I saw grass plugs advertised that said your lawn will be thicker and and new lawn will grow easier, without chemicals and fertilizers. The ones I'm talking about look like large golf tees and come with a hole maker for these plugs.

Does anyone know about or have used these before? Does it really work? I have so much trouble planting seed because of my chickens, wild birds and heavy rains (at least last years experience)

Thank you in advance for any help.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), March 26, 2001

Answers

They work just like transplanting any type of plant. You plant them 4 to 6 inches apart and they fill in the empty spots. One of the problems is making sure it is a type of grass that will grow well in your area.

-- David in NH (grayfoxfarm@mcttelecom.com), March 26, 2001.

I use my own grass to "plug" bare spots wit a hand trowel shovel. On large spots, I sow my own grass seed in trays of topsoil.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 26, 2001.

Grass Plugs? You're in the wrong forum! Who the heck wants grass!? We seeded the 'lawn' areas with clover and thyme. Easier to keep. Easy on the enviorment.

-- Kathy (catfish201@hotmail.com), March 26, 2001.

Kathy, Husband is a city boy. Have to keep him happy. He has the small front yard, I've got the acres in back.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), March 26, 2001.

Hi Dee: Well, just wanted to let you know here is one ole' country girl who still has a grass lawn. Also, in eastern Ok, where I was raised, many bermuda grass pastures for livestock were "plugged" like you are talking about to get the bermuda grass going. Once it got started, it choked out about every weed you could think of and made a great pasture. If you want to know whether the grass in question is a good choice for your area, asking your county extension agent is your best bet. Cynthia

-- Cynthia Speer (farmsteader@gvtel.com), March 26, 2001.

if its a warm season grass like zoysia, that might be what you saw advertised. Zoysia does NOT grow when other grass is green. It grows in mid summer, when the cool season grasses: fescue, bluegrass, bentgrass, and ryegrass are browned over from the heat. You can do a better job, blending, if you stay within grass types. (cool season vs. warm season). At least you wouldn't have all the weird streaks of color. Soil samples are primary... start there. Your county ag agent will help you get a sample tested for about 8 or 10 bucks. then the sample will tell you what to add to your soil to grow the type of grass, you are seeking. They'll also assist you in selecting one that's right for your soil conditions. EG: according to drainage, grade, shade conditions, etc. This service is something you already pay for in tax dollars, so go ask questions from the LOCAL experts about the LOCAL soil !!! If I can be of help, e'mail me. Good luck.

-- The Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 26, 2001.

P.S. Clover, as was mentioned, is a good option, if you can handle the bees that are attracted to it... clover adds large quant. of nitrogen to the soil. That's a plus, because it's slow release nitr. as well. Think about it.

-- The Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 26, 2001.

Dee:

Perhaps we have all misunderstood your question. Are you perhaps talking about something like a slow release fertilizer plug?

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), March 27, 2001.

"PLUGGING - Usual recommendations are to place plugs 2 1/2 inches in diameter (larger than 2 inches preferred) at 8 to 12 inch intervals. Press plugs into a similar size hole to obtain good soil contact. Do NOT cover the plugs with soil or allow the plug to remain elevated. A hard steel plug cutter can be be used to cut the plugs in the nursery, and also for cutting holes in the lawn into which the plugs are planted. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SPRIGGING - Sprigging into an existing lawn is not as desirable as plugging. Sprigs should be planted in a well-prepared weed-free plant bed. Sprigs are obtained by tearing apart a piece of sod. Each Sprig should be at least 3 inches long and contain one or two nodes. Sprigs are planted with one end below the soil and the other end (with leaf shoots) above the soil. Fresh sprigs are planted 4 too 12 inches apart in rows, and 8 to 12 inches between rows." xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (material borrowed from Rutgers Univ. Basic Lawn & turf Class) we just covered this material, recently.

-- Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 27, 2001.

There's nothing wrong with having a lawn - our sheep love it.

-- David C (fleece@eritter.net), March 27, 2001.

We've had a troublefree lawn for many years, no labor required. Just turn in our horses or sheep whenever it needs mowing. 'Course, our lawn doesn't look quite as nice as the neighbors......

My mom asked my dh one time how he managed to get the lawnmower to cut the grass that short. He told her his mowers didn't seem to have any problem with it.

-- Lenette (kigervixen@webtv.net), March 27, 2001.

Dee: When we first bought our property, husband wanted a lawn and we sent for the zoysia plugs. It is really dry here, the soil was rock hard, and we just tried to put the plugs in with no preparation. No matter how much we watered, they didn't survive. We even got another shipment and tried it again. Not the right climate here, no preparation of soil, etc. Tried sod last year, and it isn't looking too well either. I just don't have time to tend "lawn", although I like the looks of it. Definitely get what is recommended for your area, and prepare the soil first! Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), March 27, 2001.

My Dad and I planted over 5000 of the little buggers. Some grew really well, but we noticed several things.

They (I presume this is zoysia??) are not good for clay or in the shade

This grass is very late to green up in the spring

It does not tend to hold up to high traffic... even when well established. (We had changed the location of our garden that year to avoid walking on it too much. The following year, when we moved the garden back, we had a path worn through the grass before all the planting was done.)

In our case... sod would have been cheaper, and seed easier.

I have known people with good, fertile soils who have had wonderful results though - I guess it depends on where you are going to use it -

Also - we lived in IL at the time, and our neighbors had similar problems... It could be just the area we lived in, I guess.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 27, 2001.

We used clippings from our lawn as rabbit feed (used a biscuit and gravy powered lawnmower, a gas powered one would ruin the clippings as feed use ). Probally will do it again when the hutches are up.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 30, 2001.