Centipede Grass Maintenance And Planting Tips

Caring for Centipede Grass Lightly apply a nitrogen rich fertilizer once in the spring and again in the fall. Fertilizing any more than this can lead to problems with your centipede grass lawn. Water your centipede grass only when it starts to show signs of water stress during times of drought.

How do you encourage centipede grass to spread?
What does centipede grass need to grow?
What is a good grass to mix with centipede grass?
How often should you water centipede grass?
Should you aerate centipede grass?
Will centipede grass choke out weeds?
When should you reseed centipede grass?
How do I make my centipede grass dark green?
Does sand help centipede grass grow?
Is Bermuda or centipede grass better?
What can I spray on centipede grass for weeds?

How do you encourage centipede grass to spread?

Remove any excess thatch and loosen the top of the soil with a rake. Spread 0.25 to 0.5 pounds of grass seed per 1,000 square feet. To make the process easier, you can mix one pound of grass seed with one gallon of sand and use a spreader. Keep the soil moist until the sprouts are about two inches tall.

What does centipede grass need to grow?

Centipede grass excels on sandy soils with limited nutrients. It tolerates acidic soil with pH as low as 4.5 to 6.0 —much lower than most grasses prefer. At higher pH levels, Centipede is very sensitive to iron deficiencies, which can cause leaf blades to turn light yellow.

What is a good grass to mix with centipede grass?

Improve the look of a centipede grass lawn by seeding with another type of grass. For growth problems due to shade, St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) grass is a good choice to plant with it. The best grass to mix with centipede, to avoid disease issues, is Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon).

How often should you water centipede grass?

determine moisture depth. Centipedegrass needs a weekly application of 1 to 1.25 inches of water to retain its color during summer. However, centipedegrass can survive several weeks without irrigation or rainfall. On sandy soils, it requires more frequent watering: for example, 0.5 inch of water every third day.

Should you aerate centipede grass?

Yes, Centipede grass requires aeration, but the frequency depends on the type of soil that you have. While all roots need oxygen, Centipede Grass doesn't struggle with this as much because of its shallow growing roots. The more compacted your soil, however, the more aerating will benefit Centipede grass.

Will centipede grass choke out weeds?

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.

When should you reseed centipede grass?

Seeding is best accomplished during the months of April, May, June and July. Do not seed in Fall months of September, October and November, because the little seedlings are susceptible to being killed by cold weather. Centipede is normally slow to germinate, taking 2-4 weeks depending on conditions.

How do I make my centipede grass dark green?

Dark Green Color Alternative: Instead of applying fertilizer, use liquid iron on your Centipede lawn to achieve that dark green color. Mid-Summer- June through August. Apply 5-10-30 + Iron as your final fertilizer application for the year. Fall- September through November.

Does sand help centipede grass grow?

Introducing sand to your lawn can increase the opportunities for new weeds or disease. ... This leveling process helps prevent water from pooling in a lawn. Centipede grass propagates quickly by spreading out from its original growth, hence its name.

Is Bermuda or centipede grass better?

Centipede grass, like Bahiagrass, experiences iron deficiencies in alkaline soil. Bermudagrass or Zoysia grass, which both tolerate higher soil pH and salinity, are better choices in such areas.

What can I spray on centipede grass for weeds?

Best Liquid Post-emergent Herbicide

Gordon's Trimec herbicide is one of the best weed killers for centipede grass. This is because of its ability to kill 75+ broadleaf weeds without harming turf grasses. With such a broad range, Gordon's product is one of the most versatile turfgrass herbicides on the market.