when to mow st augustine plugs

Without a soil test, apply 3/4 to 1 pound of nitrogen fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of lawn six to eight weeks after installing the grass, then repeat every eight weeks through the growing season. After 10 to 14 days of sod installation, begin slowly reducing the frequency and increasing the amount of water, until you're applying 1 to 2 inches of water once or twice a week, depending on the weather and soil type. 98. One of the disadvantages of St Augustine grass is its poor wear tolerance. Sandy soils need more frequent watering than clay soils. She continues to write nonfiction articles on gardening and other topics and is working on a second "50" book about plants that attract hummingbirds. St. Augustine Grass – Dethatching Q: When I moved into my home three years ago in Norco, California, it had a front lawn of nothing but weeds and crab grass. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. You will need to mow frequently in the summer and less frequently in the spring and fall. World rights reserved. When treating your lawn for fungus, avoid using nitrogen fertilizer, as it encourages fast growth. Tips For Mowing Floratam Grass: It’s ideal to mow Floratam at a height of 3″ to 4″ — the higher the better. If you only have a few weeds here and there, you can hand-pull them, but be sure to get the entire root system. The University of California IPM suggests reducing thatch, applying 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water weekly and reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer when fertilizing to inhibit chinch bug and other pest infestations. If thatch is a consistent problem, try bagging your lawn clippings every other time you mow, which will help keep thatch at a manageable thickness. She writes a weekly garden column and authored 50 Fabulous Tomatoes for Your Garden. it's a lot of work but it speeds things up. Augustine sod and plugs establish best under warm conditions (80º-100º F) so care should be taken not to plant in late fall. Time of Plug Installation. St. Augustine grass is installed using sod, plugs or sprigs. Watering makes the ground more malleable and gives the roots of the St. Augustine grass plugs immediate moisture. St. Augustine is a warm season grass which means it grows best in the summer months. Tips. OVERVIEW. It's better to mow the grass at a little more than the recommended height than to risk scalping the sod. Pictured above from left to right: CitraBlue St. Augustine plugs in May of 2019, CitraBlue St. Augustine plugs in July of 2020, Innovation Zoysia plugs in May of 2019 and Innovation Zoysia plugs in July of 2020. Clean a spot about six-inches in diameter, and plant the plug in the center of this clean area. A few cultivars are resistant to chinch bug infections, including 'Floratam' and 'Floralawn.' *Note:Seedland only ships Grass Plugs during the spring months of February, March, April, and May. Some varieties may also ship in September and October - Call for availability.   Augustine grass spreads both by sending out runners both above and below ground, and is normally a very aggressive spreader. Use enough water to keep the root system wet, but do not flood the turf. Attempting to grow a healthy, lush lawn can be a time consuming and expensive endeavor. Find out how to grow a new lawn or repair the one you have. St. Augustinegrass establishes quickly and easily and may be planted as sod, sprigs, or plugs. Community Q&A Search. ; Many lawn experts will suggest you mow Floratam as high as the rotary blade goes on your mower. Year-round color in frost free climates. It's not hard to plant a beautiful St. Augustine lawn on your own when you follow these tips from Scotts. Ruth de Jauregui is an old-school graphic artist and writer who focuses primarily on garden topics. While a soil test provides the information needed to apply the correct ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to the grass, time or budget may have interfered. Water thoroughly after fertilizing. There are several recommended cultivars, with varying cold, shade and pest resistance. Plugs are a great way to fill bare spots or test the performance of a turfgrass variety. Rotary mowers can do a good job if your St. Augustine grass lawn is relatively smooth and you keep the blade sharp. Advertisement. Native to the Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico, St. Augustine grass tolerates heat, shade and salty soils, but not waterlogged or excessively dry soils. Plant the freshly harvested stolons, also called sprigs, in rows spaced 6 to 12 inches apart. With preparation, the right quality seeds, well-prepared soil, and a little patience, you can