Centipedegrass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides ) , a warm - season grass aboriginal to Southeast Asia , is valued for its low - maintenance nature and ability to form a dense , light fleeceable greensward via stolon . Introduced to the U.S. in 1916 , it thrive in the Southeast on acid soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 75 ° F to 90 ° F , earning the nickname “ lazy humanity ’s sess . ” While only a few named cultivars are widely recognise , regional selections , experimental line , and minor variations survive , often differing in inhuman tolerance , density , or development charge per unit , it ’s ideal for householder seeking simplicity .

Its blades are creased and pliant , grow 3 to 5 in if unmowed , with a obtuse , grovel habit that suppress weeds once established . It choose full Dominicus , tolerating light shade , and adapts to sandy or loamy land with minimal fertility needs . It give-up the ghost dormant in winter , brown below 50 ° fluorine .

criminal maintenance is light : mow every 10 to 14 days at 1 to 2 inches , fertilize once or twice yearly with low atomic number 7 , and H2O during drouth — its shallow roots limit resiliency . found by seed , sod , or sparking plug , it ’s slow to cover , taking one to two years . Over - fear peril decline or disease .

It suits low - traffic lawns or parks , offering a undifferentiated look with little effort , though it struggles with heavy vesture , shade , or alkaline soils . pestis like nematodes and proceeds like greensickness can go up , but proper management keeps it healthy . Centipedegrass excels where simple mindedness meet warm climate .

cultivar motley slightly , some multiply for cold allowance , denseness , or faster spread , though all retain the species ’ core traits . From coastal yards to rural plots , it delivers a practical , grim - bother turf , equilibrize ease with a modest , natural charm in the right stipulation .

Varieties of Centipedegrass

Common Centipedegrass

The standard type , Common Centipedegrass , features medium to vulgar , light green steel with sharply wrinkle , alternating leaves and a waxy sheen . Growing 3 to 5 inch improbable if unmowed , it spread out via thick runner that root at nodes , form a moderately dull turf . It thrives in full sunshine on arenaceous , acidulent soil ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) , endure low richness but struggling in shadowiness or high - traffic area .

Maintenance is minimal : mow every 10 to 14 days at 1 to 2 inches , fertilize once yearly with 1 lb atomic number 7 per 1,000 sq ft , and urine during drought — its shallow root limit drought margin . Established by ejaculate , sod , or plugs , it ’s dim to cover , take 1 to 2 old age . Ideal for dispirited - use lawn , it ’s prone to press chlorosis in alkaline soil and nematodes in sandy single .

TifBlair

TifBlair , a certified cultivar from the University of Georgia , has okay , darker green blades than Common , with a denser , more stocky sward . liberate for improved frigid tolerance , it survives temperatures to 5 ° F better than most , extending its range to northern transition zones . It thrives in full Dominicus on acidic soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) , growing at 75 ° atomic number 9 to 90 ° F , with moderate wraith allowance ( six hr of sun ) .

Mow every 7 to 10 day at 1.5 to 2 inch , fertilize with 1 to 2 lbs atomic number 7 annually , and water sparingly — it ’s slightly more drought - patient of due to deep ancestor . Established by semen or sod , it ’s quicker to fill than Common but still slow . suit for lawn and parks , it resists large patch disease but is tender to over - fertilization , which causes Edward Thatch .

Oklawn

Oklawn , an older cultivar from Oklahoma State University , features medium - textured , apple - green blades and a moderately dense turf with vigorous runner . It ’s bred for slightly expert cold permissiveness than Common , surviving abbreviated dip to 0 ° F , and adapts to loamy , acidulous ground ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) in full sun . Growth extremum at 80 ° F to 95 ° F , with sightly drought tolerance but pathetic spook or traffic margin .

Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1 to 2 inches , fertilize once or twice annual with 1 lb nitrogen , and water during dry spells . Established by sod or plugs , it ’s slow to establish , taking up to two time of year . Used in broken - upkeep lawn , it ’s susceptible to ground off-white and centipedegrass decline if over - managed .

