These small pieces of sod are often used to plant warm-season grasses, some of which cannot grow from seed. They spread by horizontal runners, filling in the lawn in several months to years, depending on the grass species. Spring is the best time to plant them.
Buy plugs from a mail-order firm or a sod farm. (A garden center can recommend sources.) In your order, specify the area you need to cover.
When the material arrives, keep it moist and shaded. Plant it as soon as possible.

Step by Step: Planting Plugs
1. Prepare the soil and roll the area with a half-filled roller.
2. Make planting holes with a shovel, steel plugger or plug auger. Space the holes in a checkerboard pattern. Make them 6 inches apart for centipedegrass and zoysiagrass, 12 inches for St. Augustine grass and hybrid Bermudagrass.
3. If the seller of the plugs recommends it, place a small amount of plug-starter fertilizer in each hole.
4. Plant the plugs firmly. Make them level with the surrounding soil.
5. Roll the area with a half-filled roller.
6. Water immediately. Then water daily until the plugs begin to grow and spread, about 2-3 weeks.

Tools
- roller
- steel plugger or plug auger

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