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Centipede grass is common in many southern lawns and can provide an attractive welcome to homes and businesses, but it has its strengths and weaknesses.
A centipede can give you goosebumps, but a grass centipede cannot. This type of warm-season grass is widespread in the southern half of the United States due to its relatively low maintenance requirements. right for your lawn? how do you take care of it?
Follow this guide to learn more about your centipede lawn, the best ways to care for it, and some tips on how to enjoy a dense, weed-free lawn without a lot of work.
What Is Centipede Grass?
Native to China and Southeast Asia, centipede grass was introduced to the United States in 1916. It has since become a popular grass species in the southern states and does well in many cities.
Centipede grass is thick-leaved, apple-green, and slow-growing. Being a warm-season grass, it actively grows in summer and turns brown and dormant in winter. Warm-season grasses grow best in the southern half of the United States.
They can also work in the mid-country transition zone, but the centipede might suffer in harsh winters. The most cold-tolerant seed variety is TifBlair.
Many consider centipede grass to be easy to care for. It doesn’t need a lot of fertilizing or frequent pruning. It can also handle low-fertility soils that other grass species may have trouble with. However, the decline in centipedes is a real problem.
This is when a lawn that was once good stops greening in the spring, develops dead spots and yellow edges, and dies. Anything from poor crop management to pests and diseases can cause this condition.
Regardless of the cause, it can be disheartening for homeowners who experience it. If your centipede lawn isn’t thriving no matter how well you take care of it, consider choosing a different type of lawn instead.
Requires infrequent mowing and 1 to 2 pounds of fertilizer per 1,000 square feet per year depending on soil test results. It can also tolerate acidic soil conditions.
The centipede is susceptible to various pests. Tolerates full sun and moderate shade. Needs at least 6 hours of full sun.
Caring Tasks Of The Centipede
The centipede will function best when it meets its unique needs. Here’s everything you need to know about caring for a new or old centipede lawn.
How To Install Centipede Grass
Spread the green carpet with centipede grass. This method gives you more scheduling flexibility, although spring and summer are still best. Sod plugs are cheaper than grass.
However, your centipede grass will take longer to fill in the empty spaces.
- Read Also: Yellow Grass: Causes And Treatment
How To fertilize Centipede Grass
Centipede grass fertilizer provides the nutrients your lawn needs when nature is not. What is wrong with that? Sandy soils generally require more nitrogen fertilizer than clay soils.
Healthy, established centipede lawns only need fertilizer once a year. However, you can split the fertilization if necessary. Only fertilize when the last frost is over and the lawn has turned green.
The best time to fertilize is grasses in the warm season since the centipede is in the summer. However, read the labels carefully because some fertilizers cause damage if the temperatures are too high.
How To Prune The Centipede
Prune the centipede every 5 to 7 days as it grows.
Keep your centipede 1 to 2 inches tall. Mow less frequently if the grass is drought-stressed and increase the height by ½ to 1 inch.
However, the height must not exceed 2 ½ inches. It gets greener in spring. Pruning too early or too low is particularly damaging to centipedes as they spread along stems above ground.
Start at 2″ and then work your way down until you reach your preferred height or the grass looks bad (but don’t go below 1″).
Prune at this preferred height until fall. When nighttime temperatures drop below 70 degrees, increase the mowing height to 2 inches to allow the lawn to adjust before the first frost of the year.
You don’t have to cut the centipede when it’s in hibernation. When it stops growing and turns brown you can put the mower away for the year (after winter service of course).
Grass clippings do not need to be removed unless they are clumped or diseased. A lawnmower with mulch can turn this into a natural fertilizer for your lawn.
- Read More: What Weed Killer Is Good For Bermuda Grass?
How To Sow And Reseed Centipede Grass
If you need to plant new centipede grass, you can use seed or sod. Keep in mind that centipede grass is slow to establish, taking around 28 days to germinate.
Centipede grass can take up to three years for the lawn to become even and dense. Plant the seeds in late spring and early summer for the best results.
Does your current centipede lawn look a bit stained? Overseeding can be the solution. Sprinkle seeds over your lawn after aerating for best results. The centipede doesn’t do well with this and could damage your current lawn.
How To Water Centipede Grass
Actively growing centipede grass requires 1 inch of water per week. Water until the grass turns brown and winter dormant, then water just enough to keep the soil from drying out to dust.
Give your lawn a drink if there is no measurable rain in 3 to 4 weeks during winter. Don’t water your lawn when the air temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit; otherwise, the grass could freeze.
Centipede grass can survive for several weeks without water, but it’s not the most drought-tolerant grass. Water when you see marks, a dark bluish-gray color, and wilted, curled, or curled leaves.
You should also water when it’s dry, hot, or windy for an extended period. Your soil type could also affect your watering schedule.
Sandy soils drain quickly, so split your watering into two ½-inch sessions. Clay soils absorb water slowly, so water until it drains, then wait half an hour before proceeding.
Water early in the morning for best results. Nighttime watering makes the grass susceptible to disease, and daytime watering might evaporate before it’s properly absorbed.
Always keep newly seeded or seeded grass moist to allow it to germinate and develop roots.
Do a soil test in the lab before you decide. Soil studies show you which nutrients are in the soil and which are missing.
Early spring is a great time to submit a soil sample, so prepare for summer. Centipede grass does not tolerate high-phosphorus or low-potassium soils.
