society and community | March 09, 2026

Can you make plugs out of sod?

Can you make plugs out of sod?

You can cut your own plugs from sod or buy them growing in small plastic trays. Sizes usually range from 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Plugs are usually planted in rows, with 6 to 12 inches between plants and between rows. Then set the plug in the hole and firm the soil around the sides.

Can you make your own grass plugs?

Home owners can grow grass plugs in their own yards, which gives the grass the opportunity to adjust to the climate, giving the new growth a better chance to thrive. Sprinkle an inch or so of soil in the bottom of a potting flat that is divided into cells. Drop seeds into each cell.

How do you make a St Augustine plug?

Make your own plugs by cutting pieces of sod into desired size with a shovel or garden shears. Plugs can also be made from existing grass in your yard. Harvest grass from an inconspicuous or area where grass is very thick. Using a sod plugger tool, insert it into the ground, twist and lift.

How do you make a plug for sod?

  1. Step 1: Lay the sod of your choice.
  2. Step 2: Kill the grass or weeds in the area that you will be planting the plugs.
  3. Step 3: Water the sod and planting area the night before plugging.
  4. Step 4: Take plugs out of the area to be planted every 6″ apart.
  5. Step 5: Harvest plugs out of the sod every 3″ apart.

How long do grass plugs take to spread?

about 7-14 days
Water daily or as needed until the plugs are firmly rooted and starting to spread. This will normally take about 7-14 days for the roots to establish. Afterward, water weekly unless your lawn is receiving generous rainfall.

How far apart should you plant grass plugs?

Sizes of grass plugs vary, but individual grass plugs generally measure anywhere between 1.5–3 inches in length and width. Planted somewhere between 9–12 inches apart, they will continue to spread and fill in over time, creating a solid ground cover of your preferred grass type.

How do you plug grass?

Three Easy Steps to Planting Grass Plugs

  1. Thoroughly water area to be plugged to soften the soil. Use a plug tool available from Seedland.com to dig holes.
  2. Dig holes in a checkerboard pattern — see detailed planting instructions below. Put a scoop of lawn starter fertilizer in the hole.
  3. Water the area thoroughly again.

What is the difference between sod and plugs?

Starting a lawn with these individual plants is much less expensive than using regular sod, although both sprigs and plugs are rooted pieces of sod. Sprigs are thin 3- to 6-inch pieces of grass stems or runners without soil. Plugs are 2- to-4-inch chunks of sod, either round or square, with soil around their roots.

How far apart should St Augustine grass plugs be planted?

12 inches apart
The holes themselves should be spaced 12 inches apart (so holes across the center of each diamond will be 15 inches apart). Each hole should be dug slightly larger than, but the same depth as, the plug’s root ball. You can also buy or rent a grass plugging tool from your local hardware store or online.

Are plugs better than sod?

If you want an instant lawn, sod is the best option for you. Similarly to sod, seed takes about a month to germinate, but you will be looking at bare soil up until that point. If you really want to save money and you’re okay with looking at a few bare spots in your soil for a while, plugs may be the better option.