What are Grass Plugs and How to Use Them?

Read below to find out the common purposes a grass plug serves and how to care for them.

What is a grass plug?

It is an individual turf plant. They are grown in a tray and their size can vary. Generally an individual plug measures anywhere between 1.5–3 inches in length/width. Planted from 9–12 inches apart, they will continue to spread and fill in over time. This will create a solid ground cover of your preferred grass type.

When are grass plugs used?

Grass plugs are typically used in one of two instances: to repair damaged areas of a lawn, or to establish a lawn when sod or seed is not available or not practical.  You can also purchase a small plug tray to test out how well the certain breed of grass will perform in yard. You can try in areas of shade, full sun or even areas that receive too much rainfall.

– To repair damaged areas of an existing lawn: 

If you have a lawn with small areas of damage (caused by insects, disease, dog urine, etc.), grass plugs are an ideal way to repair these areas, but first, you must address what is causing the damage (apply an insecticide, fungicide or keep your dog from urinating on your lawn). Once you have controlled what is causing the damage, installing plugs in the damaged area is the quickest way for your lawn to return to its thick, lush former self.

 

– To establish a lawn when sod or seed is not readily available or practical:

They are alternatively used when sodding or seeding a lawn is not possible. Examples of this include when:

  • The grass variety you want is not grown by any nearby sod farm.
  • The amount of grass you need is much less than a pallet of grass and individual pieces of sod are not available for sale nearby.
  • It is not possible to transport pallets of sod to the installation site.
  • The type of grass you are wanting is not available as a seed, so grass plugs are the next best option.