How to Kill Centipede Grass in the Winter

According to Texas A&M, centipede grass does not go into a dormant state during the winter and will resume growth on days when weather warms up. Hard frosts do kill the leaves of this grass, which means only regions with mild winters generally see this grass grow all season long. Regardless if you are growing warm- or cool-season grass, it is essential to kill the centipede grass impeding the lawn. In fact, you will see your preferred grass begin to suffer if centipede grass is allowed to grow in bare spots and suck the nutrients from the soil.

Herbicide
Tiller
Rake
Grass seed
Compost
Lawn roller
Pre-emergent herbicide

Instructions

- 1
  Spray your centipede grass with a herbicide that is chemically formulated to kill centipede grass, but protect your own preferred grass type. Examples of herbicides that can kill centipede include those that contain diclofop, metribuzin and 2,4-D + triclpyr.
- 2
  Reapply the herbicide in a few days. Pick a day that is rain- and wind-free to protect your surrounding plants.
- 3
  Till the areas that contain dead centipede grass. Smooth the top of the bare areas with the back of a rake.
- 4
  Broadcast your preferred cool or warm season grass seed into the bare areas. Cover the grass seeds with 1/8 inch of compost. Roll a halfway-filled lawn roller over these areas for soil-to-seed contact.
- 5
  Water the bare areas thoroughly. Keep these areas well watered so your grass seeds will germinate. Lush, new grass will provide competition for the centipede grass, preventing it from coming back.

Turf-Type Tall Fescue

Fescue vs. Bluegrass

Growing Grass