Eremochloa ophiuroides, or centipedegrass, is a warm season lawngrass. It is a thick sod forming grass that spreads by stolons, and is medium to light green colored. It has a coarse texture with short upright seedhead stems that grow to about 3-5 inches. Centipedegrass seed is native to southern China and was introduced to the United States in 1916.^[1] It has since become one of the common grasses in the southeastern states and Hawai'i. Centipedegrass can also be considered a weed.^[2]

Centipede grass was introduced in the United States in 1916 and became a popular low-maintenance grass. It has several varieties, each designed to overcome the disadvantages of the other grass species. What are its variants? TifBlair Centipede Grass. This type of centipede grass was created from the seeds of the common centipede grass in. Centipedegrass, Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack, is a coarse-textured perennial grass that spreads by stolons. The stolons have a creeping growth habit with rather short upright stems that resemble a centipede - thus, the name centipedegrass. Centipedegrass produces seed and is readily propagated by seed.

Cultivation[edit]

Centipedegrass is a low maintenance grass.^[3] It requires infrequent mowing.^[4] Centipedegrass has medium shade tolerance and limited traffic tolerance.^[1]

It is shallow rooted^[3] and has poor drought tolerance.^[1] Centipedegrass survives in mild climates without several hard freezes. With light freezes it will turn brown but recover and re-green as the temperature rises. It does well in sandy and acidic soils.^[3] Centipede grass has low fertilization requirements.

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abchttp://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/TM-14.pdf
2. ^'Weeds Identification App'. weedid.cals.vt.edu.
3. ^ ^abc'Turfgrass SoilCrop.tamu.edu'. soilcrop.tamu.edu.
4. ^http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-6120.pdf

External links[edit]

• Centipede Lawns - The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences

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Centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9. This grass grows natively in Southeast Asia and is also known as Chinese grass and China grass. It reaches heights of 1 to 3 inches. Leaves grow in a blade shape in tight clusters.

Centipede grass is easy to maintain, and gardeners prefer it in the Southern U.S. It has a high heat tolerance and should be cut at 3 inches. Centipede grass grows in soil with pH 5 to 6.5, favors full sun and has a lighter color than most other kinds of turf.

Centipede Grass Problems

One of the most common centipede grass problems is that it grows slowly. Centipede grass decline is another common problem that landscapers face. This occurs when the grass does not get greener in the spring and dies back during the spring or summer.

Proper management can prevent centipede grass decline from occurring. It can be caused by lack of nutrition or lack of water. Ways to manage it include keeping the grass mowed to 1 to 1 1/2 inches, irrigating during droughts and maintaining soil fertility.

Overfertilization is another common problem. An ideal fertilization schedule is either 1/3 of a pound per 1,000 square feet three times a year, or 1/4 of a pound per 1,000 square feet four times a year. A nitrogen fertilizer can be applied in June and then a potassium fertilizer in August. Centipede grass does not tolerate heavy foot traffic or too much shade, but it can tolerate partial shade.

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What Is the Best Centipede Grass Fertilizer?

When the pH of the soil goes above 6.0, iron availability declines. If the grass has an iron deficiency, the color becomes more yellow, and iron needs to be applied every two to four weeks. It is possible to lower the pH by adding sulfur to the soil. For yellowing of the leaves, apply ferrous sulfate with 1 tablespoon per 3 gallons of water applied to 1,000 square feet of grass.

The ideal centipede grass fertilizer depends on the soil and any amendments you are using. Test the soil to see if it needs any lime or phosphorus additions. One pound of nitrogen fertilizer is more than enough per 1,000 square feet.

Applying excessive nitrogen turns the grass darker. Also, applying too much nitrogen causes thatching and some diseases. Remove thatches with a small rake. Centipede grass fertilizer should not be applied too early in the spring. Wait until the soil temperatures rise to about 65 degrees Fahrenheit at a depth of 4 inches.

Best Grass to Mix with Centipede

Improve the look of a centipede grass lawn by seeding with another type of grass. For growth problems due to shade, St. Augustine (Stenotaphrum secundatum) grass is a good choice to plant with it.

The best grass to mix with centipede, to avoid disease issues, is Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon). Purchase quality grass seed for the best results. Check to make sure the germination rate is greater than 85 percent. Also, check to see that it has less than 5 percent inert matter and .5 percent of any other crop.

Before overseeding, mow the grass short. Bermuda is a warm-season grass, and overseeding it before the cooler months helps it to stay green. The ideal time would be in October or November. Mowing and fertilizing typically does not need to be done in the cooler months.

How to Make Centipede Grass Thicker

Walkways or steppingstones can be installed so that the grass is not damaged by foot traffic. Any compacted areas need to be top-dressed and aerated. Another tip is to not mix trees and grass; they compete for nutrients, which causes the grass to be thinner.

About the Author

Megan is a published writer and gardening enthusiast. She is certified in Tropical Agriculture Development, and enjoys learning about ecology.

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