St Augustine Plug Grow Project: How To Instal Step by Step

In this video I give you a step by step guide on how to instal St. Augustine plugs.
Thank you to all of you who have subscribed! It means a whole lot to me. I look forward to producing more content. Hope you enjoy this one!
Products I used in This Video:
3" Auger Bit: amzn.to/3M4FuLG
Dewalt Drill: amzn.to/3M5scPc
SeedWorld (For Plugs): www.seedworldusa.com/
Products I Use in My Lawn:
Avenue South Herbicide: shrsl.com/407ss
Celsius Herbicide: amzn.to/3ti0HZX
Atrazine Herbicide: amzn.to/3xfjGa2
Kings Electric Pump Lithium 2 Gallon Sprayer: amzn.to/3PYLsyX
Yard Mastery Fertilizers: shrsl.com/3m916
Echo Lawn Spreader: amzn.to/3ar3cCS
3336F Fungicide: amzn.to/38PN6lL
Prodiamine Preemergent: amzn.to/3xkNj9K
Simple Lawn Solutions Soil Amendment: amzn.to/3NoozmE
Andersons Humichar: amzn.to/3mgmcqf
Bioadvanced Complete Insect Killer: amzn.to/3HNFs8t
The Andersen's Duocide: amzn.to/3A3Bo22

[@Thelawncarenut]

Very good advice on opening up the plugs and getting some sun and air on them. 👊

[@LKNDIY]

Thanks, Allyn!

[@kkevinj1]

Speaking of plugs, over the weekend I transplanted 30 to 40 plugs with the proplugger 5 in 1 Man was it easy, just using my existing St Aug and placing them in bare spots. Can literally swap 8 plugs in less than 10 min. Watering twice a day hoping they survive. You would definitely need to buy plugs if you have a large area but not on bare spots, Im going to do maybe 50 more this coming weekend.

[@LKNDIY]

Nice! Please let us know how it turns out!

[@MarkTrades__]

The one downside I thought might exist with the proplugger compared to using an auger bit in a drill is that you can't really break up the soil with the proplugger. Did you encounter any roots and did the proplugger cut through them.

[@kkevinj1]

@@MarkTrades__ I hit some major roots by some pine trees, I just moved over and tried again, it can cut through small roots, so far all of the plugs survived and doing great, runners are indeed slower because I swapped soil and just pushed the grass plugs in, no fert. I made sure the donor grass was by no roots. The roots I encountered were the bare spots, I will be doing more soon, so easy and fast

[@vivek-1318]

Awesome

[@benh580]

Looking forward to see the results

[@LKNDIY]

Thanks, Ben!

[@dcrespol]

Can you show us how it’s looking today?

[@kkevinj1]

Update, the proplugger plugs 4" deep all survived and doin well, runners started a week or so after yours tho, so I got the faster start but you won once the plugs were in. I watered once per day. I learned the hard way, never spray for weeds while you have fungus. Celsius and certainty did a number on my yard, I waited toooo late/hot, still learning lol

[@LKNDIY]

Thanks for the update! Yes, adding herbicide to damaged grass is the kiss of death

[@slysimon8533]

I recently planted plugs and wonder if I should trim the tops supposedly this encourages spreading but I haven’t found info online that confirms this. It seems you plan on doing this how much do you plan on trimming and is it good for spreading?

[@LKNDIY]

Yes, it’s great for spreading. You don’t want to take off more than 1/3 of the length of the blade as a general rule.

[@MarkTrades__]

Thanks for the vid. Do you have any opinions or experience with cutting pieces of sod into smaller pieces and then installing them like sod plugs? I have a very neglected lawn and have been re-installing st augustine in various areas but only had full sod pieces readily available locally. I rent so I am not trying to do a full sod install in bare areas, and am just trying to get something besides weeds established in bare spots.

[@LKNDIY]

Hi Mark, only challenge with sod is it does not have the strong, established root systems like plugs do. Plugs come with a strong, deep root system.

[@MarkTrades__]

@@LKNDIY Yeah that is my main concern. I suppose I will have to monitor the rooting progress of the sod I have cut already and see if its effectively rooting in 2-3 weeks. Apprciate your response!

[@93FordMustang93]

Does this have to be on bare ground? or can I plug into a mix of grass and hope this overtakes? Or does that not work

[@LKNDIY]

Hi, bare ground is always best for cleanest results

[@RoyalStreetEnt]

What’s the best way to plug a existing Bahia lawn?

[@LKNDIY]

To plug with st Aug? I’d kill the Bahia then plug over with st Aug after a few weeks

[@MarkTrades__]

RE: the auger bit - CAUTION - its a great tool, but if you have any decently strong roots in an area that you are using this auger bit, the bit can catch on the root and snap-rotate the drill in your hand and hurt your wrist/arm. (Ask me how I know). I'd reccomend short, quick trigger pulls in order to prevent too much of this rotation from occurring in one movement.

[@LKNDIY]

Agree, it is a tricky job!

[@MarkTrades__]

@@LKNDIY haha yeah but dang even with roots the auger bit sped up my recent job a TON.

[@Mattmc23]

What month did you plant these plugs? Is there a time that’s best to do this?

[@LKNDIY]

These were in May, but anytime in spring once the threat of frost is 100% past your area you should throw them in.

[@OrthoUnknown]

How long before the plugs start to grow and spread out??

[@LKNDIY]

About 3-4 months depending on how closely you plant them together.

[@claytonstone974]

Not sure if I missed it, but what time of year do you recommend doing this?

[@LKNDIY]

Great question! When freezing temps are no longer a threat, this is the best time. In NC late April early May.

[@claytonstone974]

@@LKNDIYThanks for the reply. Im new to lawn care and happy to have found your channel. Good luck this year.

[@SingleStacked]

Do you find it's cheaper to plant plugs vs laying sod for an area this size?

[@LKNDIY]

Great question! Sod is unavailable in my area, this is why I use the plugs.

[@kermitefrog64]

I like the St. Augustine because it does better than most other grass but I let all the grass grow together because in time the St Augustine takes over. The only place I am struggling to grow grass is under my avocado tree. I think that tree is killing the grass.

[@LKNDIY]

The tree well could be absorbing all the nutrients out of the soil there, also, the shade under the tree could be slowing the st Aug down as well. You can always build a bed around the tree where the grass slows to get a uniform look.

[@richardsmith1161]

I'm ripping up my St Augustine and replacing it with Zoysia. St Augustine takes too many inputs

[@LKNDIY]

Hi Richard, All grasses have their pains and upside. Good luck with your project!

[@bryce6164]

Could’ve just re sodded it 😂

[@LKNDIY]

No st Aug Sod where I live, and to transport sod from Florida to Charlotte is a futile endeavor. Plugs are much more hearty and have full root systems.