A slow-release fertilizer is also recommended because it will reduce the chances of over-fertilization. The ideal soil pH for centipede grass is 5. A soil pH of 6. You can apply sulfur to lower alkalinity and provide better soil conditions for centipede grass. It can take some time for soil changes to occur, so you may have to be patient if you need a large adjustment. Fertilizer calculations are especially important during the early stages of centipede grass growth.
The size of your lawn and the current soil pH are also important factors in these calculations. It can be a difficult task to achieve the proper balance without ample experience in lawn care.
Growing a centipede grass lawn takes time. The grass will grow slowly over the first year or two, but if you remain patient and ensure that the soil maintains the proper pH for centipede grass, the grass will spread quickly by the third year. Seeding should be done during the months of April to July when the weather is warm enough for the seeds to germinate. Germination can take two to four weeks under ideal conditions. There can be some difficulty establishing a centipede grass lawn, but the results are well worth it.
Many homeowners opt for the services of a professional lawn care company because of the initial preparation of the soil and maintenance required to encourage the healthy growth of centipede grass. Lawn care specialists will make sure that your soil and lawn receive the proper treatments and care throughout the seasons, saving you a great deal of time, effort and money.
Purchasing all the fertilizer, lawn care products and equipment yourself can quickly add up to a significant cost, whereas these materials are often included in the cost of a lawn care service plan. There are several factors that will contribute to the cost of professional lawn care services.
These include:. The reviews team has conducted thorough research of professional lawn care companies to determine the best option for homeowners. Based on service plan offerings, lawn care and maintenance costs, customer reviews and more, the team has selected TruGreen as the top choice. TruGreen offers five service plans that include lawn treatments such as lawn fertilizing, soil aeration, weed control and more:.
Use a plugger with a two-inch depth ring to create holes six inches apart in the bare ground. Take plugs out of your three-week-old centipede grass sod. Take the plugs three inches apart. This allows you to cover an area twice the size of your sod with plugs. Gently transport your plugs and plant them in the holes you made earlier.
Fill up the holes in your sod with soil mix. Water the new grass as you watered the new sod before. How to make centipede grass spread Centipede grass spreads through stolons, which are above-ground runners or stems that sprout new blades and roots. Centipede grass maintenance Here are some tips on maintaining centipede grass. Mowing Set your mower to 1 to 1.
If you cut off one third or less of the length of the grass, you can leave the clippings on the lawn. As they decompose, they will reintroduce nutrients into your lawn. Use a sharp mower blade to avoid damaging the grass. Fertilizing There are several natural ways to fertilize your lawn, starting with using grass clippings from mowing. Leave them to decompose on top of your lawn, where they will reintroduce nutrients into the soil.
Cow, horse and chicken manure can also act as fertilizer. Blood meal, bone meal, and cottonseed meal are other good alternatives. Watering Water infrequently to encourage deep roots. Water the lawn only when it shows signs of drought stress: when leaves wilt, when footprints stay on the lawn or when the color shifts to a bluish hue. During the winter, water occasionally if conditions have been dry and windy. Aeration Aerate once per year with a core aerator at the start of the summer.
Dethatching Keeping fertilization to a minimum will help prevent excessive thatching. If you notice thatch an inch thick or more, break it up with a soft rake and remove it from your lawn.
Centipede grass pests and diseases While a centipede grass lawn requires lower maintenance, you do have to watch out for a few things: Brown patch: The Rhizoctonia solani fungus causes patches of brown and thin grass to spread throughout the lawn.
The effect intensifies in hot and rainy conditions. Reducing shade can go a long way in getting rid of Brown patch, as does making sure your fertilizer is nitrogen-rich. Dollar spot: The Sclerotinia homeocarpa fungus causes small brown patches about the size of sand dollars. Neem oil is a natural fungicide you can use to kill off the dollar spot. Fairy rings: Different types of fungi can cause dark brown crescents that start out small and grow to huge sizes. Wormwood is a plant that can kill nematodes naturally.
Tear up some wormwood leaves, till your dirt, place the leaves in the soil, and water to help get rid of nematodes the natural way. How and When to Water Your Lawn. Control weeds by mowing frequently at a 1. Going forward, in early spring a pre-emergent herbicide application will reduce summer weeds. Skip to main content. Hillary Thompson Jun 21, 5 min read.
To determine the amount of product required to apply 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1, square feet, divide by the first number on the fertilizer bag. This will give the number of pounds of product to apply to square feet of turf.
Irrigation: Water to prevent drought stress. Monitor the lawn on a regular basis to assess the need for irrigation. Wait to irrigate again when the lawn shows moisture stress. There are several ways to determine when the lawn needs watering. One way is to monitor the lawn daily. When the turf begins to dry, it will appear to have a bluish color. Another method is to walk across the lawn late in the evening. If the grass blades in the footprints rebound, there is plenty of moisture in the turf.
If the grass in the footprints do not rebound, then water the next morning. The irrigation interval will vary from site to site depending on the environmental conditions at that site and soil type. Localized dry spots or hot spots can be watered by hand as needed.
Insect Control: There are various insects that may attack centipedegrass during the summer months. Mole crickets, spittlebugs, grubs, ground pearls, as well as nematodes, can cause considerable damage. Each pest problem has its own management strategy and is usually handled with cultural and chemical controls. However, there can be exceptions. Mole cricket and grub eggs will usually hatch mid-summer.
An insecticide application targeted at the smaller nymphs is the most effective control even if damage has not yet occurred. If either of these insects was a problem early in the season, apply an insecticide in mid-July to control the younger immature insects. If an insect problem occurs, it is important to positively identify the problem and select the appropriate insecticide to apply.
Disease Control: The most common disease that affects centipedegrass during the growing season is large patch, formerly known as brown patch. Large patch is a fungal disease that is active during warm, humid spring and fall weather.
Since it is fueled by moisture, it is important use proper watering practices, as well as provide adequate drainage. If the turf does stay wet, circular yellow to brown areas may start to develop and slowly grow in size. Later, the center of the circle may start to re-green. In heavily infested turf, the rings may grow together and no longer appear circular.
If the turf at the edge of the dying area shows a smoky brown, rotted appearance, it will be necessary to apply a fungicide treatment. Overall, proper water management and thatch control are essential to curtail large patch problems.
Additionally, fertilize the centipede lawn according to recent soil test recommendations. 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. If a pre-emergent herbicide was not applied in the spring, the resulting weeds will need to be controlled using post-emergent herbicides.
Use a product containing the active ingredient sethoxydim to control annual grassy weeds, such as crabgrass, goosegrass, and sandspurs. Sedges, or nut grass, are controlled by using a product containing the active ingredient imazaquin. 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.
Centipedegrass is sensitive to certain herbicides, such as 2,4-D, so follow label directions and use with caution. Always apply herbicides to turfgrass and weeds that are actively growing and are not suffering from drought or heat stress.
Do not apply herbicides unless turfgrass and weeds are actively growing and are not suffering from drought or heat stress. Use herbicides with caution while the turf is emerging from winter dormancy as well. Do not mow the lawn 3 days prior or 2 days after application. As with all pest control, proper weed identification is essential. Mixing seed with 2 gallons of fine sand per 1, square feet will aid in distribution.
Germination is expected in 28 days and establishment is slow. To ensure good germination, keep the seedbed moist with light, frequent sprinklings several times a day. It is not uncommon for it to take three years for a new lawn from seed to become uniform and dense.
Mowing: Continue to mow the centipedegrass lawn at the normal mowing height until the weather starts to cool in the fall. This will allow the turf to become acclimated by the time the first frost occurs.
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