How Make Cool-Season Grass Plugs

Grass plugs, which are essentially smaller pieces of sod, allow you to make your lawn grow thicker and patch up weak spots. Although you can use grass plugs alone, instead of sod, plugs let you space out the sod pieces farther apart than you would traditional sod and allows the growing grass to fill in the gaps. Cool-season grasses, such as bluegrass, grow during cool weather, are commonly used in conjunction with warm season grasses. Although you can buy grass plugs, making and installing the plugs yourself is a relatively simple process, although it will take you some time.

Sod
Aerator
Clippers

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a cool-season grass sod that works with your current lawn turf type. Consult a nursery for help choosing a sod that will work with your landscape, sun conditions and current lawn.
- 2
  Aerate the area where you want to install the plugs. Roll both up and down and back and forth.
- 3
  Water the area with about 1.5 inches of water, and then wait one day.
- 4
  Cut the cool-season grass sod into pieces 2 to 4 inches wide, using clippers. The shape itself isn't as important as the size of the plugs, so don't worry about rounded edges or pieces that look too square.
- 5
  Install the plugs directly on aerated soil 12 to 24 inches apart. Exact spacing will depend upon the size of your plugs and the size of the area you wish to cover. Place plugs closer together for quicker growth and smaller bare patches. Plugs placed 24 inches apart may take up to nine months to fill in.
- 6
  Walk over the plugs to ensure that they come into firm contact with the soil. This allows the roots to grow better and ensures quicker growth.
- 7
  Water the plugs about 1/2 inch over the next two weeks until the plugs take root. This keeps the area moist but not saturated. Pull up on a plug to test for root growth, if it doesn't come all the way up, the roots have taken hold.

Landscape Ideas for a Shady Lot

How to Get Rid of Fragrant Sumac

Landscaping Basics