The Best Way to Plug Bermuda Grass

Strategies

• Plugging is the slowest method for planting a lawn. Bermuda plugs take lots of time to develop. To give the grass plenty of time to establish itself in the soil, you should plug Bermuda just before spring. You need to keep your plugs moist until they are planted. If they dry out, they could die before they are planted. To keep them moist, cover them with plastic and keep them out of direct sunlight.

  Before you plug, you need to prepare your soil. Make sure there is no other growth on the soil. You can use pesticides to kill grass. You also can grade the soil. In necessary, bring in new dirt. Before planting, dig holes approximately 1-inch wide and 2 to 3 inches deep. According to the ScottsMiracle-Gro Company, you should space the holes 6 to 12 inches apart. The exact spacing depends on the size of the plugs and your wishes. If you want your lawn covered quickly, you should plant your plugs closer together. Realize, though, that this requires a greater number of plugs. Bermuda grass spreads rapidly. Therefore, it fills the gaps faster than centipede and zoysia grasses.

Process

• Before you plant your plugs, lightly moisten the soil. Plant your plugs in rows. Alternate spaces in your rows to achieve a checkerboard pattern. Place the plugs in the holes. Then firm the soil around them. The crowns of the plants, the area where the blades of grass emerge from the plug soil, should be level with the surrounding soil. Spread the soil taken from the holes evenly over the bare ground between the holes. Then roll the plugs with a sod roller. Finally, you should water the plugs daily for the first two weeks and once every two days thereafter until your plugs are established. Plugs are established when the roots make it difficult to pull the plugs out of the soil.

Considerations

• Do not mow the plugs until their roots are established in the soil. Once you are able to mow, you should mow often. Frequent mowing helps the grass to spread. Fertilize the plugs every six to eight weeks until the entire area is filled in with grass.

  Plugs need warm, moist soil to germinate, grow and spread. Bermuda plugs do not produce roots unless the soil temperature exceeds 55 degrees F for several weeks. In southern climates, you should plant your plugs in the early summer. Be aware that plugs need water even in the winter, when the plants are dormant.