugs are ideal for small areas or places where the homeowner isnt in a rush to have a yard full of grass. Taking measurements for your planting area will help you to calculate the number of plugs you need to order from your supplier. Prepare the planting area 3. Like all new sod, St. Augustine needs to be water multiple times a day for the first couple of weeks. Take the details to your supplier for advice or use it to calculate your sod spacing intervals. It does require regular watering to remain healthy and depending on drought conditions could potentially need additional irrigation. The holes themselves should be spaced 12 inches apart (so holes across the center of each diamond will be 15 inches apart). St. Augustine grass is a popular choice for lawns in the south. After that, you need to maintain one inch of water every week. It is easier to flag where you will place St. Augustine plugs before digging. Watering a lawn gets expensive and may be regulated in your area. Planting in the late summer should be mindful of the estimated first winter frost. 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. Plugs, on the other hand, are a much cheaper alternative. How to Grow St. Augustine Grass From Seed. Planting the plugs isnt the end of the process. Transplant these self-created plugs into other areas of your yard. This will give your newly planted lawn enough time to establish before the harsh weather sets in. 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. You can also determine the best time by looking at the forecast. One of the great virtues of St. Augustine grass is that you don't have to mow it much, a fact that you will especially appreciate if you crave low maintenance. Proper soil pH and nutrients will not only give your new sod the best change to grow. Plugs should be placed 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) The abovementioned method is an extremely easy way to set up your st. Augustine lawn. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. One tray of 18 planted 12" to 16 apart will cover 50 square feet. 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. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. You can buy 1 pound of buffalo grass seed for about $50. However, to achieve a lush lawn of St. Augustine grass, there is some work involved. St. Augustine grass identification is based on its bluish-green leaf color with wide, flat blades and low, creeping habit that allows it to form dense mats. Fertilizing St Augustine Grass. You may start lowering the cutting height slowly by slowly every time you mow. Plugs can be spaced 12 or more inches apart but the closer together they are spaced, the faster the grass fills in for complete coverage. This product is sold in four 8-count packs. By doing this you are putting fertilizer in direct contact with the developing roots. Apply the fertilizer to the soil when you are ready to plant your St. Augustine grass plugs and then again after planting. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 43,780 times. Watering the dead sod more could help. We deliver the best quality grass in Houston, and we do it at a competitive price too. Common diseases affecting St. Augustine grass include brown patches, gray leaf spots, and take-all root rot. Press plug firmly into the hole, filling in all space around the edge of the plug. Summer is the peak growing season for St. Augustine grass. This grass is best for coastal areas. For the best results, apply 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet (this should be spread over several applications). What now? Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. 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. This toxin renders your grass unable to take up water properly, and the grass dies. Be sure to thoroughly wet without causing water to pool. After you see the grass spreading, you can mow your lawn, ensuring that you dont cut them too short that they become lower than 2 inches. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. . But, for best results, grow St. Augustine grass in full sun. Results may vary. You may even find them at some big stores like Home Depot or Lowes. St. Augustine plugs can be planted year-round in tropical and sub-tropical climates where the grass does not go dormant. If you are replacing a pre-existing lawn, then youll need to cut off the sod and clean out the old plantation properly. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Save money by renting a rototiller. Let nature take care of it for you. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Does not contain grass seed. Lets find out. The time for planting St. Augustine is April and May. In doing so, make sure that you dont overdo it. This makes plugs a great choice for thin or bare spots in your lawn. 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. Helps St. Augustine grass repair 60% faster. The key takeaway is to plant it the right way at the right time and take proper care afterward. You can use a mower at its highest setting (3-4) inches to cut this grass. St. Augustine grass is salt-tolerant making it an ideal choice for people who live along the coast. What Is The Best Time To Plant St. Augustine Grass Plugs How To Maintain Newly Planted St. Augustine Plants Each plug has been carefully maintained to develop a well established root system, making them an excellent way to start or improve your lawn. Afterward, water as needed depending on your climate. A tray of 18 plugs will cover approximately 32 square feet. Lawn Tips, Staff's Picks. Learn how to work with nature, the climate and your watering system to water your lawn efficiently. This will help the roots to be firm and stable in the soil. The best time to grow St Augustine grass is in May through July when the average daytime temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime soil temperature is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 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. Passionate about gardening and water-related topics, hes dedicated to providing expert information and resources to help improve your home, health, and wallet. An easy way to start a St. Augustine lawn is to plant plugs of established grass. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. After two weeks, the weeds should be dead. Are you a master of DIY projects. This will normally take about 7-14 days for the roots to establish. In the fourth week, water 1-2 times every other day. 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). Please call us at 281-431-7441 or use our contact form for more information or a quote for your project. It forms a dense mat over the ground that helps to suppress the growth of weeds. Water the new plugs just as you water new sod. Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. After about a month I fertilized with a pink fertilizer. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You can use a diagonal pattern method so that a diamond pattern forms with each group when you create a group of 4 holes. Once they start spreading, you will notice your lawn is getting greener day by day. Natural and shipped fresh from the farm, each pod has been carefully nurtured to have a fully developed root system, just like your lawn. Brown patch is a fungal disease that can form circular patches of brown grass. The water should not pool on top of the sod or run off of it. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. You can find St. Augustine plugs in your local home and garden store. Kill all the weeds or pre-existing lawn grass by spraying a non-selective herbicide. Using plugs is the cheapest way to grow an st. augustine lawn, and heres how you can do it. Monitor the grass for signs of disease and take action promptly if a problem is detected. Use a high-phosphorus fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks during a growing season for a hardy and disease-resistant St. Augustine lawn. It's best to plant it during warm weather. By this time in the southeast, temperatures are well above 80. It is rare to grow St. Augustine grass from seed. As long as you are in at least zone 7, don't worry: It's not dead, just dormant. This tool makes perfectly-plug-sized holes with a lot less work on your part. Available in a 27.5-ounce bottle. This grass can tolerate humidity, heat, and even salt, which makes it not only suitable for warm states but subtropical and coastal areas. If the soil is too acidic, lime can be added to raise the pH level. Though sod is the most perfect option for establishing a new lawn from scratch, its very costly as well. Considering that youve already flagged the spots in diamond patterns, you need to dig holes properly. For an extra boost, add 1 teaspoon of organic fertilizer before planting. Flagging the spots beforehand will make the digging process a lot easier. Step 1. Thoroughly water the planted area three to five times a day for up to 10 days. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 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. 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? Water daily or as needed until the plugs are firmly rooted and starting to spread. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Plant-a-St-Augustine-Sod-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Plant-a-St-Augustine-Sod-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Plant-a-St-Augustine-Sod-Step-1.jpg\/aid9724649-v4-728px-Plant-a-St-Augustine-Sod-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"