Lawn Care · Southern Lawns
St. Augustine plugs can fill a yard in one season, if you space and water them right.
St. Augustine has no commercial seed, so plugs and sod are how it gets planted. Set 3- to 4-inch plugs about 12 inches apart into bare, tilled soil during the warm growing season, keep them moist for the first two weeks, and hold off on fertilizer for a month or more. At that spacing, Texas A&M AgriLife figures put full cover at roughly three to four months. Wider spacing or smaller plugs can take most of a year.
SEED
None commercially available
PLUG SPACING
About 12 inches
FILL TIME AT 12 INCHES
About 3 to 4 months
FIRST FEEDING
1 to 2 months after planting
Why St. Augustine comes as plugs, not seed
If you have hunted for St. Augustine seed, there is a reason you haven’t found it. LSU AgCenter states that no commercial St. Augustine seed is available, and UF/IFAS says the grass can only be started vegetatively, from sod, sprigs or plugs. Anything sold online as St. Augustine seed deserves suspicion. Our best grass seed for Texas guide covers which Southern grasses can be seeded and which are sod only.
The upside is that St. Augustine spreads quickly by above-ground runners. Our stolons vs rhizomes explainer covers how that works. It’s why UF/IFAS gives St. Augustine and bermuda a 12-inch plug spacing, twice the 6 inches it gives slower zoysia and centipede (UF/IFAS ENH-03).
Pick the cultivar before you buy plugs. Varieties differ widely in shade tolerance, chinch bug resistance and mowing height; our types of St. Augustine grass guide walks through them.
Plug sizes, spacing and fill time
Plugs are simply small pieces of sod. UF/IFAS describes them as 2- to 4-inch round or square pieces with roots, either bought in trays or cut from sod with a shovel or machete. LSU says plugs should be at least 2 inches wide. Spacing recommendations:
- UF/IFAS: 6 to 24 inches in its St. Augustine guide, with closer spacing covering faster and keeping weeds out. Its establishment guide’s planting table uses 2-inch plugs every 12 inches for St. Augustine.
- LSU AgCenter: 12 to 14 inches for St. Augustine (Establishing a Lawn, Part 2).
- Texas A&M AgriLife: the Bexar County program cuts sod into 3- or 4-inch plugs and plants them 12 to 24 inches apart (AgriLife Bexar County).
Of the sources cited here, only that Texas A&M AgriLife page puts months on fill time. Its figures for 1,000 sq ft, using sod cut into plugs (144 three-inch or 81 four-inch plugs per square yard):
| Plug size | Spacing | Sod needed | Time to cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 inches | 12 inches | 7 sq yd | 4 months |
| 3 inches | 18 inches | 3½ sq yd | 7 months |
| 3 inches | 24 inches | 2 sq yd | 9 months |
| 4 inches | 12 inches | 12½ sq yd | 3 months |
| 4 inches | 18 inches | 6 sq yd | 5 months |
| 4 inches | 24 inches | 3½ sq yd | 9 months |
Treat those months as growing-season months under good care. Plugs set out late in the season will sit through winter dormancy before they finish, and the small 2-inch plugs sold in trays can take longer than the 3- and 4-inch plugs in the table.
When to plant St. Augustine plugs
Plant while the grass is actively growing, early enough that the plugs knit before cool weather:
- Louisiana and the Gulf Coast: April through August for plugs, per LSU AgCenter. Earlier in that range gives more growing season to fill.
- South Florida: late fall, winter or spring is optimal, according to UF/IFAS.
- Central and north Florida: UF/IFAS advises avoiding the cold winter months and the hot, dry stretch of summer.
How to plant the plugs
- Clear the area. Kill existing grass and weeds first. LSU lists a lawn-labeled nonselective herbicide such as glyphosate or glufosinate, mechanical removal or solarization. For a full renovation, UF/IFAS suggests a second glyphosate application 14 to 21 days after the first.
- Test and prepare the soil. Lime or add nutrients based on a soil test. LSU tills 4 to 6 inches deep, then removes debris and rolls the soil smooth. Call 811 to have utility lines marked before you dig.
- Go easy on pre-plant nitrogen. UF/IFAS says never to apply nitrogen fertilizer before planting, though phosphorus can go down first if the soil test shows a shortage. LSU allows up to 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft before planting, with the caveat that some of it will be lost.
- Mark the grid and dig holes. Make each hole the size of the plug, using a plugger, a shovel or a drill-mounted auger.
- Set and firm. AgriLife Bexar County says the grass should sit just above the soil surface, with soil packed firmly around each plug.
- Water immediately. UF/IFAS also notes mulch between plugs helps hold moisture and limits erosion.
Watering new plugs
The first two weeks decide whether plugs root or dry out. LSU says to irrigate frequently for the first 10 to 14 days when it doesn’t rain, then water less often so roots go deeper. UF/IFAS describes the same pattern: light, frequent sprinklings through the day without flooding, then fewer and larger waterings as roots develop. Texas A&M AgriLife Bexar County waters every two to four days until the plugs establish.
For a more specific template, UF/IFAS gives this schedule for new St. Augustine plantings:
- First 7 to 10 days: several short cycles of 5 to 10 minutes each through the day.
- Next 7 to 10 days: once a day, about ¼ to ½ inch.
- After that: two or three times a week at ¼ to ½ inch, then as needed once established.
