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If you live in the Southeast, centipede grass is a good candidate for your lawn. It's a low-maintenance, heat-tolerant grass that prefers to grow in the acidic, sandy soils found throughout the Southeast from the Carolinas to the gulf coast of Texas. Outside of this area, the winters are too cold or the soil is too alkaline for centipede grass to survive. Centipede grass tolerates some shade and thrives in the shifting shade you find under pine trees. Also, it requires less mowing and fertilizer than other warm-season grasses. If you have a centipede grass lawn, here are a few tips to help you keep it looking great.
New centipede grass lawns can be planted from seed or sod depending on your time and budget. The best time to start a centipedegrass lawn is late spring through early summer. Since centipede grass is a warm-season grass, the soil has to be good and warm (at least 70 degrees) before seeds will germinate. If you decide to start your lawn from seed, follow these steps:
Don’t be alarmed if your centipede grass doesn’t sprout right away. It can be a little slow to get started, taking anywhere from 10 to 28 days to germinate.
Mowing. Centipede grass should be maintained at 1½ to 2 inches tall -- any higher and you start to see excess thatch develop. Also, make sure your mower blade is nice and sharp for a good, clean cut and only remove the top ⅓ of the grass blades at any one time.
Avoid Excessive Foot Traffic. Centipede grass is not as durable as other lawn grass varieties. It can't handle a lot of wear and tear and recovers slowly when damaged.Watering. Centipede grass tends to grow more of its roots in the upper soil level than some other grasses, and may turn brown sooner during prolonged periods of drought and extreme heat. Centipede grass should only be watered when you see wilting, rolling leaves or when the grass turns grayish-green. Then apply about an inch of water, which is enough to soak the soil 6 to 8 inches deep (where most turfgrass roots grow).Feeding. Centipede grass lawns require very little nitrogen. In fact, too much fertilizer can harm them. Centipede grass should be fed once in mid-spring and again in mid-summer with a lawn food that releases its nutrients slowly over a 6 to 8 week period of time, like Scotts®Turf Builder®Southern Lawn Food.Weed Control. If crabgrass is a common problem in your centipede grass lawn during the summer months, applyBare Spot Repair. Too much wear and tear or prolonged drought can cause bare spots to form in your centipede grass lawn, creating a welcome mat for weeds to move in and take over. Fix bare areas in your lawn with
Here's a list of the most frequently asked questions about grass seed from consumers like you.
With a spreader, some grass fertilizer, and 15 minutes, you can be on your way to a thicker, greener lawn.
Whether you're feeding, seeding, or battling weeds, Scotts has the right product for your lawn.
Learn how to work with nature, the climate and your watering system to water your lawn efficiently.