What are Grass Plugs?

Grass plugs are basically small chunks of sod that are used for planting a yard with new grass. The size varies between 2 and 4 inches (5 to 10 cm), and they are planted at regular intervals. Plugs are generally thought of as a middle ground between planting with full sod and using seeds. They will grow in faster than sod, but there is still a waiting time. The act of planting with grass plugs is sometimes called "plugging."

The length of time a person has to wait with grass plugs will vary based on how widely they are dispersed and the size of the plugs. Choosing how close to plant plugs is usually a compromise between financial concerns and time concerns. Using grass plugs is more expensive than using seed but cheaper than using full sod. The closer the grass plugs are placed, the more expensive the project will become, but it also means the yard will generally be covered with grass sooner.

There are some significant disadvantages for plugs that might be important to consider. Plugs can be a little harder to plant than seed, because each plug needs an individual hole. They need to be planted pretty quickly after they're bought, or a person could risk having them dry out and die. It's also generally true that a person using plugs has fewer choices when it comes to grasses. Plugs are generally only available with warm season grass species, which would include St. Augustine and centipede grass, among others.

When planting grass plugs, a person will generally start by measuring the area they plan to use. The next step is to grade their soil in preparation and then buy their plugs. Most experts recommend putting the plugs between 6 and 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) apart, because this gives a good balance in terms of price and speed of growth. The measurement chosen should be exact, and it should be used all over the lawn at regular intervals. This ensures that a person buys the exact number of plugs that he needs.

Once the plugs are planted, they are generally watered on a daily basis for about a month and a half. After that, it is generally OK to water the lawn based on the available moisture and weather. Experts also advise keeping the plugs safe from any sort of disturbance during the first month. This means that walking in the area should be avoided, and pets should generally be kept away.