How to Plant Plugs and Sprigs

Email Page

Print Page

Carol A. Crotta

Extras

Add Photo to Journal

Where soil has a good workable texture, a mini-tiller is sufficient to prepare the soil for installing seed, turf, plugs or sprigs.

Looking for a different way to install Southern (warm-season) grasses? Consider planting plugs or sprigs instead of sod or seed. Plugs are 2- to 4-inch circular or square chunks of sod planted at regular intervals from one another, while sprigs are tiny, complete plants scattered across the lawn bed. Either method will grow a lush lawn as the plants send out underground roots and stolons that merge together to form a grassy field.

Why plugs or sprigs? They’re cheaper that sod, and they give you a mature lawn faster than sowing seed can. The trade-off is that installation is time- and labor-intensive, and plugs and sprigs require care to achieve even coverage. The other downside is that the gaps between plugs and sprigs are prey to weed colonization before the turfgrass fills in (so be sure to mulch or topcoat to keep weeds at bay).

You can plant plugs in one of two forms: You can buy them precut, or you can buy sod and cut your own plugs with a steel plug-cutting tool. Some grasses also come in trays of plugs, which tend to have well-formed root structures encased in soil. These survive better at transplanting than plugs just cut from sod. Whatever your planting preference, avoid buying your stock until your soil is perfectly prepared for planting or it’s sure to dry out and be useless.

Planting plugs is a little like planting flowering bulbs, except that you plant in spring rather than fall. Begin the planting as early on a spring morning as you can, preferably on a cool, overcast day. Keep your sod or plugs in the shade under a damp cloth or towel. If you’re cutting your own plugs, cut only enough for a row or two at a time. As you press each plug into its hole, give it a good dousing of water to keep it hydrated until the final watering.

Facts

Fast-growing warm-season grasses have adapted to climates where the weather is temperate to warm year-round. Their growth cycles are governed by changes in daylight hours more than by temperature.

Tips

A reel mower is the best machine to use for the first pass over a plug- or sprig-planted lawn. Don’t have one? Reel mowers are usually available from rental yards.

Faqs

Q: How long will it take a plug-planted lawn to grow in?
A: That depends. Warm-season grass lawns planted in early spring will typically be full by the end of their first summer, but those planted after the summer heat has set in need more time – usually until the following year to fill in completely. (Transplant shock slows plugs from setting down roots and spreading.)

Page 1 of 5

Next Steps

Articles

The Right Grass for the Right Regions
Do you know what type of lawn is best for you? Depending on where you live, you may need a cool-season grass, a warm-season grass or maybe even a blend of both. Let this simple regional turfgrass guide help you determine what your yard needs.
If the Lawn Fits, Plant It
Do you need turfgrass that can take heavy foot traffic, or do you want a more refined look to accentuate your formal garden? No matter what you’re considering, you should always put function over form so you get the right type of lawn to fit your family’s needs.
The First Pass Over New Grass
No matter if you planted seed, sprigs or sod, your new lawn will be sensitive to its first mowing. Learn how to mow it right to help ensure that dense, green carpet you’re hoping to run your toes through!

RATE THIS PAGE

On average this item has been rated a 5 out of 5.