How to Plant Centipede Grass Seed

Centipede is a low maintenance, warm-season grass that's light green with a coarse texture. A creeping perennial, the grass adapts well to sandy and acidic soils with low fertility. The short, upright stems grow 3 to 5 inches tall, and the grass grows well in full sun. Centipede is slow to germinate, and may take two to four weeks in ideal conditions (adequately warm and moist soil). With sufficient care, a beautiful centipede grass lawn can grow into thick, dense turf in two to three years.

Things You'll Need

• Tiller, hand shovel or tractor Hand rake Hand roller Sand

Instructions

1. Till the ground with a tiller, hand shovel or tractor. Remove unwanted plant material. Level the ground with a hand rake; remove hills and level all depressions to get a smooth, even surface.

2. Mix 1/4 lb. of centipede grass seeds with 1 gallon of sand. Sow the seeds using the broadcast method: take a handful of the mixture and flick it from your wrist. Rake the area to spread the seeds as much as possible. Use the rake to cover the seeds with at least 1/4 inch of soil.

3. Roll the sown area with a hand roller to compact the soil around the seeds. Water the seeds sufficiently. Lightly water the area daily for three weeks. Once the seedlings sprout, decrease the frequency but increase the amount of water supplied in each watering.

4. Once the grass is 2 inches tall, mow it to a height of 1/2 inch. Fertilize the grass with 5 lb. of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium mixture; use a 12-to-4-to-8 ratio for every 1000 square feet. Fertilize once after spring and again in July or August.

Tips & Warnings

• After tilling, level the ground properly to get a smooth flat turf when the grass is fully grown. The best time to sow the seeds is late spring to early summer (May or June). Sow the seeds in the correct ratio (1/4 to 1/2 lb. per 1000 square feet). Always mow grass with sharp blades. Never mow wet grass. Watering in early mornings is best.

• Centipede seeds will not germinate when cast on top of the soil; they must be covered by soil. Infrequent or high mowing encourages development of thatch and should be avoided. Avoid excessive fertilization. Do not fertilize in early spring. Avoid sowing seeds from September to November, as the little seedlings are susceptible to cold weather.