How to transplant grass | 3 methods for transplanting grass in your yard

[@ultraali453]

Thank you for the tutorial. Have a nice day ☺️

[@1rcbking]

Thank you Plant Doctor!

[@designworksnw]

Thank you for the video!! I started my transplant project two years ago, converting my rye grass/fescue we use a lot here in Washington state. However, I began experimenting 5 years ago at my other property using Kentucky Blue Grass which grows amazingly here and its a better grass against our really high heat in the summer and low 30's in the winter. I also found that it is much hardier in fighting the usual grass weeds. At my new property I sectioned off a 10 by 2 feet to grow my Kentucky blue grass and then use that for my plugs. By next year this time I should be 100% blue grass. Great video P.S. Post hold digger method and works great.

[@Dr.Warren]

That sounds like work!!! Awesome job!! I love bluegrass. It stripes up with a mower like a champ. It doesn't handle my summer weather. Some people try to grow it but they have a crazy big water bill and it still tries to go dormant in the summer.

[@designworksnw]

@@Dr.Warren In my research, it doesn't like humid heat in summers like in your area. However, the mixture I get here is Bluegrass with 2% rye and 4% fescue and that combination is perfect for us in the NW. In the 90 degree's we got last week it stayed a nice healthy green. 👍

[@Dr.Warren]

I've been to the Willamette valley and Portland area. Didn't care for Portland but the natural beauty is astounding.

[@designworksnw]

@@Dr.Warren Same here, I'm across the Columbia River in Vancouver, WA and our natural beauty is hard to find anywhere. On any given day I can see Mt. Hood, Mt St Helens, Mt Rainier, Mt Adams and sometimes The Three Sisters.

[@Kellyb279]

Thank you for this! My yard is struggling with bare spots and being taken over by crabgrass. I have areas with wood chips that now have clumps of grass growing. I plan to transplant the clumps into my lawn. One other thing I am struggling with is my lawn burning out from my 2 female dogs urine. Do you know if there is any type of grass that is better to use or can withstand the urine?

[@Dr.Warren]

That gets into urine pH and urea concentration. Zoysia might be slightly more tolerant than Bermuda but I have no peer review literature to back up my personal observation

[@batron101]

Thank you so much!!!!

[@Dr.Warren]

Hector, thanks for watching and leaving a comment. I hope the video helped you out.

[@mrsoap4074]

Great video can you elaborate on the downside of the shovel method? I have front lawn that we’re xeriscaping so bringing larger chunks makes sense but don’t know the downsides you mention with watering, shallower roots etc? I’ve got the plugger and post hole digger also if you think either better just plugger such small little bits

[@Dr.Warren]

The root zone of your plugs are not as deep with a shovel and it tends to be uneven leaving you to potentially having to top dress with sand to get it back level. I hope that makes sense?

[@michellehartman1451]

So I am planning to make a garden bed around my fence, but I don’t want to waste the grass that is there. Can I transplant much larger chunks of sod into my backyard that is very bare? There is only a corner of grass there. Our tree got trimmed down this year so we will have more sunshine back there.

[@Dr.Warren]

Yes, that would work. If you are doing a bunch the pro plugger is probably the most time efficient.

[@michellehartman1451]

@@Dr.Warren I was thinking more if I used a square shovel and tried to roll it like sod once I cut it enough? That might be a lot 😂 so maybe I’ll just make tons of plugs and then transplant them into the backyard.

[@Bichons9]

In addition to transplanting centipede grass, using a shovel to transplant, I considered Zoysia for high traffic around pool where all sod from an awful company is all dead..Zoysia is preferred by my new sod professional. BUT he said, "It turns brown in late fall and greens up in late spring" ..That's a long time. I read that Centipede browns as well but I have never seen that happen to my lawn..SO, if I put down pallets of Zoysia and let it mature, can I start plugging next spring, and will it turn brown in Mississippi?

[@Dr.Warren]

Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede all go dormant in the winter.

[@coximusmaximus22]

Thanks for the video. When is the best time of year to transplant?

[@Dr.Warren]

You can do it anytime but the best is anytime the grass is actively growing.

[@carlotv1212]

So with the post hole digger the grass will grow the fastest on bare soil ? I’m in Las Vegas. Do I just plant the piece of grass onto the bare soil and water or do I need to give anything to the soil

[@Dr.Warren]

Being in Vegas this may be your optimal way to transplant. Using a post hole digger maximizes the amount of root volume relative to vegetation. I've been to Vegas a few times and know water is at a premium so increasing root mass would benefit you. But yes you can plant in bare soil and it will start to spread. Don't give it any fertilizer until it's fully established just water.

[@mrslm7046]

How long does it take for the grass to recover with the smaller pieces?

[@Dr.Warren]

It mainly depends on type of grass. Bermuda fills in quicker than zoysia but it will root in 2-4 weeks time.