Centipede Seed Vs. Sod

Soil

• Test your soil before establishing your centipede lawn. Whether you use seed or sod, you will need acidic soil with a pH level between 5.0 and 5.5. The grass is unable to absorb iron from alkaline or high-phosphorous soil and may turn yellow. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which encourage rapid growth but make centipede grass susceptible to cold injury. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System recommends a 15-0-15 or 18-0-18 fertilizer. To prepare for seed or sod establishment, till the soil and use a rake to smooth the surface.

Planting

• Centipede grass seed is very small and germinates slowly. Recommended seeding rates range from 1/4 lb. to 2 lbs. of seed for 1,000 square feet of lawn surface. For easier spreading, mix 1 lb. of seed with 20 lbs. of sand. Spread half the mixture in one direction and half in a perpendicular direction. Roll the seeded area and apply a thin layer of mulch.

  According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, centipede grass sod is initially more expensive than seed but provides immediate grass coverage. Lay the pieces of sod close together to prevent gaps in the lawn, and roll the sodded area.

Water

• For seeded lawns, the University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service recommends watering four or five times a day until the grass completely covers the lawn area, and then twice a day as the roots establish.

  Water the soil thoroughly before laying centipede grass sod. Allow time for the water to soak into the soil so the soil is not wet when you lay the sod. Water thoroughly after you lay the sod, and water once or twice a day until the roots establish. After centipede roots have established, water thoroughly if the grass begins to wilt.

Time Frame

• Seed your centipede lawn in May or June. Seeds germinate in three to five weeks, and the roots establish in six to 10 weeks. According to the University of Georgia Extension, you can lay sod anytime during the summer growing season and even during winter dormancy. Test your soil every two or three years, and add fertilizer if needed.