Residents of the American southeast who are looking for a low-maintenance, heat-tolerant grass should consider centipede grass for their residential or commercial lawn needs. Unlike many other grass options, centipede actually prefers the sandy, acidic soul that’s common in the southeast region.
If you live anywhere from the Carolinas to the gulf coast of Texas, this is a fantastic choice for your climate. This list can help you process of laying the sod, growing, and maintenance process.
Review these 6 steps before laying sod for your centipede grass lawn:
Step 1: Prepare the Soil
The good news is that if you’re laying sod, you’ve chosen the quickest and least work-intensive way to get your centipede grass lawn set and growing. However, there are still a few preparations that must be done in order to ensure a healthy lawn.
First, till the soil and add in organic matter (such as compost or fertilizer), while making sure there is a nitrogen-rich base before your strips of sod go down. The best Centipede grass fertilizers are high in Nitrogen and Potassium. It is also beneficial to roll the area as well to create a flat surface that’s ideal for planting.
Step 2: Lay the Sod (Properly)
Though it might seem unnecessary, laying sod the correct way involves more than just throwing your strips on the ground and lining them up. In fact, if you want to achieve the best results, you should be laying the sod in such a way that the edges touch, but the ends are staggered. If the ends line up perfectly (which you don’t want), you risk creating thin lines in your lawn along the border of the strips once your grass begins to grow.
Once you’ve laid your strips of sod in a staggered fashion, roll it down and water it thoroughly. If your sod included staples to help you attach the sod to the soil, this should help you during this stage of the process.
Step 3: Adequately Water Your New Lawn
In the initial stages of growing centipede grass – specifically the first three or four weeks after laying the sod – you’re going to want to be very conscientious about watering. You shouldn’t water to the point where there is standing liquid under your feet, but make sure that the ground is near the point of saturation.
Warmer climates, as you’d likely expect, will require a bit more water than temperate climates. This can also depend on the time of the year when the lawn is planted.
Step 4: Get Familiar with the Maintenance Routine
If you’ve chosen centipede grass for your lawn and have properly laid the sod and taken good care of it early in the growing process, minimal maintenance should be required in the future. However, basic lawn care must be followed in order to keep your lawn strong, green, and healthy.
Most Experts recommend fertilizing only twice each year, in the spring and then again in the fall. This is the ideal amount for centipede grass and if this schedule is followed, you won’t have to worry about dealing with a malnourished lawn. Watering is also required, but it should be done mostly during times of drought, as it’s not necessary to water centipede grass as much as many others.
Step 5: Understand the Risks to Your New Lawn
Centipede grass is low-maintenance when left alone, but there are a few risks that can be detrimental to your lawn. For example, excessive, regular foot traffic can damage your centipede grass. It isn’t as naturally durable as other grasses, and recovers slowly once it’s disturbed.
Second, it’s important not to over-fertilize your centipede grass. Excess nitrogen can be very harmful and lead to damage or discoloration throughout your lawn.
Finally, be aware of how much you’re watering, as centipede grass only requires additional water during long, dry periods. If your lawn is showing a faded or wilted look, this might be a sign of water stress that should be addressed promptly.
Article Submitted By Community Writer