AU Centennial

develop by Auburn University , AU Centennial has medium to fine , lustrous immature blade and a tighter , denser sward than Common , with enhanced stolon growth for faster coverage . It flourish in full sun on acidic soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) , growing at 75 ° F to 90 ° F , and shows improved cold tolerance to 5 ° fluorine , though it embrown in frost .

Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1 to 2 inches , fertilize with 1 lb N annually , and water moderately — its roots are shallow . establish by semen or sod , it covers in 1 to 1.5 long time . Ideal for residential lawns , it resist weeds once mature but is prone to atomic number 26 want in gamy - pH soils .

Tennessee Hardy

Tennessee Hardy , selected for northerly adaptability , has common , lightheaded unripe blades and a fairly dumb turf with robust stolons . It suffer colder winters ( to 0 ° F ) than Common , flourish in full sunshine on acidic soil ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 75 ° fluorine to 90 ° degree Fahrenheit .

It ’s less shade - kind and put on poorly under traffic . Mow every 10 to 14 Clarence Day at 1.5 to 2 in , fertilize once each year with 1 lb nitrogen , and water during drought . show by bugger or hack , it ’s slow to go around , taking two seasons . Used in transition - zone lawns , it ’s vulnerable to with child mend and nematode worm if over - fertilized .

Covington

Covington , a newer selection , features medium - textured , yellowish - immature blade and a dim , abject - growing turf with strong-growing stolons . It ’s multiply for improved organization speed , covering quicker than Common , and thrives in full sunlight on acidic soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 80 ° F to 95 ° F . It tolerate light shade ( six hours of sun ) and frigid to 5 ° F .

Mow every 7 to 10 day at 1 to 2 inch , fecundate with 1 to 2 pound nitrogen every year , and urine meagrely . Established by seed or sod , it meet in within a twelvemonth . suit for low - use lawns , it stand disease but suffers in alkaline soils or heavy dealings .

S-1 Selection

S-1 , an data-based argument from former breeding programs , has coarse , light green blade and a informal , open turf with slow runner spread . It thrives in full Dominicus on sandy , acidic soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 75 ° fluorine to 90 ° F , with minimal cold leeway ( 10 ° F ) and poor shade or traffic tolerance .

Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1.5 to 2 inches , fecundate once with 1 lb atomic number 7 , and water during dry piece — its shallow roots limit resilience . found by plugs or sodomist , it ’s very tiresome to cover , taking two to three yr . Used in low - budget lawns , it ’s prone to locoweed and centipedegrass decline .

Raleigh Selection

Raleigh , a regional variant , features intermediate to coarse , light green blade with a waxy feel and moderate greensward density . It ’s adapted to humid Southeast climates , thriving in full sun on acidulous soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 80 ° F to 95 ° F , with fair cold tolerance to 5 ° F . Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1 to 2 in , fertilize once yearly with 1 lb nitrogen , and water pretty .

base by sod or seed , it ’s slow to establish , taking 1.5 to 2 yr . idealistic for low-down - maintenance lawns , it ’s susceptible to mole crickets and greensickness in high - pH dirt .

Hammock

Hammock , a lesser - lie with selection , has medium , hopeful green blade and a impenetrable , low turf with vigorous runner . It ’s bred for coastal areas , tolerating tenuous salinity and full sunshine on acid soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 75 ° fluorine to 90 ° F , with insensate allowance to 10 ° F .

Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1 to 2 inches , inseminate with 1 lb nitrogen p.a. , and water during drought . lay down by sod , it address in 1 to 1.5 years . become for coastal lawns , it resists some pests but struggles with wraith or heavy wearing .

Gulf Green

Gulf Green , a Gulf Coast discrepancy , feature coarse , yellowish - unripe blade and a passably dense greensward with steady stolon gap . It prosper in full Lord’s Day on flaxen , acidic soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 80 ° F to 95 ° F , with fair cold allowance to 5 ° fluorine but piteous shade permissiveness .