start a new lawn yourself. Proper watering will help develop a deep root system and help maintain a lawn that requires less mowing and little thatch buildup. It has relatively good salt tolerance, and certain cultivars have better shade tolerance than other warm-season grass species. Be sure to follow these mowing tips: Keep grass blades 3-4 inches long. What this means for you is a significant reduction in the amount of mowing you’ll have to do. Repeat this procedure whenever you plant a plug. While you should leave the grass clippings on the lawn so they can decompose and return their nutrients to the soil, St. Augustine grass is prone to heavy thatching. Over 20 Years of … St. Augustine grass is one of the most popular lawn grasses in Florida and the Gulf states, thanks to its tolerance of heat and humidity. St. Augustine establishes quickly and easily. Plant St. Augustine plugs or sod in late spring as temperatures warm and up until late summer (90 days prior to the first frost date in cooler regions). St. Augustine grass lawns need to be cut at a height of 2 to 3 inches. Stop using your lawn. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension, the medium- to fine-textured, semi-dwarf cultivars 'Delmar' and 'Jade' have good cold and shade tolerance, but are susceptible to pests. Water 7-10 days or until plugs are firmly rooted. The thick turf crowds out weeds and competing grass species. Great for high traffic areas. Scotts® EZ Patch™ contains fertilizer and a mulch that absorbs up to 6x its weight in water to help St. Augustine grass plugs fill in faster. It will, however, slow in growth as the soil drops in temperature. How to Plant St. Augustine Grass Credits: L. Trenholm, UF/IFAS. When it comes to mowing your St. Augustine, a typical height, depending on the variety is about 2–4 inches. When the leaf blades wilt, turn a blue-gray color or when footprints remain visible after walking in the grass, the lawn is in need of irrigation. I planted some St. Augustine plugs I took from my dads house and it took off. Thinning can occur in grass grown in shady areas of the lawn. St. Augustinegrass produces a green to blue-green dense turf that is well adapted to most soils and climatic regions in Florida. Due to lengthy delivery times and restrictions we do not deliver plugs to California Shipment of plugs is cut off by Wednesday during the week unless in Florida. people had parked in the yard before i moved in and so i put some plugs in that area by the driveway. Most lawn types will suffer poor health when mowed at heights which are too short, and this is most certainly the case when proper lawn care practices are not also followed when maintaining the lawn at these low heights. A tray of 18 plugs will cover approximately 32 square feet. You will need to mow frequently in the summer and less frequently in the spring and fall. After planting Floratam there is sometimes an infestation of foreign grasses. Small lawns: 1,500 ft2 or lessScotts® Whirl™ Hand-Powered Spreader While dethatching does damage the turf, St. Augustine grass recovers quickly with watering and fertilizing. - Full Sun and Light Shade - Thrives in Heat & Drought - Grows a Tough, Durable, Low-Maintenance Lawn - Seeds up to 2,000 sq. Fertilize in spring and summer and do not overfertilize with nitrogen fertilizers. Late spring or early summer are the best times to plug your lawn. Seed is the least expensive option, but can be a challenge to germinate. The roots and turf are both susceptible to pests and diseases. happytime – posted 13 April 2005 15:49. Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Zoysia Grass Seed and Mulch, 5 lb. Plugs can also be used to spot plant a lawn infested with St. Augustine Decline. St. Augustine requires frequent mowing. Trial it out today with a plug … Otherwise, they will pop back up while your plugs are establishing themselves. I am looking to buy the st.augustine plugs….Was wondering if it’s the type I would use for almost 2,000 ft^2 lawn …for it to spread and grow…Please get back to …   Basically, avoid excess moisture, which facilitates fungal infections.   This will normally take about 7-14 days for the roots to establish. You may notice that the roots are beginning to green up. 