grass plugging - Ask Extension
* Live outside New Lothrop .....Shiawassee county
* renewed septic field -- NEEDS a grass cover.
* Have free-range chickens.....afraid they will ste...
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grass plugging #946574
Asked October 06, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT
* Live outside New Lothrop .....Shiawassee county
* renewed septic field -- NEEDS a grass cover.
* Have free-range chickens.....afraid they will steal any seed thrown.
* Ideally I would like to plug with existing grass from other parts of yard.
* What types of grass are conducive to plugging here in Michigan
********!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS!!!!!!!
Shiawassee County Michigan
Expert Response
Thank you for your question. First I'm attaching articles on planting over a septic field for you to open and read:
https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/print-publications/pss/planting-on-septic-system-drain-fields-a.pdf
https://www.extension.umd.edu/resource/planting-over-your-septic-drain-field/
Native Plants Over Drain Fields-MSU
The consistent answer is to plant short-rooted plants. Turfgrass qualifies as roots usually don't exceed 6" depth. If you wish to plant plugs you'll need grass species that spread by rhizomes allowing it to fill in thin areas of turf and to make recovery from injury. Kentucky Bluegrass and Red Fescue qualify. You might purchase some sod, cut it up and plant the plugs (or just sod the area). More turfgrass specie info in the attached links:
Turfgrass species ID & Cultivar Selection (E2912)-MSU - checkout KBG and Red Fescue
Turfgrass Species for Pennsylvania-PSU
https://extension.illinois.edu/lawns/preparing-your-lawn
Info on lawn renovation:
Renovating A Lawn for Quality & sustainability-UMN
Renovation of Lawns-PSU
Be sure to work a starter fertilizer into the top 2"-3" of soil and irrigate regularly. I'd get this done quickly as the optimum window for grass establishment in the fall is passing.
https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/print-publications/pss/planting-on-septic-system-drain-fields-a.pdf
https://www.extension.umd.edu/resource/planting-over-your-septic-drain-field/
Native Plants Over Drain Fields-MSU
The consistent answer is to plant short-rooted plants. Turfgrass qualifies as roots usually don't exceed 6" depth. If you wish to plant plugs you'll need grass species that spread by rhizomes allowing it to fill in thin areas of turf and to make recovery from injury. Kentucky Bluegrass and Red Fescue qualify. You might purchase some sod, cut it up and plant the plugs (or just sod the area). More turfgrass specie info in the attached links:
Turfgrass species ID & Cultivar Selection (E2912)-MSU - checkout KBG and Red Fescue
Turfgrass Species for Pennsylvania-PSU
https://extension.illinois.edu/lawns/preparing-your-lawn
Info on lawn renovation:
Renovating A Lawn for Quality & sustainability-UMN
Renovation of Lawns-PSU
Be sure to work a starter fertilizer into the top 2"-3" of soil and irrigate regularly. I'd get this done quickly as the optimum window for grass establishment in the fall is passing.