Mowing after establishment
Hold off on the first mowing until the plugs have rooted. UF/IFAS says that generally takes 14 to 21 days, and a gentle tug that meets resistance is the sign. Once you are mowing regularly, height depends on the cultivar:
- Standard cultivars such as Floratam: 3.5 to 4 inches per UF/IFAS, and 3 to 4 inches per Clemson HGIC.
- Dwarf cultivars: 2 to 2.5 inches (UF/IFAS), or around 2.5 inches (Clemson).
- Louisiana: LSU recommends 2.5 to 3 inches through the growing season.
UF/IFAS and LSU both set the basic rule: never take off more than a third of the blade in one mowing. Clemson adds that the higher end of the range suits shade and stress. Our how to make St. Augustine thicker guide covers what to do if the new turf fills in thin.
Fertilizer timing during establishment
Feeding plugs before they have roots to use it mainly risks leaching and runoff, which is why UF/IFAS waits. The Gulf Coast sources differ in the details:
- Florida: UF/IFAS says a newly planted lawn should not be fertilized until 30 to 60 days after planting, and its establishment guide goes further for plugs: wait until there is uniform cover.
- Louisiana: LSU suggests 0.5 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft once plugs have rooted, about one to two months after planting, and generally no later applications after the end of August.
- South-central Texas: AgriLife Bexar County applies a complete slow-release fertilizer about two weeks after planting and repeats every six weeks to two months until established.
Follow your state’s guidance and any local fertilizer ordinance, and use the rate on the product label. Our best fertilizer for St. Augustine guide lists yearly nitrogen limits by state.
Chinch bugs and shade, briefly
Two problems are worth planning around before you plant. UF/IFAS calls chinch bugs the major insect pest of St. Augustine, and notes Floratam’s original resistance has largely been lost. Shade is the other: Clemson calls St. Augustine the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass but says it still needs 4 to 6 hours of sun, and UF/IFAS says Floratam does not persist well with less than 6 hours. Both point back to cultivar choice; see types of St. Augustine and our St. Augustine grass care guide.
Plugs vs sod vs sprigs
| Method | Material for 1,000 sq ft | Time to cover | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plugs | 30 to 50 sq ft of sod at 12-inch spacing (UF/IFAS) | About 3 to 9 months, by plug size and spacing (AgriLife) | Far less sod to buy than solid sodding. Weeds can move into the gaps. |
| Sod | Full 1,000 sq ft | Instant cover; 3 to 4 weeks to establish (UF/IFAS) | Most common method in Louisiana per LSU. See our sod installation cost guide. |
| Sprigs | 10 to 15 sq ft of sod at 12-inch spacing (UF/IFAS) | Slower than sod | Cheaper than sod, but bare stolons with no soil need careful watering. |
| Seed | Not available | Not applicable | No commercial seed exists, per LSU AgCenter. |
Stop before you spread a crabgrass preventer or weed-and-feed on new plugs.
The common pre-emergents that keep weeds out of the gaps also slow the plugs. In Mississippi State trials on newly planted St. Augustine plugs, prodiamine, pendimethalin and dithiopyr all set back establishment even at recommended rates, and indaziflam, which isn’t labeled for St. Augustine establishment, injured the plugs both years. Liquid oxadiazon and atrazine did not slow them, though liquid oxadiazon isn’t labeled for newly planted St. Augustine, and UF/IFAS warns that Floratam doesn’t tolerate atrazine applied above 85°F. Hand-pull and mow through the first season instead, and only apply a product whose label covers newly planted St. Augustine.
If you would rather have the prep and planting done for you, our lawn care page connects you with a lawn care company serving your area.
St. Augustine plug FAQs
Can you grow St. Augustine from seed?
No. LSU AgCenter says no commercial seed is available, and UF/IFAS lists St. Augustine as vegetative only. Plant sod, plugs or sprigs.
How far apart should St. Augustine plugs be planted?
About 12 inches is standard: UF/IFAS uses 12 inches and LSU gives 12 to 14. Closer spacing covers faster and leaves less room for weeds.
How long do St. Augustine plugs take to fill in?
Texas A&M AgriLife figures run from about 3 months for 4-inch plugs on 12-inch centers to 9 months at 24-inch spacing, during the growing season with good care.
When can I mow new St. Augustine plugs?
After they root, which UF/IFAS puts at about 14 to 21 days. Mow at the height for your cultivar and remove no more than a third of the blade.
When should I fertilize new St. Augustine plugs?
UF/IFAS says 30 to 60 days or until uniform cover, and LSU says one to two months, once roots are established. Texas A&M AgriLife in Bexar County starts sooner, with a slow-release feeding about two weeks after planting.
Can I plug bare spots in an existing St. Augustine lawn?
Yes. For larger bare areas, UF/IFAS suggests 2-inch plugs every 12 inches. Fix the cause first, whether that is shade, chinch bugs or drainage, or the new plugs will thin out too.
Related guides
Sources: UF/IFAS ENH5: St. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns · UF/IFAS ENH-03: Establishing Your Florida Lawn · LSU AgCenter Pub. 3624-SS: St. Augustinegrass · LSU AgCenter: Establishing a Lawn, Part 2 · Texas A&M AgriLife Bexar County: Floratam St. Augustine · Clemson HGIC: St. Augustinegrass · GCM: Preemergence herbicide effects on St. Augustinegrass (Mississippi State, 2023)
