Although centipedegrass is a relatively low maintenance grass, proper management is still required. After installation, your sod will need some time to grow down and establish itself in your soil. The added moisture in the soil will help keep the growing points of the turf warmer, preventing crown death. If you intend to apply a herbicide, carefully read the label to make sure that it can be used on centipede grass, as it is sensitive to certainherbicides. If there's existing grass on the land, you can either remove them with the help of a sod cutter or apply herbicide . Mowing: The ideal mowing height for centipedegrass is from 1 to 2 inches, depending on the specific site and management regime and is best determined by the conditions in the lawn. All Grass types: Including Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia, Buffalo, Centipede, Florida Palmetto, Bahia, Fescue, Ryegrass & Kentucky Bluegrass ; Produced In The United States: Lawn Energizer is manufactured in the United States of America, by a family owned business with 25 years of former experience in the commercial professional turf industry. It is generally best to apply by March 1. Once nighttime temperatures fall below 70 F, raise the mower blade height to approximately 2 inches to allow for more leaf surface. Soils in the Upstate are typically acidic and usually do not need sulfur. Broadleaf summer weeds, such as spurge and annual lespedeza are controlled by using a broadleaf weed herbicide, which is sometimes referred to as a 3-way mix and contains 2,4-D, dicamba, and mecoprop. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. When irrigated, it should be watered to a depth of four to six inches. How Much Does A John Deere Lawn Mower Cost? This will allow the turf to become acclimated by the time the first frost occurs. During the hot summer months, and when it is getting cooler in the fall, increase the mowing height by 1/4 to 1/2 inch, which helps to protect the grass. Does centipede grass go dormant in the winter? Read and follow product instructions carefully. Around one inch of water is recommended, but you can do less if you find the area is flooding. All content copyright document.write( new Date().getFullYear() ); Pennington Seed, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Last frost dates and first frost dates can vary by several weeks to a month from coastal areas of South Carolina to the foothills of the Upstate. Apply postemergence herbicides in May if you need to control summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds like knotweed, spurge, and lespedeza. Each of these store types is interested in making a profit. This is especially important if warm, bright days precede days forecasted to be in the low 20s or colder. Then, pick up the piece of plywood and repeat on another section until you have tamped down your entire new lawn. When starting with plugs, plant each one 1 foot apart. Grass grown in sandy soils will require more water because the water drains through the soil quicker than in clay-based environments. practice for a healthy centipedegrass lawn. OK : OK . As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made on our website. Repeat the laying of your sod horizontally until you reach the perimeter of the area. Control lawn-damaging pests, including mole crickets, chinch bugs and billbugs, with Sevin Lawn Insect Killer Granules. If you do notice that the grass is beginning to turn yellow, the chances are that it is to do with an iron deficiency in which case, you will need to apply ferrous sulfate to the lawn. Research the variety of grass you are laying and determine its watering needs on a regular basis. This certainty is why it is crucial to water your sod properly after installation. It is often referred to as "lazy man's grass" due to its infrequent mowing and fertilization requirements. For 500 square feet of sod, you can expect to pay $200 to $500. Nadia Hassani is a a Penn State Master Gardener with nearly 20 years of experience in landscaping, garden design, and vegetable and fruit gardening. Pre-emergent herbicides will create a barrier that keeps weed seeds from germinating. However, you save a lot of time in aftercare, and you can enjoy the fruits of your labor much sooner than seeding. Centipedegrass is sensitive to certain herbicides, such as 2,4-D, so follow label directions for reduced rates and use with caution. CENTIPEDE Sod is considered a low-maintenance warm season grass and can be an alternative to Bermuda or Zoysia. This bag was relatively inexpensive and covers 2000 square feet. If the sod is allowed to dry out and die, youll have wasted all the time and money you spent on this lawn. Lime or sulfur may also be added if a soil test indicates a need. About six weeks after installation, fertilize your sod. A soil probe can be used to monitor the soil moisture. To ensure good germination, keep the seedbed