Centipede grass is possibly one of the easiest grasses to plant, maintain and fix if necessary. It’s particularly grown in southeast regions, but can be grown anywhere that temperatures are warm. However, it can have its nuances.
Keep it hydrated
Centipede grass may be a warm-season grass, capable of sustaining higher temperatures. However, this type of grass has short roots that require at least a weekly watering of about one inch in total. However, be careful not to over hydrate it, as this can drown the roots and potentially cause severe damage to your lawn.
Typically, centipede grass lawns should be watered earlier in the morning (before 10 a.m.).
Keep it fed
Centipede grass maintenance involves keeping it fed and creating an environment that it will thrive in. While you may not need to fertilize this warm-season grass as much as a grass needing to have a high tolerance against the cold, you still want to make sure it’s getting the nutrients it needs.
Depending on your location, your centipede lawn may need a fertilizer with a little more acid, since this type of grass enjoys a soil with a little more zing to it. Try keeping the soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 to ensure optimal growth.
Weed control
Weeds often creep into lawns with sparse patches where grass is missing or thin. This allows the weeds to spread and get stronger, eventually infiltrating your centipede grass lawn. You may opt to use herbicide specifically designed for weeds, that will not damage your grass. However, the most prevalent protection against weeds is to keep your grass dense and healthy.
Maintaining a centipede grass lawn isn’t as difficult as some other varieties of grasses available. Just be sure to keep it fed and properly hydrated with minimal foot traffic, and your centipede grass lawn will thrive season after season.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
