How to Use Grass Plugs

Grass plugs are an alternative to overseeding an existing lawn and they rejuvenate it by filling it the bare spots. Grass plugs can be purchased at grass and turf suppliers or you can take plugs from an existing lawn. The concept behind grass plugs is that you plant the small 1- to 2-inch wide clumps in the bare spots and tend them until they grow. As the plugs establish roots, they spread and eventually fill in the bare areas.

Garden hose
Plugger tool
Plug starter fertilizer
Lawn roller

Instructions

- 1
  Water the soil in the area where you are planting the grass plugs until it is wet to a 4-inch depth.
- 2
  Create planting holes in the ground using a grass plugger tool. To use the tool, set the bottom of it on the ground and step on the lower bar, or push down on the top handle, depending on the specific model. Pick the tool up and deposit the removed soil clump in a pile to be discarded later. You can also use a bulb planter, if desired.
- 3
  Create additional holes for the grass plugs, spacing them at distances of 6 to 12 inches apart on all sides.
- 4
  Fill the bottom of each planting hole with 1 inch of a granular plug starter fertilizer, such as 1-2-1, which promotes rapid root growth.
- 5
  Insert one grass plug into each hole and push it down until only the green stems are above the top of the soil. Push the soil from the sides of the hole up around the plug to hold it in place. If needed, reinsert some of the soil you removed from the hole to prevent any air pockets in the hole.
- 6
  Rent a lawn roller from a garden supply center and fill it half way with water, using the instructions. Push the roller over the entire soil to firm the plug roots.
- 7
  Water the soil with another 1 to 2 inches of water to help rejuvenate the plug roots. Continue watering daily for seven to 10 days and do not allow the soil to dry out.

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