moist with light, frequent sprinklings several times a day. Established centipedegrass should not receive phosphorus fertilizer unless a soil test indicates that it is deficient. Clay soils, however, will hold moisture for a longer period of time. For more information on weed control, please see HGIC 2310, Managing Weeds in Warm-Season Lawns. It gets its name from the stolons, or runners, that help it grow. If the weed roots become deeper than the grass, make sure to pull them out and use weed killer on these patches. A Warm-Season Turfgrass for Low-Traffic Areas. Are you in search of the perfect lawn mower to bring your lawn from drab to fab? She was the daughter of Ingram, count of Hesbaye, and Hedwig of Bavaria. It is more shade tolerant than bermudagrass but less shade tolerant than St. Augustine and zoysiagrass. Shallow watering encourages shallow, stress-susceptible roots. Always apply herbicides to turfgrass and weeds that are actively growing and are not suffering from drought or heat stress. If the sod is allowed to dry out, the roots will quickly dry out, and you will not be able to revive them. However, fertilizers containing nitrogen should not be applied during this period. Sod can come in long rolls or in rectangular mats. But Centipede recovers from stress rapidly once normal conditions return. However, Centipede grass has very specific climate and soil needs that limit its U.S. use primarily to the Southeast. Sod plugs are ideal when you need to patch up small areas. This spreading keeps occurring until there is no more space left to grow. Some varieties are much more tolerant to cool temperatures than others, making them suitable for transition climates that dont experience many hard freezes in the winter time. Your third row of sod will start with a full-length piece, and the fourth will begin with a half piece of sod. Centipede grass, also known as Eremochloa buse, is a medium-textured, low growing grass that produces a dense and weed-free turf. In a healthy plant with established roots, although the plant body may be wilting from lack of hydration, the roots are protected deep beneath the soil. Use a product containing the active ingredient sethoxydim to control annual grassy weeds, such as crabgrass, goosegrass, and sandspurs. Reviewed by Tara Dudley , Landscape Designer, Landscape Project Coordinator and Owner of Plant Life Designs. You can test it by simply sticking your finger between the grass blades and into the soil. Professional Grass Advice for the Perfect Lawn, All You Need to Know About Centipede Grass, Pennington Centipede Grass Seed and Mulch, Pennington TifBlair Centipede Grass Seed and Mulch, Pennington UltraGreen Crabgrass Preventer Plus Fertilizer III 30-0-4, Pennington UltraGreen Southern Weed & Feed 34-0-4, Pennington UltraGreen Lawn Fertilizer 30-0-4, Pennington UltraGreen Winterizer Plus Weed & Feed Fertilizer 22-0-14. Centipedegrass came to America from China in the early 1900s and is a light green, low maintenance, warm season grass. If it looks bare or scalped, reset it to the previous height. Contact the local County Extension office or the Home & Garden Information Center for weed identification and control measures. See HGIC 1209, Centipedegrass for additional information on care and cultivar selection. She has over 30 years of experience in gardening and sustainable farming. No matter how much TLC you give your lawn, chances are youll occasionally need to patch a sparse area. These roots implant in the soil and grow new base plants from which more stolons can spread from. Mixing seed with 2 gallons of fine sand per 1,000 square feet will aid in distribution. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. link to Who Makes The Most Reliable Lawn Mower Engines? Centipede grass is a warm-season turf grass, meaning the growing season begins in late spring and lasts throughout the summer before it goes mostly dormant for the winter. Although Centipede Grass is fairly tolerant of shade, it still does best with full sunlight exposure. Next, water the area, keeping it consistently moist but not sopping wet. Weed Control: A selective, annual grass or broadleaf weed control pre-emergent herbicide that is labeled for use on centipedegrass and applied during late winter and spring will reduce many weeds the following summer. The aesthetics of Centipede are usually considered less than that of Bermuda and Zoysia. Thats because previous varieties of Zoysia, such as Emerald and Meyer, are no longer sold. No. Additionally, fertilize the centipede lawn according to recent soil test recommendations. Alternatively, the lawn can be hand raked to remove the excessive dead leaf material from the lawn surface. Proper lawn care is important for the prevention and management of both diseases. For more information on mowing, refer to HGIC 1205, Mowing Lawns. This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named. We're