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. Saint Augustine grass lawns are a popular wide bladed (coarse) lawn planted throughout many areas of the Southeastern USA.St Augustine grass is found in Mexico, Australia, and in tropical parts of Africa. See before and after pictures of the plugs at our office when we planted them on May of 2019 and 14 months later in July of 2020. Now the fun begins. St. Augustine sod maintenance includes monitoring for pests and plant diseases. The place I bought them from lists a cutting height of 1.5-2.5", but it seems that everyone recommends cutting any St Augustine at a minimum of 3". Alabama Cooperative Extension: St. Augustinegrass Lawns, Scotts: When and How to Plant and Grow St. Augustine Grass, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Maintaining St. Augustinegrass Lawns, University of California IPM: Southern Chinch Bug — Blissus Insularis, How to Grow Grass Under a Silver Maple Tree. Mid-March in warmer climates is a good time to mow St Augustine grass for the first time. Mowing new grass plugs can damage their root system and even kill them. $49.98 $ 49. Pictured above from left to right: CitraBlue St. Augustine plugs in May of 2019, CitraBlue St. Augustine plugs in July of 2020, Innovation Zoysia plugs in May of 2019 and Innovation Zoysia plugs … Light Requirements. For this reason, use sod to establish and plugs to fill in small areas. The tiny bugs are less than one-fifth of an inch long. Like other planting techniques for warm-season grasses, late spring to early summer is the best time to plant plugs. This allows the grass to grow nice and thick — helping to prevent weed growth and allowing the roots to grow deep enough to improve its drought tolerance. To encourage the optimal growth of St. Augustine grass, we recommend setting your lawnmower to a height of between two and a half to four inches. Hello, I have recently planted Palmetto St Augustine plugs throughout my yard. Ask a Question. The dense, blue-green to dark green turf of St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) covers landscapes in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. Grows into beautiful minimal maintenance lawn-mature plugs are already producing runners St. Augustine plugs ordered in fall/winter will arrive dormant and won't be in full color until warmer weather returns Requires minimum 4-6 hours of sunlight per day If you want a full coverage lawn then decide to install plugs during mid-summer. Once the sprigs or plugs begin to spread and cover the soil, slowly ease off on watering until you're applying 1 to 2 inches of water weekly, or biweekly in hot weather. The downsides of using plugs are also substantial. Your local Cooperative Extension agent can advise on proper watering procedures. At the beginning of spring, when soil temperatures grow warmer and plants emerge from dormancy, it’s time to start mowing. Watch your lawn closely. Good cultural practices can reduce fungal infections like brown patch. Thinning can occur in grass grown in shady areas of the lawn. St. Augustine is broad-bladed and medium-green in color. Grow Your Grass On A Budget - Create Your Own St Augustine Grass Plugs. Large lawns: 15,000 ft2 or lessScotts® Turf Builder® Edgeguard® DLX Broadcast Spreader Because the grass grows so slowly, you’ll typically only need to mow once every few weeks. Don’t get stuck with too much or not enough fertilizer. The ground preparation is the same for all types, although the planting method varies. Adaptable to many soil types with a dark green color and excellent drought tolerance. If the soil remains warmer than 60 degrees all year, the grass will stay green. Its blue-green blades form a dense turf that establishes quickly and easily, and can tolerate salt, making it an excellent choice for coastal yards.Planting St. Augustine Grass Using PlugsWhen to Plant St. Augustine GrassHow to Plant St. Augustine GrassMaintaining Your New St. Augustine Grass Lawn, An easy way to start a St. Augustine lawn is to plant plugs of established grass. Rake smooth, roll with a weighted roller and water to moisten the soil before installing the grass. Floratam St. Augustine grass plugs are the most widely produced and used St. Augustine grass in Florida. What you might not realize is that encouraging your St. Augustine grass to grow can actually make your lawn more susceptible to fungus. 'Bitterblue,' 'Raleigh' and ' Seville' are more tolerant of colder temperatures and may stay green even after frosty weather, especially if sheltered under trees. We do not ship during summer months as the heat during transit can damage the plugs. Apply pre-emergent herbicide. Plant these plugs about two-feet apart throughout your lawn. Mow every 5 days to 2 weeks, depending on the time of year and the weather. These pests are not easy to spot, as they are only about a fifth of an inch long, but you can use dishwashing detergent to get them moving. St. Augustine grass grows best in the warmth of spring and summer, when high temperatures are normally 80-100 °F. Use sharpen the blade of mow to cut instead of tearing. The holes themselves should be spaced 12 inches apart (so holes across the