If you had grown your lawn from seed, youd need to avoid treading on it for at least three months. Arricca Elin SanSone is a lifestyle and garden writer whose work has appeared in many national publications including Prevention, Country Living, Veranda, The Spruce, PureWow, and others. It is often referred to as "lazy man's grass" due to its infrequent mowing and fertilization requirements. The thick growth of this grass limits weeds. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. Read our. Louisiana Nursery does offer sod cuts (when inventory shock permits), but I have only seen centipede grass seeds in our store so far. Site history. Then pat it down or use a lawn roller to firm it up enough so that you can walk across it and barely leave footprints, says Waltz. For more information on mowing, refer to HGIC 1205, Mowing Lawns. Purchasing sod does come with a larger price tag than grass seeds. Germination is expected in 28 days and establishment is slow. This is because the grass is not yet well established when the temperatures drop in the fall. Fertilization A soil probe can be used to monitor the soil moisture. Every day for the first week after installation, you need to water your new lawn. It's very low maintenance and also heat tolerant. Mowing: Continue to mow the centipedegrass lawn at the normal mowing height until the weather starts to cool in the fall. For local businesses, you may find that they price match these large stores. Cut the sod to fit with a garden knife, then use a lawn roller on top to ensure the sod has even contact with the soil. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Centipede grass is not the best choice for backyards with lots of activity because it does not withstand high foot traffic well. If you dont stagger the seams, the water you apply to the fresh sod will easily run down the seams, creating gaps. This moisture will prevent the exposed roots from drying out, causing the plant to die. That means youll spread about one pound of seed per 1000 square feet. Used as a warm season lawn grass, it forms thick sods and spreads by stolons. Weed Control: Many winter annual grassy and broadleaf weeds can be managed by applying a pre-emergent herbicide in September with a second application 8 to 10 weeks later. When starting with plugs, plant each one 1 foot apart. In fact, St. Augustine grass is available only as sod (not seed). The first watering should occur immediately after the sod is laid. Another method is to walk across the lawn late in the evening. Do not use a power rake with a 1-inch blade spacing, as severe turf injury may result. Make this last fertilizer application before August 15 in the Upstate and before September 1 along the coast. It has wider blades than Zoysia which gives it a more coarse texture than Zoysia grass. Duble, R.L., "Centipedegrass," Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Allow it to anchor itself into the soil before a heavy rain comes along. Consider dethatching centipedegrass when the thatch layer is greater than inch. For more information, see HGIC 2150, Brown Patch & Large Patch Diseases of Lawns. The first step when laying grass sod is to till the soil and add in organic material and a nitrogen rich fertilizer while you are tilling. However, as the soil temperatures start to climb, the yellowing should slowly go away. These price differences can be explained by different varieties of centipede grass. Centipede grass is native to China and Southeast Asia, but it's been in the U.S. since seeds were introduced here in 1916.1 Centipede is what's known as a warm-season grass. However, in order for centipedegrass to grow well, it needs at least 6 hours of full sun. See HGIC 1652, Soil Testing for instructions on how to properly do a soil test. Alternatively, the lawn can be hand raked to remove the excessive dead leaf material from the lawn surface. If new turfgrass growth is encouraged by fertilization during the early spring, and it is followed by a late frost, this can result in significant damage to the lawn. Centipedegrass came to America from China in the early 1900s and is a light green, low maintenance, warm season grass. Centipede grass spreads on runners so, it becomes easy to control than more aggressive grasses. Water Centipede lawns as needed to keep grass from becoming stressed. For 500 square feet of sod, you can expect to pay $200 to $500. These areas can arise on the crest or troughs of hills, at the base of trees, and near gutter drains. You want your next row to begin directly under the first, still perpendicular to the line, but you want your seams to be staggered. Do not allow the lawn to stay excessively wet if the lawn has a clay soil. Centipede grass is a warm season grass, so implanting and growing the seeds must occur in late spring or early summer. Saline soils are not suitable for centipede grass. Centipede grass is generally low-maintenance and easy-going, but there are a few