How Short to Cut Centipede Grass in October

Basic Mowing Guidelines

• Mow centipede grass at a height of 1 1/2 inches, cutting the lawn before the grass grows over 2 inches. To maintain the healthiest centipede lawn, do not cut off more than 1/3 of the total grass plant's height at any one mowing. In spring, as weather warms and lawns green up, mow centipede at 1 inch, but increase it to 1 1/2 inches at the start of summer and continue through mid-September at that height. In fall or early winter, the lawn naturally becomes dormant and mowing is not longer necessary until early spring.

October Mowing

• Four to six weeks prior to the expected first frost, begin mowing centipede grass at a height of 2 inches. Depending on location, this may occur in late September or as late as Nov. 1. As temperatures cool and day length shortens, centipede grass will slow its growth, requiring less frequent mowing, and lose most of its green color. At this time of year, never mow any shorter than 1 1/2 inches, as it can stress the grass and leave bare areas where cool-season weed seeds can quickly take over later in fall and winter.

The Florida Lawn

• Gardeners in Florida, with the warmest fall and winter in the Southeast, need to mow more frequently in fall as centipede grass won't become dormant until after October. In southernmost Florida, centipede grass may remain green all winter. With sandy soil predominating the peninsula, mow centipede grass 2 to 2 1/2 inches tall in October, when the rainy season ends. Lower it to 2 inches tall by Thanksgiving in northern counties and by mid-December in central and interior southern parts of the state.

Winter Dormancy

• Once centipede grass becomes a pale beige, signifying it has entered a resting dormancy stage, mowing is no longer necessary. However, irrigation is needed during periods of warm and windy weather to prevent unnecessary dehydration of above-ground stolon stems and the top 6 inches of soil. Apply only 1/2 to 3/4 inch of water to supplement natural rainfall during winter. Do not over-water when the grass lays dormant. Water only enough to prevent bone-dry soil conditions from November to March, when temperatures are coolest in your part of the Southeast.