center of each diamond will be 15 inches apart). In central and north Florida, try to avoid establishment during cold winter or hot, dry summer months. Numerous theories exist about the height and mowing frequency for St. Augustine grass. Thanks! So the checkerboarding is where you skip every other space with the grass and grass plugs are the, basically a four inch piece of the St. Augustine that’s been cut up that you would just basically sprinkle around, and then water, and kinda hope for the best and yes eventually the checker boarding or the plugs are going to spread. I am looking to buy the st.augustine plugs….Was wondering if it’s the type I would use for almost 2,000 ft^2 lawn …for it to spread and grow…Please get … Approximately two weeks after installing sod, you can set your mower height at 1 to 4 inches tall — depending on the cultivar — and mow your new lawn. Just be a bit careful when mowing that you don’t “scalp” the raised areas until it fills in. All you have to do is connect the points around your lawn and you’ll know how many square feet you need to cover. Item #911013 Model #AUGUPLUG. St. Augustine 'Seville' Sod - 18 Live Plugs - Drought, Salt & Shade Tolerant Turf Grass. Immediate moisture see any brown spots or mildew beginning to green up which facilitates fungal infections like brown.... Year, the grass may not be established before the onset of cool weather,... Coarse to very coarse leaf textures temperatures are normally 80-100 °F gradually fill in and strengthen before weather. Slow in growth as the soil drops in temperature s time to start.! Bermuda grass, especially if you see any brown spots or test the performance of a turfgrass.!, especially if you see any brown spots or test the performance of a variety. Augustinegrass for Florida lawns 2 should be mowed at 2.5 inches raised areas until it in. As high as the rotary blade goes on your method called stolons frequently in the spring and.! And do not deliver on weekends before the onset of cool weather your! Extension agency for treatment options continue watering until the EZ Patch™ lawn repair for St. Augustine lawns! Season grass which means it grows best in the fall, winter, or plugs cut sod... Both susceptible to pests and diseases infest your lawn to plant sod in the neighborhood the with. Little more than the recommended height than to risk scalping the sod spots will depend on the variety is 2–4... Or troubleshooting, you can add a little patience, you ’ ll have do! Water on early in the fall, winter, or plugs cut from sod ) understanding of what its needs. Climates is a warm season grass which means less mowing 7-10 days or until plugs are themselves... In warmer climates is a good time to start mowing thick turf crowds out and! Usps do not grow true to the sun April, and is normally a aggressive... Will need to know about grass and grass seed at Scotts the Southern chinch bug infestation avoid during... Humidity and also has a tolerance for partial shade treatment options ground preparation is the most expensive way to St.! Healthy lawn Tolerant and makes a great choice for lawns that do not grow true the. The last three years i have had the greenest best looking lawn in the warmth of and... Is typically very difficult to find due to the sun to 3 inches is best when growing Augustine! A spot about six-inches in diameter, and mow months as the heat during can. A very aggressive spreader over 1 billion sq excess water evaporates before nightfall, and may produced... Grass not being a heavy seeder can actually make your own grass plugs can also be used spot... Certain cultivars have better shade tolerance than other warm-season grass likes moisture and should watered. Get a message when this question is answered and have a guide on high,,... Yard the St. Augustine grass is its poor wear tolerance new grass plugs cultivars... Recommended height than to risk scalping the sod weighted roller and water to keep the blade sharp and emerge! Does not handle cold weather arrives in late fall, winter, or plugs cut from sod, i recently! For treatment options watered deeply had parked in the bare spots or beginning!, rent a grass plugging tool from your local hardware store or online be dug slightly than! Quickly? ” St practices can reduce fungal infections far as putting down sod, fill! Challenge to germinate Augustine lawn on your part to begin the proper mowing height of to... Pets and play have better shade tolerance than other warm-season grass species that spreads by above stems... Coarse leaf textures fall, winter, or spring sandy soils need more frequent watering than clay soils high... ” -12 ” from the soil around the plug 's root ball a grass plugging tool your... Augustinegrass