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Centipede Grass

  This creeping perennial is well adapted to the sandy, acidic soils of low fertility and requires low maintenance. It spreads by stolons and has a coarse texture with short upright stems that grow to about 3-5 inches and requiring less mowing, survives in mild cold temperatures as long as there aren’t several hard freezes since it doesn’t go into a true dormancy and with light freezes will turn brown but as soon as the temperature rises it will recover and re-greens.   

  Being a low growing grass it is a favorite of busy lawn growers with a much longer period of days being added to the mowing cycle.

Low fertilization (with low phosphorus) requirements can be met by a yearly application. Too much nitrogen can produce growth but cause problems with insects or disease.

Centipede is rather drought tolerant and when healthy is aggressive enough to choke out weeds and other grasses.  In the south this grass will remain green throughout the year.  Although the roots are not as deep as Bahia or Bermuda, its close to the ground growth allows for better conservation of water and helps fight drought.

Slightly shade tolerant and full sun.

 

Bermuda Grass     Centipede Grass    St. Augustine Grass

 
  • Low maintenance
  • Does not need frequent mowing or fertilizing
  • Slow growing
  • Does not withstand heavy traffic
  • Needs low-nitrogen, fertilizer without phosphorus (15-0-15)
  • Looks greener if fertilized with a product that contains iron
  • Do not use lime on centipede
  • Ideal pH 4.5 to 5.5

TYPE

Warm season

When to Fertilize

Spring

LIGHT

Full sun to partial shade

Mowing Height

2  to 3  inches
1 1

Planting Method

Sod, plugs

 

CENTIPEDE IN THE LANDSCAPE

Centipede is a tough, low-growing lawn grass that thrives with little care in the lower South, particularly in places where the soil is naturally acidic. Centipede's rough texture and slow rate of growth are offset by its ability to grow under conditions that cause more refined lawn grasses to fail. Restrain yourself from trying to spoil centipede with exacting care.  Instead, regard centipede as a low-maintenance grass.
Centipede will grow in light dappled shade, but it grows most vigorously in almost-full or full sun.
A strong centipede lawn will survive periodic droughts, but it will be more resistant to pests and other problems if you water it during dry spells.
Centipede is naturally a medium green color and should be fertilized less often than other lawn grasses. Over-fertilizing will weaken this grass. A fertilizer that contains iron will insure a maximum green. Healthy centipede will "knit" itself into a tight turf that naturally resists weeds.

 

BEAUTIFUL CENTIPEDE, SEASON BY SEASON

You can have a beautiful centipede lawn by following an easy Step-by-Step Program. Together with proper mowing and watering, these measures will help centipede grow strong and healthy.

Centipede spreads by above-ground stems or runners called stolons. The stolons need occasional edging to keep them out of flower or shrub borders. Pieces of rooted stolon that are removed when edging are easy to transplant and can be used to patch bare spots in the lawn. After transplanting, be careful to keep them watered as the small pieces dry out quickly.

 

SEASONAL STEP-BY-STEP PROGRAM

To get weed problems under control, follow the Step-by-Step Program shaded in yellow.  If your lawn is already in good condition, follow the Step-by-Step Program shaded in green. You can start either program during any season, but the key is to complete a full year.   After a year you will see marked improvements in your lawn.  When applying any lawn care product, always read the entire label first and follow directions.   To avoid overfertilization, choose fertilizers specifically designed for use on centipede.

Restoring Centipede

Maintaining Centipede
Step 1: Apply in late winter or early spring
  • Crabgrass Preventer (without fertilizer)
Step 1: Apply in mid to late spring
  • Centipede Lawn Fertilizer
  • Insect Control, if needed
Step 2: Apply in mid to late spring
  • Centipede Weed and Feed
  • Insect Control, if needed
Step 2: Apply in late summer
  • Centipede Lawn Fertilizer (only in sandy soil)
  • Insect Control, if needed
Step 3: Apply in late summer
  • Centipede Lawn Fertilizer (only in sandy soil)
  • Insect Control, if needed
Step 4: Apply in fall
  • Crabgrass Preventer (without fertilizer)

 

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Crabgrass Preventer Keeps crabgrass seeds and other grassy weeds from germinating. Crabgrass Preventer with Dimension® keeps on killing crabgrass up to 4 weeks after it sprouts.  Dimension® also prevents the sprouting of many broadleaf weeds, such as spurge, chickweed, and henbit.
Weed and Feed Kills broadleaf weeds that are actively growing and feeds the lawn at the same time. For best results apply it when weeds are still young and vigorously growing. Don’t wait. Mowing a couple of days before applying will help stimulate new growth of older weeds.
Centipede Lawn Fertilizer
(5-5-15)		 Contains low phosphorous and modest amounts of nitrogen and potassium. Added iron helps keep centipede a healthy green color. Lawn Fertilizer should contain a combination of fast-release nitrogen to green up the lawn quickly and timed-release nitrogen to feed grass for 2 to 3 months.
Insect Control Is important for the control of white grubs, fleas, cutworms, and other major lawn pests. If these have been a problem in your lawn, apply Insect Control early, while the pests are still young. You can also apply Insect Control Plus Fertilizer to combine feeding and control in one easy application.

 

TIPS FOR BETTER CENTIPEDE
  • Always use a fertilizer spreader to spread lawn care products evenly. If you apply Weed and Feed, use a drop-type spreader for accurate application at the edge of flower and shrub beds. A broadcast spreader can throw weed control products into the planting area where it may cause damage.
  • Never mow too close except in early spring. Close cutting of actively growing grass invites weeds. At the peak of summer, raise the mowing height to 3 inches. Avoid mowing altogether when the lawn is stressed by drought.
  • If more than a 1/2-inch layer of thatch is present (thatch is dead stems and debris that accumulate at the soil's surface), thin and clean your centipede lawn with a power rake in the spring. You can have this done professionally or do it yourself with rented equipment. When using a power rake, set blades 3 inches apart and adjust cutting depth to only 1/4-inch, as centipede is slower to recover than most other grasses.
  • Never burn off dead growth from centipede in the spring. Instead, mow the grass low at 1-inch and collect the clippings.
  • Do not add lime to centipede lawns. Centipede needs an acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5.

 

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Working with Centipede
Several problems working together create a condition called centipede decline. The most common symptoms are grass that fails to green up in the spring or the prevalence of yellow-green color in early summer. Centipede is a shallow-rooted grass and declining vigor can usually be traced to the grass having trouble taking in nutrients, water, or both.

Overfertilizing centipede with phosphorus causes changes in soil chemistry that make it impossible for the grass to take up iron, an essential nutrient for good green color. Using a fertilizer that does not contain phosphorus, but does contain iron, will prevent this problem.

 Over-fertilizing centipede with nitrogen leads to a buildup of thatch, a layer of dead stems that forms a barrier between the shallow roots and the soil. A thick layer of thatch makes centipede much more difficult to keep watered, and increases the chance that the grass will be frozen to death by cold winter weather. Tips for using a power rake to dethatch centipede are given above.

Microscopic worms that live in the soil, nematodes, sometimes infect the roots of centipede and cause it to grow very slowly if at all. The best way to confirm the presence of nematodes is to submit a soil sample for testing through your County Extension Service.

 

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