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How to Manage Pests

The UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

Establishing a lawn from sprigs, stolons, or plugs

Some warm-season grasses cannot be established from seed and must be sodded or vegetatively established using sprigs, stolons, or plugs. Prior to planting, the soil should be prepared properly.

Plugging

Plugs are small pieces of sod planted at intervals. Plugs are best planted in late spring to early summer. To plant

  • Dig holes with a garden trowel about 6- to 12- inches apart.
  • Moisten soil.
  • Plant plugs in holes.
  • Cover the holes and make sure the plugs are level with the ground.
  • After planting, lightly roll the area.
  • After planting, keep the area moist until the grass becomes established (1 - 2 weeks).

Sprigging or stolonizing

The terms sprigs and stolons are used interchangeably, referring to pieces of aboveground or belowground grass stems for creeping grasses. They are planted at intervals. They are usually sold by the bushel, with 1 bushel approximately equivalent to 1 square yard of sod. Sprigs are best planted from late spring into summer. To plant

  • Broadcast stolons over an area and cover lightly with soil by disking or plant in rows in 2-inch deep furrows 6 to 12 inches apart.
  • Place nodes so they are in contact with the soil.
  • Fill the furrows and then lightly roll the area.
  • Keep the area moist until the grass becomes established.

Photo of a grass stolon

Planting information for turf species that can be established vegetatively

Turf species Vegetative establishment Additional planting
Bermudagrass (hybrid) Plugs Stolons (4 - 6 bushels per 1000 sq. ft.) Sod
Buffalograss Plugs (2-inch plugs spaced at 1 ft. intervals) Seed
Sod
Colonial bentgrass Plugs Seed for most varieties
Sod
Creeping bentgrass Plugs Seed for most varieties
Sod
Dichondra Plugs Seed
Kikuyugrass Stolons Sod
Seashore paspalum Stolons (3 - 5 bushels per 1000 sq. ft.) Sod
St. Augustinegrass Stolons (3 - 5 bushels per 1000 sq. ft.) Sod
Zoysiagrass Stolons (4 - 6 bushels per 1000 sq. ft.) Sod

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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