The grass has since turned brown and died. However, a check must be kept of the amount of grass clippings to avoid developing a thatch problem. I gave the plugs a lilttle water, and put them in the sun for a couple of days (just like I did with the first order of plugs that are doing well). Sprigging your lawn saves money compared to laying sod over the entire area. Sod is the secret of many beautiful yards and gardens, but it can be very expensive to purchase sod from a supplier. This is very important. One way to get your new lawn started is to plant plugs—a small, 2- to 3-inch-wide, -square or -round piece of sod. Making and planting sod sprigs is time consuming. Many plants are available in plug form, including annual flowers, vegetable seedlings, lawn grass … We now offer native warm season grass (NWSG) plugs grown using the same rapid mast system we use on our highly productive and easy to establish tree seedlings. Next year, in both early May and early July apply fertilizer like 15-0-15 or 16-4-8 at a rate of six pounds per thousand square feet. For a cheaper, more time-intensive option, grow your own sod from seeds. Has shallow roots: Unlike most warm-season grasses, the centipede grass has shallow roots, and this affects it during droughts. Establishing El Toro Zoysia by Seeding. For best results plant plugs 12" apart -- or closer -- for quicker coverage. Plugs are 2”-4” cores of sod with a root system, rhizomes, stolons, and leaves. Sometimes when you are taking plugs you run into rocks or roots. This method of planting has a high success rate. A: Centipede grass does not grow very rapidly. The spacing due to plugging would be covered after 17 months of planting the grass. Grass plugs are used as a way to fill in bare areas of the yard, or help grow an new type of grass that will eventually take over the lawn. Planting St. Augustine plugs is a great alternative to seeds or sod and will give you a usable lawn in a few months' time. All warm season grasses slow down in September, so nothing can be done now. Lawn grass plugs are easier to handle than sod. Generally less expensive than sod, the grass plants spread across the soil to form a lush turf. Grass plugs are about the size of a pear. These will be sold in trays of individually separated small Saint Augustine grass plants. Sod is the most expensive way to install St. Augustine grass but will give you an instant lawn. The grass plugs will reach about 2 in (5.1 cm) into the ground. Place the plug into the hole being sure it is firmly against the bottom of the hole and push the loose soil created from drilling the hole around the plug. Plant St. Augustine grass plugs or sod in full sun, at least 90 days before your region’s first estimated fall frost, to give the grass plenty of time to establish. Zoysia can grow in U.S. A square yard of sod provides 2,000 to 3,000 Bermuda grass or zoysia grass sprigs; 500 to 1,000 St. Augustine or centipede grass sprigs; […] Alternatively, grass plugs can also be planted by hand. NWSG’s can also be established by planting seeds, but using our large plugs can save time and money for applications such as logging decks, screening cover, na Grass plugs are are small clumps of sod (with some soil) that has been lifted out of a stand of grass. Grass plugs could be planted in holes 6-inches apart along the lawn area. Much like the seedlings for many other small flowering plants or vegetables, the homeowner simply takes the plugs of turf from the tray and plants them into prepared soil. The closer you plant the plugs, the sooner they will cover the ground and the more expensive the project. Remove some soil from the bottom of the plug if it sits too high Sod sprigs are grass stolons with soil attached. Detailed Planting Instructions For Grass Plugs. Plug plants are usually known as "seedlings," but they are sometimes referred to as "plugs" because the small plants resemble plugs when they are removed from their celled nursery container. They looked and smelled like rotten, wilted lettuce. St. Augustine grass is available as sod, plugs and seed. Step 5 – Mix grass seed with clover seed. Once you’ve purchased a tray of plugs, make sure you install them properly and take care of them as they establish to your lawn. Plugs are planted individually 12 inches apart during the warm season. Unlike composting, I have done this successfully many times before. Zones 5-11. Q: How can I make centipede grass plugs spread faster? Plant plugs on a staggered grid. Seed is the least expensive option, but can be a challenge to germinate. Zoysia is a hardy grass that requires less water than other grasses. Method 2: Plugs are smaller versions (mostly cut pieces) of sod and can establish them in the same way as sod rectangles. They are used to fill in bare spots, plant a new patch of lawn, or to commingle in an existing lawn. By knowing how to prepare, plant plugs, and care for your zoysia, you, too, can have a healthy and lush zoysia lawn. Plant Grass Plugs in the recommended pattern shown in the picture below with plugs placed 12" apart from edge to edge or 15" apart from center to center. Follow these 4 tips to make your installation go