The Natural Reseeding of a Centipede Lawn

Summertime Flies By

• As a warm-season grass, centipede actively grows in spring and summer. Seedheads develop by summer, but the seeds themselves cannot immediately germinate. A wax film covers each seed, creating a fine barrier to fast germination and seedling establishment. A typical germination period for centipede seed ranges between 10 and 21 days, with seedling establishment taking up to three months. Successful seeding by hand or broadcast spreader is usually done in late spring or early summer. Because centipede seed needs warm soil temperatures to germinate, natural reseeding from summer seedheads often fails with cool fall weather on the horizon.

Area Closed Off

• Centipede grass uses above-ground stems, or stolons, to spread across the soil in full sunlight or partial shade. This vegetative growth contributes to thatch buildup. Thatch is a layer of decomposing foliage and stems between the grass blades and soil. As your centipede lawn goes to seed, thatch forms a barrier to seeds striking the soil for germination. Although tiny, seeds do not have exposure to soil and moisture to crack their coats effectively. If germination does occur, seedlings are heavily shaded by thatch, effectively killing them off.

Dust in the Wind

• Sod is a common way to establish successful centipede grass because seeds are extremely small. Seeds falling from a seedhead may never reach the ground below with natural reseeding. Windy conditions often move seeds away from the lawn before they can reach the soil. Even manual centipede seeding is more successful if you spread the seeds with sand to create some volume and weight to the mixture. As a result, seeds reach the soil for future establishment instead of floating away on the breeze.

Seeds All Around

• Instead of relying on natural reseeding, spread seed by hand or broadcast spreader as early as April in some regions. Spread 4 ounces of seed for every 1,000 square feet, along with about 15 pounds of sand for added weight. Keep the seeded area moist, but not soggy, throughout the spring and summer. Pull weeds from the exposed soil to avoid natural resource competition with your germinating seeds. You need strong seedlings before fall and winter dormancy sets in.