Centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) is an excellent choice for homeowners in the Southeast who seek a heat-tolerant, low-maintenance lawn. Also known as centipedegrass or even “lazy man’s grass,” it spreads by stolons, which are horizontal stems growing parallel to and just above the ground, rooting and sprouting as they grow. The slow-growing grass tolerates the region’s sandy or acidic soils well and thrives in the humidity and frequent rainfall of the Gulf Coast area. Unlike warm-season grasses, Zoysia and Bermuda grass, centipede grass does not have a true winter dormancy. In very mild winter climates, it remains green all year long.
Get to know hardy, carefree centipede grass.
What does centipede grass look like?
Before you consider planting an entire lawn of centipede grass, you’re probably wondering what centipede grass looks like. Centipede grass identification typically focuses on the relatively short, narrow leaf blades with pointed tips and a distinct sharp crease down the center. These leaves have a medium to coarse texture with a bright to medium green color. Slender seed heads rise just above the grass blades, producing tiny white blooms. Once established, a centipede grass forms a dense, thick lawn that effectively crowds out weeds. It maintains a uniform texture with infrequent mowing.
Watering Centipede Grass
Centipede grass requires just one-half to one inch of water weekly. If your climate has plentiful rainfall, water only if you see the grass is thirsty. Wait to see the lawn wilt, turn a grayish green, or the grass blade roll. Follow Lawn Pride®️’s watering tips for a healthy lawn.
Mowing Centipede Grass
Mow centipede grass to a height of one and a half to two inches. However, during the high heat of summer or the depths of winter, raise this mowing height ¼ to ½ inch. When you maintain a centipede lawn at this height, there is no need to catch or rake grass clippings, and the lawn won’t require dethatching.
Fertilizing Centipede Grass
A centipede grass lawn typically requires one to two pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in the late winter or early spring before the soil temperatures warm to 55°. A good centipede grass fertilizer is low in phosphorus, such as one that is 15-0-15. To apply one to two pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, you need approximately 6.67 to 13.34 pounds of a 15-0-15 fertilizer. This ensures the grass receives adequate nitrogen without excess phosphorus, which can harm centipede grass.
Common Issues with Centipede Grass
Centipede grass is popular for its low maintenance requirements in a challenging region. However, just like all turf grasses, its beauty and health can be compromised by various issues:
- Nutrient Deficiencies:
- Iron deficiency causes yellowing leaves while the veins remain green.
- Potassium deficiency leaves the grass weakened and more susceptible to disease and cold damage.
- Diseases:
- Brown Patch is a fungal disease that causes circular patches of dead or dying grass.
- Dollar Spot occurs in moist, cool conditions, with small, silver dollar-sized spots of tan grass.
- Centipede grass is particularly susceptible to Large Patch (formerly known as Brown Patch), which occurs during cool, wet weather in spring or fall.
- Pest Infestations:
- Nematodes are microscopic worms that attack the roots, resulting in stunted, unhealthy grass.
- Chinch bugs suck the sap from centipede grass blades, causing yellowing or browning grass.
- Mole crickets tunnel through the soil, uprooting the grass.
- Weed Competition: Because a centipede lawn grows so slowly, weed control is necessary to prevent aggressive varieties from taking over the lawn.
- Herbicide Sensitivity: Centipede grass is unusually sensitive to broadleaf weed herbicides.
- pH Sensitivity: Centipede grass prefers slightly acidic soil between pH 5.0 to 6.0. If the soil pH is too high or too low, the grass cannot effectively absorb nutrients, leading to poor growth and increased disease susceptibility.
- Thatch: Although a healthy centipede lawn produces little thatch, overwatering or over-fertilizing leads to excessive thatch, which harbors pests and disease.
While this list may make it seem like centipede grass has a lot of problems, note that each is the result of poor lawn maintenance. Following good, basic lawn care practices will keep your centipede lawn looking lush and green. Is a centipede lawn the right choice for you? If you’re unsure, feel free to contact Lawn Pride for some advice.
Lawn Pride’s Centipede Grass Care Services
The grass experts at Lawn Pride are happy to share their expert lawn tips with homeowners nationwide. But sometimes, you don’t want advice — you want our professional, comprehensive lawn care services to handle the chores while you sit back and collect the compliments. That’s a fair deal! Trust the Lawn Pride grass pros to make your centipede grass lawn the pride of the neighborhood. Our proven 7-Step Lawn Application takes all the work and guesswork out of enjoying a lush and beautiful lawn.
You can count on our services because the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ backs everything we do.
When you’re ready to enjoy a beautiful, healthy lawn without the work, just request your free quote. Getting started is that easy!
This article is intended for general guidance only and may not apply to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Lawn Pride is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Lawn Pride for more information and a professional on-site assessment.