smooth and fast. Sprinkle an inch or so of soil in the bottom of a potting flat that is divided into cells. Purchase Zoysia plugs from a reputable farm that ships plugs guaranteed to grow or replaced free (link to Zoysia Farms). The centipede grass is tender and cannot accommodate constant depression by the foot. Use a 1x12-inch board to space plants 12 inches apart. A plug is a 2x2-inch piece of sod of a spreading grass variety. Centipede Grass Plugs Features. St. Augustine grass grows best in the warmth of spring and summer, when high temperatures are normally 80-100 °F. This plug is then placed in it's permanent location in your lawn. Use the grass to plug the yard. Dig a shallow hole with a hand trowel and place the plug in the hole, covering the roots completely with soil. Selecting Grass Plugs for Your Location. Extra care needs to be taken during periods of droughts to manage it properly. You’ll need to make a passage with stones. Carefully dump the plugs on the ground, or take them out of the wheel barrow by hand; Step 7: Plant the Centipede plugs. You can use plugs to establish new lawns, or to fill in bare patches of an existing lawn. Placing an order of grass plugs to test a variety’s performance before committing to a full sod installation is a smart (and less costly) option for homeowners who want to tryout a specific type of turfgrass. Lawn grass plugs are clumps of sod with soil and roots that have been lifted out of a stand of grass. Grass Plug Installation: Plug your lawn like a pro by following these easy steps: Step 1 - Measure Your Planting Area Using a tape, measure the lawn area that will receive sod. The grass plugs arrived all wet, slimy and dark green looking. This makes installing the plugs easier because there is less grass/weeds to plug a hole through. Seedland sells high quality lawn grass plugs that have a developed root system and are growing as individual 3" X 3" plugs. You can purchase grass plugs from a nursery, at a local garden center, or over the internet. With proper care, the plugs take root and rapidly spread by rhizomes or stolons. This week I planted a tray of grass plugs in the lawn. For fast-growing Bermuda grass, place the plugs closer to each other and for long-term (and large area) grass cover, spread the Bermuda grass plugs evenly over the entire area. Centipede Grass is a Low Maintenance Lawn If the plug is not pressed in it will create an air pocket under the plug and could reduce the chance of survival. The plugs are planted just slightly below the surface of moist soil.it will take about 7 weeks for the plant to get established. It grows best in sub-tropical climates, like the southern U.S., South America, and Australia. I advise pulling/digging out the grass to a 4 inch diameter around where you plant the plugs to remove the competition for food and light to give the plant plugs a head start to grow more quickly. I like to use Zoysia grass plugs. St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum [Walt.] Gardeners could also scatter grass clippings across the lawn to promote growth in the clay soil. How to Bring Saint Augustine Grass Back. Below, we take a look at the various plug installation spacing methods that will determine how quickly your St. Augustine grass plugs spread. Top up the hole with good quality multi-purpose compost if necessary. Grass Plugs Ship as 36 @ 3" X 3" Plugs. Please see important grass plug shipping information below. Make a sketch of the lawn area with the measurements of the area where you plan to establish your lawn. They generally take about one year to fill in the yard and produce a thick, healthy lawn over time. It expands sideways instead of growing taller, creating a thick, soft carpet to cover your lawn. One thing’s for sure, planting plugs does save money. A soil auger drill bit is ideal for planting Planting plugs using a soil auger to make holes. High-Density Plug Installation This method requires a 6-11-inch spacing between the sprigs, creating ample room for healthy root development. Grass plugs, individual turf plants, usually come in 3-inch square cells and are ready to plant. Scroll down for a more detailed Grass Plug Comparison Table. For floral richness plant at a distance of no more than half a metre spacing between the plugs. Plugs are little tufts of grass that are planted about 1 foot apart in a yard. Before you plant Bermuda grass, get rid of any weeds and other grasses from the soil so it won’t be competing for nutrients. Just drill the holes, ideally between the grass plants and pop in the plug plants. Please use this chart and map as a guide for your grass type selection. Plugs may be also be planted 18" apart from edge to edge although the 12" method is recommended. Repeat for all plugs. Sod plugs or holes you plugged can end up being too short; You can still plant these plugs. Saint Augustine Grass Plugs. Bermuda grass is a lush, green grass that can brighten up your lawn. Centipede Grass Lawn Plugs from Seedland.com grow an attractive, dense lawn with an attractive medium to dark green color. Plugs are very easy and quick to plant out. 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