\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Prepare the planting area 3. Be sure to thoroughly wet without causing water to pool. Monitor the grass for signs of disease and take action promptly if a problem is detected. It is just the beginning, so be prepared for the long road ahead. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. St. Augustine grass thrives in sandy soils as long as you are in warmer climates. St. Augustine grass is common from tropical areas up to the southern coastline of the U.S.A. LawnMowerGuru.com, All Rights Reserved. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. St. Augustine grass requires warm weather to grow. Since St. Augustine grass spreads so vigorously via its creeping stolons, it is easy to establish it from sod. What makes these pests so deadly is that they do not merelyeatyour grass: They also inject a toxin into it. Here grows the plant Assidos, which, when worn by any one, protects him from the evil spirit, forcing it to state its business and name; consequently the foul spirits keep out of the way there. Even if you get a late start into the summer, it is likely still safe to plant plugs. St. Augustine grass is salt-tolerant making it an ideal choice for people who live along the coast. The optimum height for mowing St Augustine grass is 3.5 to 4 inches. However, late spring has moderately warm weather between 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit. Before any mowing, make sure that the St Augustine grass plugs or sod are properly rooted and are growing robustly. You may start lowering the cutting height slowly by slowly every time you mow. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Planting the plugs isnt the end of the process. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Rake all the debris from the area and rototill the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Spacing multiple feet between holes and in a checkerboard pattern will help your yard heal quicker. 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. Then, sprigs are either scattered on the surface and topped with soil or compost, or else pressed into the soil with a machine known as a fairway planter. Step 2. St. Augustine sod or plugs . Plant the grass plugs 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. Plant a section of sod. To get St. Augustine grass to spread faster, plant St. Augustine during summer and make sure you lay it down the right type of soil - preferably a well-aerated soil type. Plug hole depth will vary based on the amount of root system on the St. Augustine plugs. This toxin renders your grass unable to take up water properly, and the grass dies. The southern law chinch bug has probably been feeding on the stems, this causes the straw colour and some patches to appear. Take the details to your supplier for advice or use it to calculate your sod spacing intervals. Next Read: Pick the Ideal Fertilizers for St. Augustine Grass. Stolons facilitate faster lawn coverage once the plugs are in place. Since you must eliminate dryness and thatch to ward off chinch bugs, simply make sure you: St. Augustine grass can be attacked by downy mildew disease. Dethatch your lawn whenever you detect substantial thatch build-up. Join our mailing list to keep tabs on how to care for your lawn! wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Transplant these self-created plugs into other areas of your yard. Zoysia Sod Plugs - Large 3" x 3" Plugs - 18 Count Tray - Drought, Salt & Shade Tolerant Turf Grass Can I put St. Augustine grass over my existing grass? If you want to establish a St. Augustine turf and you are tight on budget, you need to think again. You Can Barefoot Test Our Grass Varieties at Our Office. Suppose you have followed the above-listed method for how to plant st. augustine grass plugs. By doing this you are putting fertilizer in direct contact with the developing roots. If you put flags in the desired places, it will be easier to identify the spots and dig holes. Fertilizer Pick All Rights Reserved 2023 | Owned and operated by Scalebloom, Pick the Ideal Fertilizers for St. Augustine Grass, The Best Lawn Fertilizer for Summer (Reviews for 2023), 6 Best Fertilizers for Bermuda Grass in 2023 for Thick Grass, 8 Best Fungicide for St Augustine Grass Reviews in 2023. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Make sure to plant your St. Augustine lawn when the weather is warm but before the dry season sets in and at least 3 months before the year's first frost. When to Plant St. Augustine GrassSt. One tray of 18 planted 12" to 16 apart will cover 50 square feet. You can use a tape measure but take driveways, sidewalks, shrubs, trees, and other landscaping elements of your entire lawn into consideration. When st. Augustine grass will not receive its sufficient water supply, it will suffer from drought issues, and your responsibilities will increase. Once the planting holes are ready, you may apply lawn starter fertilizer in each hole depending on the recommendations made by your soil extension agent. This warm-season plant can grow and thrive in a wide range of soil types with a pH between 5.0 to 8.0. Each hole should be dug slightly larger than, but the same depth as, the plug's root ball. Helps St. Augustine grass repair 60% faster. Local gardening shops may also have St Augustine Grass plugs. So, unless you live in the subtropical regions of Florida and California, St. Augustine grass will turn brown in winter. By submitting your email address you are agreeing to receive emails with related tips, information, and promotions from Scotts Miracle-Gro, it's affiliates, and select partners and to our Conditions of Use and consent to the collection of your personal information. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Plugs should be placed 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) Press one plug firmly into each hole, making sure each is level with surrounding ground. 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 . By doing so, your st. Augustine will have immediate moisture and establish deep roots more quickly. It is a true grass as a member of the Poaceae family. The bugs will float to the surface. You wont need to wait for years to see your lawn turn lush green. You need to plant St. Augustine grass sod or plugs when there is full sun. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Water them deeply 6. . Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 43,780 times. Soil pH amendment may also be done before the digging of the holes is done. 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 . 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. You can grow St. Augustine grass during the summer and make sure you lay the plugs on well-aerated soil, then apply phosphorous fertilizer and come up with a good watering schedule that will encourage quicker root and foliage development. St. Augustine plugs can be planted year-round in tropical and sub-tropical climates where the grass does not go dormant. Once you get your results, amend the soil as needed. Or if you are looking to start a whole new lawn in a small area, plugs are a great alternative to sod.