Poor cold tolerance (easy damage in cold weather since it doesn’t go dormant),.With all of its attractive qualities, why wouldn’t you want to grow a Centipede grass lawn?īelow I’ll discuss some of the drawbacks of this type of grass, but to quickly summarize: As they grow, the stolons look like centipedes, so it was named after them. This grass has a shallow root system due to its lateral habit, and does not have good drought tolerance as a result.Ĭentipede grass stolons are visible because of its slow growth pattern. It gets its name from the stolons, or runners, that help it grow. Growth HabitĬentipede grass is a sod-forming grass that forms a thick carpet-like layer. In its preferred growing zone (the Southeastern US), this is rarely a risk. That said, since it grows slowly, consecutive years of extreme cold will kill it off with time. At this time your Centipede grass lawn will repair itself to an extent. You can expect it to bounce back quickly when the weather warms up. However, since it does not go fully dormant during the winter, it is a grass that may be harmed by colder weather. Under the proper conditions, centipede grass can remain green throughout the year. It’s a full sun grass, though it can tolerate a moderate amount of shade. Its low fertilizer requirements also make it suited to infertile soils with a sandy composition instead of rich loam or heavy clay. Centipede pH and Soil RequirementsĬentipede grass prefers acidic soils with a pH level between 4.5 and 6.5. Growing laterally by stolons (instead of rhizomes, which are underground runners) makes this grass easier to control and contain. I’m a big fan of grasses which spread laterally, because it allows your lawn to self-repair any damage or bare patches. It grows and spreads slowly with above ground stolons. Growing Centipede Grass in your YardĬentipede grass is a coarse textured grass with a lighter green color. It has even been found in certain areas along the west coast of Africa. You’ll see it used in lawns in Mexico, the West Indies, and in South and Central America. Within the following decades, centipede grass was established as a home lawn and has since become widespread through the southeastern United States – from the Carolinas, across Florida, and into the Texas Gulf Coast.Ĭentipede grass is also found throughout other subtropical, coastal areas. It was brought to the United States in 1916 by Frank N. It grows specifically in the warm, sub-tropical areas that also receive heavy rainfall in that part of the world. History of Centipede GrassĬentipede grass ( Eremochloa ophiuroides) is native to China and Southeast Asia. This is because it takes a long time to grow tall. It does not need to be mown often to maintain a clean lawn appearance. One of the best selling points in that regard is its slow growth habit. Centipede grass requires very little fertilizer to grow properly. If you don’t want to invest in regular fertilization and other maintenance routines, this could be the grass for you. This makes it a wonderful choice for busy professionals, and those who aren’t interested in toiling over their lawn on the weekends. Within the areas that support its growth, centipede grass grows like none other.
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