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Posted By High Country Gardens Content Team on Jan 27, 2020 · Revised on Sep 17, 2025
Our customer, Katie D., shared her success story with planting Dog Tuff Grass Plugs at her home in Castle Rock, Colorado. She killed her high-maintenance Bluegrass lawn and replaced it with a low-mow, low-water lawn to conserve water and reduce mowing needs. Read on to see the amazing results of her new sustainable lawn, and to see before and after photos.
"In early May, the Dog Tuff Grass Plugs were planted at 12” on center, right into the dead bluegrass lawn. Planting was surprisingly easy! I created a hole with a hori-hori knife, unfurled the plug roots, popped it into the hole and watered after planting."
"Four to five weeks after planting, the plugs had tripled in size. The first couple weeks, I hand watered every other evening. After that, I watered with sprinklers 2-3 times per week for 20 minutes until August. Then, I cut back to 1-2 times per week for 15-20 minutes. I’ll water much less next year."
"About 7 weeks after planting, I noticed significant upward and outward growth from each plug, and stolens running in each direction. I hand-picked weeds about every two weeks all summer."
"By early September the lawn was mostly filled in... Our city water utility offered a turf replacement rebate, so the cost was almost 100% covered. We have had a lot of interest in this project from neighbors, and even our water provider.
I love that I don’t have to mow, so when we are on summer vacations this is largely maintenance-free. The more wild look of Dog-Tuff fits with my Colorado-style landscaping, with boulders, wildflowers, etc., and it’s tough enough for my three kids to play spike-ball on. We are very happy with this choice and look forward to seeing what year two brings.”
Thank you Katie for sharing your success with the High Country Gardens community!
Photos from Ross Shrigley of Plant Select.
