When planted 18 in. This warm-season plant can grow and thrive in a wide range of soil types with a pH between 5.0 to 8.0. apart in a prepared lawn. An alternative to purchasing prepared St. Augustine plugs are to make your own. 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 plant some, wait until the spring or early summer, then spray a glyphosate weedkiller over the planting area to protect the plants from competing grasses. Plugs are small, like 2 to 3 inches in general. Now is also a great time to do a soil test. Poor air circulation promotes diseases such as downy mildew. A pound covers about 330 square feet. St. Augustine will take root and spread faster in the right soil conditions. Contact us and share your ideas to see if we can work together. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. However, sods may not be suitable for everyone because they are costly. Grass plugs are turf plants that are grown in trays. Typically, holes will be between 2-4 deep. Your lawn is an extension of your home, and we want to help you enjoy 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. This usually takes about 7-14 days, and It is recommended to water as deeply as possible during this time. Just follow these steps: The best time to plant St. Augustine plugs is in the late spring or early summer. Next Read: Pick the Ideal Fertilizers for St. Augustine Grass. 5 Types of Grass for Sandy Soil, How to Keep Birds from Eating Grass Seed 10 Safe Ways, How to Tell if Grass Seed is Germinating (Ideal Requirements), Does Ryegrass Spread? 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. 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. I grew up on a farm in North Carolina and have grown fruits, vegetables, and trees since childhood. When your new lawn reaches over three and a half inches tall, mow off a third of the height and collect the clippings. To grow St. Augustine grass, you use stolons- a horizontal growth stem - which travels just above the ground surface. Okay, weve discussed when to grow St. Augustine grass. Nitrogen aids deep root development, which is why its recommended to use nitrogen fertilizers once every 6-8 weeks. Planting in Rows Dig a row to the depth of your plugs using your hoe. The first step is to examine and calculate the area of the space needing plugs. Youll need to spread a phosphorus-rich fertilizer on the soil. Directions. How long does a St. Augustine grass lawn last? Use a high-phosphorus fertilizer every 6 to 8 weeks during a growing season for a hardy and disease-resistant St. Augustine lawn. One tray of 18 planted 12" to 16 apart will cover 50 square feet. Augustinegrass is grown using plugs, which produce new growth from stems that are above the ground. An easy way to start a St. Augustine lawn is to plant plugs of established grass. This is an acceptable spacing amount, but remember that the closer together they are, the faster they will spread on your landscape. Let nature take care of it for you. St. Augustine grass plugs are the best way to repair bare spots in your lawn. Keep the newly planted St Augustine grass plugs moist for two weeks; . Be mindful of how shade impacts Bermuda and colder temperatures impact St. Augustine. Rake the area clean so the new transplant has contact with the soil. YARD PLUGGER cuts a 3" X 3" square plug of sod or soil - the size of most commercially available grass plugs. Barbara Gillette is a master gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. But, for best results, grow St. Augustine grass in full sun. St. Augustine grass is susceptible toinfestations of chinch bugs. Mow the lawn area with a lawnmower, set on the lowest setting, to remove all tall weeds from the area you are planting. Here are common St Augustine grass problems you should be aware of. If you want to plant St. Augustine grass using plugs, the best time to do so is in the late spring or summer. If the soil is too acidic, lime can be added to raise the pH level. Here's the catch, you don't want to plant St. Augustine plugs in a square grid. Then thoroughly water the area to soften the soil for easier hole digging and planting of the plugs. Step 2. It prefers warmer weather and grows best when temperatures are at least 75-degrees Fahrenheit. This is a warm season turfgrass and loves heat, so it grows best when high temperatures are between 80- and 100-degrees F. However, it's not quite that easy. With proper care, St. Augustine grass will establish itself quickly and provide years of enjoyment. 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. Be sure your area is appropriate for sod as well. Place the plugs 5. SodPods can also be used as a cost-effective way to plant a beautiful new lawn. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. A tray of St. Augustine grass plugs can have 18 grass plugs that can cover roughly a 32 square ft area. With a little maintenance, the sod may soon grow into a luxurious St. Augustine lawn. You do not need to water the lawn on rainy days. Now the fun begins. It is just the beginning, so be prepared for the long road ahead. After the holes have been dug, thoroughly water the area. Proper soil pH and nutrients will not only give your new sod the best change to grow. Once they start spreading, you will notice your lawn is getting greener day by day. 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. Does the time of the year even matter? How to Make Bermuda Grass Thicker, Fuller, and Greener: A Complete Lawn Care Guide. Watering the dead sod more could help. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. Of the warm-season grasses, St. Augustine grass is the most shade-tolerant. After you have measured the area that you want to be covered by st. Augustine grass, the next step would be to prepare it and ensure its ready for the plugs. By doing so, you are giving your grasses sufficient time to get prepared for the upcoming extreme weather. This warm-season grass goes dormant in winter. Mowing Does not contain grass seed. Houston Grass South is located just a few miles east of Sienna Plantation in Arcola, TX. Give it a year to take hold. Water your lawn adequately. Creating plugs from pieces of sod will help stretch the coverage area. Within two weeks, your St. Augustine plugs should be well rooted and on their way to spreading. It is expensive to establish St. Augustine because it can only be planted with sprigs, plugs, and sod. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Natural and shipped fresh from the farm, each pod has been carefully nurtured to have a fully developed root system, just like your lawn. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Proper watering will encourage the plugs to form a deeper root system and grow up more established. When should I plant St Augustine grass? Space the grass plugs about 6 inches (15 cm) apart. Here's how to bring back dead St. Augustine grass and make it grow green again: 1. You can rent or buy plugging tools. 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. Join our mailing list to keep tabs on how to care for your lawn! Depending on the spacing, 18 plugs covers around 32 square feet. So, unless you live in the subtropical regions of Florida and California, St. Augustine grass will turn brown in winter. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. 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. Planting, Care, Similar Grasses, and Disadvantages. By doing so, your st. Augustine will have immediate moisture and establish deep roots more quickly. Dig a 3" deep hole for each plug (12-16 apart). 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. 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. Nutrients and moisture within the soil. Apply phosphorus fertilizer and keep a good watering schedule to help with quicker root and foliage development. 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