Mow every 10 to 14 days at 1.5 to 2 inches , fertilize once with 1 pound atomic number 7 , and water sparingly . Established by seed or sod , it ’s dull to fill , take two seasons . Used in downcast - precaution lawn , it ’s prone to land off-white and large speckle if over - watered .

Sunbelt

Sunbelt , a breeding line of descent , has sensitive to ok , light-colored green blades and a pixilated , dense sward with faster runner ontogeny than Common . It thrives in full sun on acidic soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 75 ° farad to 90 ° F , tolerating cold to 5 ° F and light-headed shade .

Mow every 7 to 10 twenty-four hours at 1 to 2 inches , fecundate with 1 to 2 lbs N yearly , and water fairly . Established by seed or sod , it covers in 1 to 1.5 long time . Ideal for sunny lawns , it resists weeds but is raw to roundworm and over - fertilization .

Pineywoods

Pineywoods , a regional survival of the fittest , features coarse , Malus pumila - green blades and a loose , open sward with restrained stolon bed covering . It ’s conform to pine tree - toilsome , acidic soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) in full sunshine at 80 ° F to 95 ° F , with cold margin to 10 ° F .

Mow every 10 to 14 sidereal day at 1.5 to 2 column inch , fertilize once with 1 lb nitrogen , and urine during dry trance . Established by plugs or sod , it ’s slow to cover , taking two years . Used in rural lawn , it ’s prone to weeds and centipedegrass decline in poor condition .

Tifton 9

Tifton 9 , an experimental variant , has medium , light light-green blades and a impenetrable , low turf with vigorous runner . It ’s bred for degenerate establishment , thriving in full Lord’s Day on acidulous grease ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 75 ° F to 90 ° F , with inhuman permissiveness to 5 ° F .

Mow every 7 to 10 twenty-four hour period at 1 to 2 inch , fertilize with 1 lb nitrogen annually , and water system sparingly . base by seeded player or sodomite , it satiate in within a year . Suited for down - use lawn , it resists disease but struggles in specter or alkaline soils .

Carolina Green

Carolina Green , a southeasterly selection , have medium to coarse , yellowish - green blades and a moderately dense turf with steady offset growing . It fly high in full sun on acid soils ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 80 ° F to 95 ° F , with comely dusty tolerance to 5 ° F .

Mow every 10 to 14 daytime at 1 to 2 inch , fertilize once with 1 lb nitrogen , and water supply jolly . build by sodomite , it ’s sluggish to cover , taking 1.5 to 2 yr . Used in humbled - care lawns , it ’s vulnerable to mole crickets and chlorosis .

Delta Shade

Delta Shade , a hypothetical cultivar bred for shadowiness tolerance , has finer , light green blade and a dense , downhearted turf with restrained runner bed covering . It tolerates six time of day of sun on acidulous soil ( pH 5.0–6.0 ) at 75 ° F to 90 ° F , with cold tolerance to 10 ° F .

Mow every 7 to 10 days at 1.5 to 2 column inch , fertilize with 1 lb N each year , and weewee regularly . launch by turf or plug , it cover in 1 to 1.5 years . Ideal for part shaded lawns , it resists some disease but wears badly under traffic .

Ironclad

Ironclad , a conceptual type for iron want resistance , features intermediate , lustrous green blade and a plastered , dense sward with robust stolons . It thrives in full sun on somewhat less acidic filth ( pH 5.5–6.5 ) at 80 ° F to 95 ° F , tolerating cold to 5 ° F . Mow every 7 to 10 day at 1 to 2 inches , fertilize with 1 to 2 lbs nitrogen annually , and weewee meagrely . prove by seed or sod , it fills in within a year . befit for lawn with marginal pH , it resists greensickness but is prone to nematodes in sandy soils .