Only apply phosphorus if recommended by a soil test. Too much phosphorus causes excessive felt growth and disease in centipedes.
Aerate Centipede Grass
Centipede grass does not tolerate compacted soil or heavy foot traffic. But how do you know if the soil is compacted? Difficult to stick a screwdriver in the ground
Water runs off and forms puddles. Your lawn is not growing well. Your lawn is thin or yellow. Pests and diseases often plague your lawn. Ventilation can be the solution if you have any of these problems.
Central aeration creates small holes in the bottom of your lawn to allow air, nutrients, and water to reach the roots. In general, you should aerate your lawn once a year.
Wait until the last frost has passed and the grass has turned green; better yet, wait until summer when your weed is growing strong. This allows your lawn to recover quickly from this invasive procedure.
Don’t ventilate if you’ve just applied pre-emergent herbicides. Pre-emergence herbicides create a barrier against weeds, and disturbing the soil makes them less effective. Postpone or aerate applications before emergence.
Applying Soil Amendments To Centipede Grass
Soil amendments are any additions that change the quality of your soil and indirectly improve your lawn. For example, soil amendments can raise and lower pH.
Soil pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of your soil. If the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, the health of the lawn will suffer. Certain nutrients are unavailable or become toxic.
A balanced pH level allows your lawn to take advantage of the nutrients in the soil and fertilizer. Add lime to raise pH (reduces acidity) and add sulfur to lower pH (reduces alkalinity).
Most grasses prefer a pH between 6.0 and 7.0, but centipedes prefer acidic conditions between 5.0 and 6. Apply lime in summer or fall when the soil pH is below 5 lies.
Apply sulfur when the air temperature is below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Technically, you can apply soil amendments any time of the year as long as the ground isn’t frozen but always follow soil testing instructions.
Changing soil pH can be a slow process that takes years. Check the pH of your soil three months after changing the soil to see what effect they have had. Get tested every two to three years when you’re not actively making changes.
Removing Thatch From Centipede Grass
While thatch is not a major problem for many lawns, centipedes are particularly susceptible. Aeration will remove some of the thatch, but you should monitor your thatch height year-round to see if additional measures are needed.
The layer is more than ½ inch thick. Use a scarifier or electric rake with a 3-inch blade spacing set at a depth of ¼ inch. Late spring or summer is the best time for this procedure.
If you find that straw keeps building up, you may be over-fertilizing. Nitrogen fertilizer stimulates grass growth, but in this case, it can be too good.
How To Control Centipede Weeds
Like all lawns, weeds can threaten your centipede. Here are a few to watch out for: Annual blue, chickweed, Crabgrass, Colas de zorro, Goosegrass, Henbit, Knotweed, LespedezaS, and spurs.
Good lawn care minimizes the risk of weeds, but they can still creep in. If you don’t want to remove them manually, use pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides.
Pre-emergence herbicides prevent weed growth. Use in spring to prevent summer weeds and in autumn to prevent winter weeds. Post-emergence herbicides kill weeds after they emerge.
Apply them when you see weeds in your garden. Wait until your lawn is fully green in the spring before applying post-emergence herbicides
Certain broadleaf pesticides may cause millipede declines. Read all product labels carefully to ensure they are suitable for centipedes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Centipede Grass
What should I put in my centipede grass?
Centipede lawns require very little nitrogen. Too much fertilizer can harm them. Centipede grass should be fed once in mid-spring and again in mid-summer with a lawn fertilizer that releases its nutrients slowly over 6-8 weeks.
How is iron applied to centipedes?
If the lawn shows signs of ferric chlorosis (yellowing of leaves), apply ferrous sulfate at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 3 gallons of water per 1000 square feet of lawn. Iron applications only temporarily darken the green color of the grass. centipedes and may need to be applied every two to four weeks.
How often does the centipede water?
The centipede grows best with about an inch of water per week. If it’s not raining, apply ½ inch every three to five days.
Sandy soils often need more frequent watering; that is, ½ inch every third day. Proper watering can prevent or reduce pests and other problems later in the summer.
How can I make centipede grass thicker?
Overseeding can help, especially if there are areas with no vegetation. Good lawn care, such as proper watering, mowing, aerating, fertilizing, weeding, and proper insect and disease control also helps. Note, however, that the centipede is slow to establish.
How can I make the centipede dark green?
Iron can turn the centipede dark green.
That’s because iron is essential for the development of chlorophyll, the substance that turns plants green and allows them to absorb sunlight.
Do a soil test to see if your lawn is iron deficient since lawns suffering from iron chlorosis will turn yellow.
What Causes Bald Spots on CentipedeGrass?
Unfortunately, the decline in centipede grass is widespread. Dead or bare spots in centipede lawns can be caused by Pests and Diseases (especially large patches).
Final Thoughts
With a name like a centipede grass, you might already have pests in mind. While centipedes shouldn’t be a problem, this grass species is susceptible to several pests including Caterpillar larvae (a scale insect)
Most pests are silent in winter and more active in spring and summer. If you see the damage, quickly adjust your maintenance regimen, apply the appropriate insecticide, or call a professional for help.
The most common disease that centipedes suffer from is the greater spot. The big spot is a fungal disease that develops during hot, humid weather in spring and fall. Yellow and brown circular areas appear and grow on wet grass.
Treat with fungicide in autumn. to prevent further spread. You can also apply preventative fungicides if this is a recurring problem in your garden.