here to help you learn, grow and enjoy an attractive, healthy lawn wherever you live. Plant after the last expected frost date in your area when the soil temperatures are 65 degrees and rising. (Check local soil temperatures here). The beginning of the growing season is called "green-up," as the grass grow bright green blades and the lawn starts growing. Pennington is a registered trademark of Pennington Seed, Inc. UltraGreen is a registered trademark of Central Garden & Pet Company. Cut your piece of sod in half and lay it down directly below the first piece, moving parallel with your straight edge. If the seed is coated with lime or materials such as a fungicide or wetting agent (which add to its weight), you may wish put down double the suggested rate for better coverage, says Waltz. Water the area heavily, allowing the ground beneath the sod to become soaked. A soil test will help determine if a fertilizer containing phosphorous is required for best growth of the turf. For the first two weeks after installation of sod, a grasss normal watering needs should be doubled. Laying sod during the spring and summer will give your centipede grass the warmth it needs to thrive in its new home: your lawn. In fact, St. Augustine grass is available only as sod (not seed). This is because the grass is not yet well established when the temperatures drop in the fall. The best time to start a centipedegrass lawn is late spring through early summer. As a warm-season grass, Centipede grass responds best when major lawn tasks coincide with its peak growth period in spring and early summer. After the sod is laid, you need to roll the area to deflate any air bubbles that may be underneath the sod but above the soil. Spraying with liquid iron (ferrous sulfate) at 2 ounces in 3 to 5 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet or applying a chelated iron product will help to enhance turf color. (Munro) Hack. Spriggers Choice manufactures a full line of sprigging equipment used to plant sod farms, athletic fields, golf courses, road sides or anywhere turf is needed. For more information on aerification, refer to HGIC 1200, Aerating Lawns and HGIC 1226, Turfgrass Cultivation. For more information, refer to HGIC 1204, Lawn Renovation. One final note: If you find yourself repairing the same areas year after year, such as where the dog runs along the fence or you step off the deck onto the grass, maybe its time to rethink things. It requires little fertilizer, infrequent mowing, and will tolerate moderate shade. If a pre-emergent herbicide was not applied in the spring, the resulting weeds will need to be controlled using post-emergent herbicides. Centipede Grass has moderate shade tolerance. These areas can arise on the crest or troughs of hills, at the base of trees, and near gutter drains. Centipedegrass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides) is a slow-growing, coarse-textured, warm-season turf that is adapted for use in low maintenance situations. After a cold winter, you may notice dead patches in your grass. It's a slow-growing sod that needs deep watering for strong roots. However, in order for centipedegrass to grow well, it needs at least 6 hours of full sun. Check to see if water has penetrated to the roots by lifting up a corner to check the bare soil, then adjust watering accordingly, says Waltz. If . The rate will depend on soil type. However, an early spring warm-up can lead to significant mole cricket activity. Apply 1 pound of potash (K2O) per 1,000 square feet 4 to 6 weeks before the first expected frost by using 1.6 pounds of muriate of potash (0-0-60) or 2 pounds of potassium sulfate (0-0-50) per 1000 square feet. Apply any time before soil temperatures hit 55 degrees Fahrenheit and crabgrass starts germinating. There are special fungicides available to treat large patch, but it is crucial to apply them in the fall when temperatures are below 70 degrees F. Established older turf can be affected by centipede grass decline. Recovers from stress rapidly once normal conditions return and Owner of plant Life Designs phosphorous is for... Up the piece of sod will need some time to grow well, it needs least... 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Turfgrass Cultivation nighttime temperatures fall below 70 F, raise the mower blade to... Sensitive to certain herbicides centipede grass sod such as Emerald and Meyer, are no longer sold to recent soil recommendations! Pay $ 200 to $ 500 than the grass is available only sod... Requires little fertilizer, infrequent mowing, and the fourth will begin with full-length! Considered a low-maintenance warm season grass and can be an alternative to or... Directions for reduced rates and use weed Killer on these patches centipedegrass lawn is late spring through early summer the. First piece, and sandspurs for best growth of the area, keeping it consistently moist but not sopping..