St. Augustine grass is a popular warm-season turfgrass known for its thick, coarse texture and attractive blue-green color, thriving in the warm, humid climates of the southern United States. Establishing a new lawn or repairing damaged areas often involves using small vegetative pieces called plugs. A grass plug is a small, rooted section of turf used to propagate the grass across a larger area. This method is a cost-effective alternative to laying full sod, requiring less initial material to cover the same space. Plugs are useful for filling isolated bare spots or starting a new lawn where slower establishment is acceptable. They contain the necessary root structure and growth nodes to spread rapidly once planted correctly.
Necessary Supplies and Source Material Selection
Gathering the correct materials is the first step toward a healthy lawn. You will need a specialized plug cutter, a bulb planter, or an auger bit attached to a drill to create uniform holes in the soil. A sharp knife or spade is necessary if you plan to cut your own plugs from existing sod. A measuring tape is helpful for accurate spacing, and a starter fertilizer should be on hand to provide immediate nutrition to the transplanted grass.
If you are generating your own plugs, the quality of the source material is essential. The sod or existing lawn used must be vigorous, free of weeds, and show no signs of disease or pest infestation. Using an unhealthy source risks propagating problems into the new planting area and hindering establishment. Select the healthiest possible sections to ensure the plugs possess maximum energy reserves for root development and lateral growth.
Cutting and Installing the Plugs
The ideal size for a St. Augustine grass plug ranges between two and four inches in diameter or square. Many commercially available plugs measure around three by three inches. When cutting plugs from a sod roll, a specialized plug cutter removes a uniform section of turf, retaining a consistent root mass and the grass crown. The plug should be cut deep enough to include a healthy root system, usually about two to three inches of soil depth.
Before planting, clear the target area of any weeds, rocks, or debris. Loosening the top three to four inches of soil with a garden fork or tiller improves aeration and allows new roots to penetrate the ground easily. Moistening the soil slightly before installation makes digging the holes smoother and reduces transplant shock for the plugs.
Use your plug cutter or bulb planter to create holes slightly larger than the plug itself, allowing for easy placement and root-to-soil contact. The primary step during installation is ensuring the plug’s crown is level with or slightly above the surrounding soil surface. Planting too deep smothers the growth point, while planting too high exposes the roots to drying air. Once placed, press the soil firmly around the edges of the plug to eliminate air pockets.
The spacing between plugs determines how quickly the lawn will fill in. For the fastest establishment, a spacing of six inches between plugs is recommended, though this requires more material. A more economical approach involves spacing the plugs twelve to eighteen inches apart, which takes longer to achieve full coverage. Planting the plugs in a staggered or diamond pattern helps the grass runners spread more evenly and reduces the appearance of distinct rows.
Watering and Long-Term Establishment
Immediate care after installation is important for successful establishment, beginning with a deep, thorough watering of the entire plugged area. This initial soak helps the soil settle around the plugs and removes air pockets. For the first ten to fourteen days, the plugs require frequent, light watering, often one to two times per day, to keep the top inch of soil consistently moist. This prevents the newly planted root systems from drying out while they anchor themselves into the native soil.
Once the plugs show signs of new leaf growth and resist a gentle tug, usually after about two weeks, reduce the watering frequency. Shift the schedule to a deeper, less frequent pattern, such as watering every other day for the next few weeks. This practice encourages the roots to grow downward in search of moisture, developing a more robust system. Eventually, the established lawn should receive about one to one-and-a-half inches of water per week, delivered in one or two deep watering sessions.
Applying a starter fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium accelerates establishment and runner development. This fertilizer can be placed directly into the planting hole before the plug is inserted. If a starter fertilizer was not used initially, wait four to six weeks after planting to apply a balanced lawn fertilizer to encourage lateral growth. Avoid using weed-and-feed products during this establishment period, as the herbicide component can stunt the young grass plugs. St. Augustine plugs will begin to send out runners, resulting in full coverage within six to twelve months, depending on the climate and initial spacing.