Centipede Grass Seed Care & Planting

Seed Care

• It is important to buy quality centipede grass seed that does not have weed seeds. Gardeners should go through a reputable centipede supplier when making their purchase. In addition, centipede grass seed should be kept in a cool dry area. Grass seed that is exposed to humid, warm conditions can contract a fungal disease. Starting out your yard with a fungal disease cannot only result in the demise of your grass, but the fungal spores can travel to other ornamental plants.

Site Preparation

• The success of planting your lawn will depend heavily on how well you prepare the soil, according to Texas A&M University. Centipede grass prefers to grow on acidic soils that have a pH range between 5.0 to 6.0. If grown outside this range, the grass cannot absorb the nutrients in the soil or fertilizer. Gardeners should conduct a soil pH test before planting. Soil that is too acidic, or below 5.0, can be amended with lime, and alkaline soil can be amended with sulfur.

Planting

• The lawn must be completely weed free before planting. Grass seed cannot germinate and establish roots when competing with other weeds for the soil's nutrients. Centipede grass seed should be mixed with sand at planting. Use 1/3 lb. grass seed mixed with 1 gallon of sand per every 1,000 square feet of lawn. Distribute seed over the lawn area with a rotary seed dropper. In addition, centipede grass seed needs good soil-to-seed contact. Therefore, gardeners should push a lawn roller that is half filled with water over their grass seed after dispersal.

Maintenance

• Fertilizer should be applied at 1 lb. nitrogen for every 1,000 square feet at the time of planting. Water the lawn area with enough water to moisten the soil and activate the nitrogen, but not too much to wash away the centipede seeds. Water the grass seed everyday with a mist of water for two weeks to aid in germination. Avoid applying more fertilizer to the grass for 6 to 8 weeks or you may burn up the centipede grass with nitrogen.