common issues to look out for. Meanwhile, Bermuda grass and Centipede grass are cheaper, typically starting from $136 per 450-square-foot pallet. If the bag is picking up soil, especially sand, when the lawn is mowed, then the blade may need to be sharpened more often than once a month. It has a 27-0-2 N-P-K, plus 10 percent sulfur and 5 percent iron to green up the grass in as few as 3 days. Lay your first piece of sod perpendicular to this straight line. Warm season grasses, such as centipede, can take up to three weeks to germinate and three more to take off. Plant after the last expected frost date in your area when the soil temperatures are 65 degrees and rising. (Check local soil temperatures here). Sod laid in fall or winter months should be kept moist. Centipede grass is suited for areas with less than 40 inches of rainfall per year but in drought conditions, it can show signs of moisture stress, including wilting and discoloration. Controlled by. When the entire lawn appears dry, apply to 1 inch of water the next morning. The irrigation interval will vary from site to site depending on the environmental conditions at that site and soil type. It's a slow-growing sod that needs deep watering for strong roots. Sod Pods. If you dont feel like incurring another expense after purchasing all that sod, you can try another way. Sod contains grass roots as well as the rest of the plant. You should also factor in any natural precipitation. Sedges, or nut grass, are controlled by using a product containing the active ingredient imazaquin. Centipedegrass is a slow-growing perennial turgrass that is ideal for homeowners wanting a lawn that requires limited care and maintenance. After the three weeks is up, you can enjoy your lawn. Similarly, the soils of the American Southwest are too alkaline for healthy Centipede grass growth. Lawns in partial shade are better mowed at 2 inches high. The rate will depend on soil type. If . Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed. Compare $ 74 60. One way is to monitor the lawn daily. Winter desiccation can be a problem during dry winters. Then, lay a full length piece of sod to the side of your half piece. However, you save a lot of time in aftercare, and you can enjoy the fruits of your labor much sooner than seeding. The trials were mainly conducted under the approval of . 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. Once nighttime temperatures fall below 70 F, raise the mower blade height to approximately 2 inches to allow for more leaf surface. 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. Centipede grass sod costs anywhere from $0.35 to $0.90 per square foot. With TifBlair Centipede, you might say we're boldly taking a centipede grass cultivar to places it's never been beforethe cooler transition zone or USDA Growing Zone 7, to be exact. The general rule for turfgrass irrigation is to water deeply and infrequently. Water the sod, keeping it moist. An insecticide application targeted at the smaller nymphs is the most effective control even if damage has not yet occurred. Nadia Hassani is a a Penn State Master Gardener with nearly 20 years of experience in landscaping, garden design, and vegetable and fruit gardening. Then, John Deere lawn mowers are one of the best choices! This could save you a pretty penny if youre willing to wait for your lawn to grow in. If possible, use a mower with a bagger to collect the clippings and remove any dead material left from winter dormancy. Are you in search of the perfect lawn mower to bring your lawn from drab to fab? Click here for information on how to buy sod. Later, the center of the circle may start to re-green. Once the temperatures warm up in the spring, or if there is an extended warm spell during the winter, it bounces back to green. Hard freezes, however, especially if they occur repeatedly, can lead to injury, which manifests itself as patches of dead turf in the spring. It's not uncommon to find weeds in centipede grass. Centipede Grass Yearly Maintenance Program, Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life SciencesHome & Garden Information Center, The Plant Doctor - Large (Brown) Patch of Warm-Season Turfgrasses in Home Lawns, Mississippi State University Extension, Centipede Grass Decline, University of Georgia Extension. When starting with seed, make sure to prepare the soil well, breaking up any aggregates so the soil is fine. With seeds, youll be waiting about three months until you see a gorgeous yard. Dull mower blades rip rather than cut the grass and make the grass more susceptible to diseases. Water: 1" per week if no rainfall. Centipede grass sod can be purchased at any retailer that sells other varieties of sod. Before using any weed killer or fertilizer product, read the label thoroughly to ensure the product is safe for Centipede lawns. Wait to irrigate again when the lawn shows moisture stress. 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