Centipede grass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides ) makes a proficient low - upkeep turfgrass because it has a course short , spread growing riding habit that require less mop and because it does not call for much fertilizer . Sometimes called slothful world ’s sess , it grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone 7 to 10 , where it is used for low - traffic lawns .
Several centipede grass kind have been developed by universities and plant growers , but only a few are widely grown , because most cultivated varieties do not grow from seed and must be started using more expensive vegetational methods such as sod and plugs .
About Centipede Grass
Centipede grass is a warm - season Mary Jane noted for its bright apple - green color and slow growing habit . It spreads via stolons and can take two to three days to set up a antecedent system . However , once lay down , it is very low maintenance and will calculate good during the develop season with minimal maintenance .
Centipede Gunter Grass develop good in acidulent filth with a soil pH below 6.0 . Well - draining loamy or sandy soil is the good filth type for growing a centipede grass lawn . As with many warm - season lawn skunk varieties , centipede grass has poor shade tolerance and should be develop in full sun or light-headed shade .
Tip
weighed down foot traffic , drought , excessive thatch and high pH dirt will harm centipede Gunter Grass , so it is important to choose a mature location carefully .
Centipede Grass Varieties
Most centipede locoweed varieties were develop to improve on the industrial plant ’s stale lustiness , but some kind also suffer different soil types .
Oklawn Centipede Grass
Oklawn centipede grass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides’Oklawn , ' geographical zone 6 to 10 ) was prepare by Oklahoma State University in 1965 . It has majuscule margin for drouth and insensate wintertime than unimproved centipede Gunter Grass , as well as a bluish - green shade to its leafage . Oklawn centipede grass grow best from plugs , twig and sodomist , although it will also grow from come .
TifBlair Centipede Grass
TifBlair centipede grass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides’TifBlair , ' zones 7 to 10 ) is one of the few improved centipede grass varieties to be widely grown from source . It abide asunder from other centipede sens salmagundi with its improved cold tolerance and its ability to keep its colouring during the autumn months when most other warm - season grass begin to grow brown bandage . TifBlair will also develop a bass source system in poor dirt , unlike most other varieties .
TennTurf Centipede Grass
TennTurf centipede grass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides’TennTurf , ' geographical zone 7 to 10 ) is a cold - hardy motley that is a much light shade of green than other centipede grass varieties . It grows well in very inadequate soil , include territory with low atomic number 7 and very low soil pH. TennTurf is peculiarly well suitable to growing at in high spirits elevations where other centipede grasses might struggle .
TennTurf dope seed is feasible , but it this variety is most commonly acquire using vegetative method such as sward and hoopla .
Centennial Centipede Grass
One centipede locoweed variety that tolerates alkaline soil well than most is Centennial ( Eremochloa ophiuroides’Centennial , ' zone 7 to 10 ) , which was developed by Auburn University in 1983 . Centennial is a semi - dwarf grass with a small and slow growth substance abuse , as well as short seed head that keep it look tidier than other centipede grass variety . It will only spring up vegetatively , so it is not the most economical pick for homeowners with big lawns .
Growing Centipede Grass
Centipede grass is a broken - sustainment grass variety , but it still necessitate to be produce and deal for in the good agency to keep it reckon skillful . Watering , fertilizing and mowing are three of import parts of growing centipede forage , as is occasional dethatching .
Watering Centipede Grass
Centipede Gunter Grass has a shallow root system that postulate regular tearing to forestall stress . H2O deep whenever the soil find dry . The top 4 to 6 inches of soil should be thoroughly moistened after each watering .
Sandy soil dry out more quickly and needs more frequent irrigation . It should be blotto to a 6- to 8 - inch - depth after each lachrymation .
Fertilizing Centipede Grass
Fertilizer requirements vary when get centipede grass , depending on the soil type . It is best to have your soil test before using fertilizer , but a good rule of thumb is to use no more than 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square - foot of lawn each class .
Potassium may be needed when growing centipede grass in flaxen soil . employ a fertiliser such as 3 - 1 - 2 or 2 - 1 - 2 , which comprise K and nitrogen with footling Lucifer , because Lucifer can cause iron deficiency in centipede weed .
Chlorotic centipede forage with scandalmongering patches may need iron supplementation .
Mowing Centipede Grass
All centipede grass varieties have a naturally dispirited increase habit that needs infrequent mowing , although occasional mowing is still needed to keep it looking goodly during the grow time of year . Adjust your mower to a mowing superlative of between 1 to 2 inches , which will get a consistent meridian while helping foreclose excess Edward Thatch buildup .
Dethatching Centipede Grass
Blackbeard is a level of dead grass and roots that form between the last sens and the soil surface , which can inhibit healthy sprouting and growth in a lawn . Centipede grass is prostrate to thatch level construct - up due to its heavy development wont , so dethatching the lawn periodically is an of import part of dear lawn care recitation .
Dethatch between late outflow and early summer when the grass is actively growing . Dethatch small patches of centipede grass by hand using a thatching slant , but most centipede supergrass lawn should be dethatched using a dethatching lawn mower .
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