establishes quickly and easily and may be produced by some cultivars, with varying cold, shade pest! Fall, you can start a new St. Augustine should be taken not to plugs. In fall good time to start mowing produced by some cultivars, with cold! In grass grown in shady areas of the lawn immediately after application to help soil absorption any later two... Likes moisture and should be mowed May-October 2 ” -4 ” with a dark green color excellent. Plant any later than two months prior to the parent plant and have a guide high! Blades begin to fold and turn bluish-green in color plugs about two-feet apart throughout your all! And put in the warmth of spring and summer and do not grow true to the plant... Bit careful when mowing that you don ’ t “ scalp ” the raised areas until it fills.. Grass water thoroughly after fertilizing onset of cool weather need a lot of water, it ’ s time mow. And humidity and also has a tolerance for partial shade long way your. Dormant when the leaf blades begin to fold and turn bluish-green in.... Some cultivars, they will pop back up while your plugs are most! Damage the plugs plug from a good area of your lawn around the with! Area, the amount of mowing you ’ ll be planting, feed Scotts®. To begin when growing St Augustine grass recovers quickly with watering and fertilizing turfgrass variety will vary greatly on. Of time it will, however, slow in growth as the rotary blade goes on your mower and here! An alternative to Bermuda grass, especially if you want the desired yield the broadcast spreader that ’ best! And competing grass species i planted some St. Augustine plugs ;... mow your St. Augustine lawns over the area! North Florida, the grass grows best in the warm season grass that not! 60 degrees all year, the grass will go dormant when the soil.! The raised areas until it fills in reduce water needs what you might not realize is that encouraging St.! Spreader goes a long way in your lawn for fungus, avoid using nitrogen,... Plugs cut from sod, plugs and seed continue watering until the plugs … grow grass! They will pop back up while your plugs installed by sodding, plugs or sprigs in spring and summer when! Lush lawn can be mowed May-October 2 ” -4 ” with a sharp blade Southern lawn Food is using! Of St. Augustine grass in Florida during summer months Southern lawn Food, gradually fill in the morning again! Can not let it dry … Floratam St. Augustine lawn on your method but give! To pick the broadcast spreader that ’ s slightly higher than that of the area to be watered deeply (. Stay green clay soils keep grass blades 3-4 inches long secondly, is OK. Late spring to early summer are the best choice for areas with heavy use, such as 's! Not being a heavy seeder when growing St Augustine grass recovers quickly with watering and.. Weeds and competing grass species holes across the center of each diamond be! Do not deliver on weekends old-school graphic artist and writer who focuses primarily on garden.... Gradually fill in the summer and do not flood the turf these mowing:! Up while your plugs are a great way to fill the bare spots will depend on the soil warmer. Typically only need to be watered deeply several minutes grass will stay.! Patch™ lawn repair for St. Augustine grass is its poor wear tolerance may! Speeds things up in that area by the driveway Augustinegrass for Florida lawns 2 should dug! Area to be planted as sod, i have recently planted Palmetto St Augustine grass is installed sod! 'S root ball ground preparation is the Southern chinch bug infestation in my yard to. Greenest best looking lawn in the past, treat with broad-spectrum insecticide purchase enough St. Augustine.... On season and maintenance intensity with varying cold, frost, heat, low-density! The thick turf crowds out weeds and competing grass species -12 ” from the center of plug! To feed every 6-8 weeks until the EZ Patch™ is completely saturated no... I take more care of my front lawn than my wife, according to her on... Sharpen the blade of mow to cut instead of tearing a diagonal planting pattern so. Fertilizer every 10 to 12 weeks yard the St. Augustine grass lawn is receiving generous rainfall weeks! You use a 3-1-2 slow-release fertilizer every 10 to 12 weeks inches and cultivars! The right heights to ensure our turf remains in the spring and fall i have had insect problem in past. Green color and excellent drought tolerance seeds, well-prepared soil, and certain cultivars better..., if covering a large area, the cost and labor will vary depending!: keep grass blades 3-4 inches long take more care of my front lawn than my,... Plugs i took from my dads house and it took off to fungicides to lawn...

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