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Centipedegrass: Less Mowing, Less Fertilizing, and Drought-Tolerant Lawn Grass

Centipedegrass

Eremochloa ophiuroides, or centipedegrass, is a warm-season lawn grass.

Photo Credit
Sulastri Al El
Botanical Name
Eremochloa ophiuroides
Plant Type
Grass/Lawn/Turf
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Acidic
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
White
Hardiness Zone
7
8
9
10

Lazy Lawn Lovers, Rejoice!

Samantha Johnson
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Lawn care isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and thankfully, not all grasses demand heavy work. Meet centipedegrass—“lazy man’s grass”—a warm-season turf known for being low-maintenance and tough. If you want a lawn that needs less mowing and fertilizing but still handles dry spells, centipedegrass could be the perfect match. This guide will explain why centipedegrass stands out and what to know before planting.

What Is Centipedegrass?

Centipedegrass is a warm-season, stolon-spreading turfgrass that thrives in the southeastern United States—in states like Florida, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, and South Carolina—as well as in Hawaii’s climate. It’s native to South China. While it’s fairly low-maintenance, centipedegrass has a narrower range of ideal growing conditions, which limits its use mostly to the southeast. Building a healthy centipedegrass lawn takes patience, but the results are well worth the effort.

Why is It Called Centipedegrass?

The name comes from the grass’s ground-level stolons—long, thin runners that creep slowly and help fill in the lawn. These runners resemble a centipede’s segmented body, with repeating grass blades that look like tiny legs.

What Does Centipedegrass Look Like?

Centipedegrass blades are naturally lighter in color compared to many common lawn grasses. This lighter green isn’t a sign of weakness or nutrient deficiency—it’s simply the grass’s typical appearance. According to the University of Florida Extension, the blades are medium-width—about 3 to 5 millimeters—and have a coarse texture that tapers to a pointed tip.

If you allow the grass to go to seed, you’ll notice thin, cylindrical seed heads with small blossoms. Centipedegrass can stress easily if growing conditions aren’t just right, so it’s important to provide a suitable environment for it to thrive.

close-up of Centipedegrass
Centipedegrass is a warm-season turfgrass that offers low-maintenance characteristics. Credit: Craig Russell

Centipedegrass vs. St. Augustine Grass

Readers often ask about the difference between these two warm-season grasses. They differ in terms of your yard’s shade, watering ability, and how much work you want to do.

Centipedegrass
Pros: Low maintenance, drought-tolerant, slow-growing, light green color
Cons: Poor shade tolerance, slower to fill in

St. Augustine Grass
Pros: Handles shade well, fast-growing, dense turf
Cons: Needs more water and fertilizer, higher maintenance

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Planting

Centipedegrass thrives best in full sun but can tolerate some light shade. It prefers well-drained, acidic soils with a pH between 4.5 and 6.0. This grass does well in sandy or loamy soils and needs moderate moisture—too much water or heavy clay soils can cause problems.

According to Louisiana State University, sod is the most common and fastest method of transforming bare ground into a lush lawn. However, you can also establish a centipedegrass lawn through seed, plugs, and springs.

  • Sod: Offers instant coverage but can be costly. Often available at garden centers, and some retailers provide installation services.
  • Plugs: Small potted sections planted in a grid pattern. Less expensive than sod, plugs rely on centipedegrass’s natural stolons to fill in the gaps over time. Patience is key here.
  • Sprigs: These are stolons taken from an established lawn and planted similarly to plugs but without soil balls. Roughly 7 bushels cover 1,000 square feet.
  • Seed: The slowest and most affordable method, but not all varieties come as seed. For seeding, use about ¼ to ⅓ pound per 1,000 square feet and ensure good soil preparation.

No matter which method you choose, remember: centipedegrass grows slowly, so don’t rush the process.

When to Plant

Plant centipedegrass in mid- to late-spring, just before the weather heats up. Soil temperatures should be above 65°F for best germination, with ideal growth occurring in the 80°F range. Depending on your location, these conditions might arrive earlier or later.

How to Plant

  • Remove rocks and level the ground to prepare your soil thoroughly. Level the soil to create a smooth surface.
  • Test soil pH and amend if needed to maintain acidity between 5.0 and 6.0.
  • If reseeding an existing lawn, aerating and dethatching your lawn first. Aerating the soil loosens compacted areas. Dethatching removes excess dead grass and improve seed contact.

Seeding

  • Spread centipedegrass seed evenly (about ¼ to ⅓ pound per 1,000 sq ft).
  • Lightly rake seeds into the soil to ensure good contact without burying too deep.
  • Keep soil consistently moist until seeds germinate (soil temp should be above 65°F).

Planting Plugs

  • Space plugs in a grid pattern across the lawn area, placing them closer together for faster coverage.
  • Press plugs firmly into the soil to ensure good root contact.
  • Water regularly to help plugs establish and spread via stolons.

Planting Sprigs

  • Lightly press sprigs into the soil, covering them without planting too deep.
  • Approximately 7 bushels of sprigs are needed per 1,000 square feet.
  • Water thoroughly and keep soil moist during establishment.

Using Sod

  • Lay centipedegrass sod on prepared, level soil, staggering seams like bricks.
  • Press sod firmly to eliminate air pockets and ensure root contact.
  • Water daily for the first couple of weeks to encourage rooting.

Growing

Centipedegrass is a low-maintenance lawn choice that doesn’t require much attention; that’s why it’s sometimes called “lazy man’s grass.” That said, there are definitely some points to keep in mind:

  • Full sun is essential! Provide 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily.
  • Be careful not to over-water. An inch or less of water per week should do it.
  • Sandy, loamy soil is ideal.
  • Limit foot traffic until the lawn is fully established. An occasional game of catch isn’t going to hurt it, but repeated, predictable traffic in the same region may cause it to fail.
  • Similarly, try to avoid soil compaction.
  • Do test your soil; high soil pH can cause yellowing.
  • Thatch easily builds up in a lawn, and too much thatch disagrees with centipedegrass. An afternoon of dethatching annually is a small price to pay for a gorgeous turfgrass lawn.
  • Centipedegrass isn’t fond of drought or shade.
  • Centipedegrass loves humidity and thrives in warm climates that provide this.
  • Mow sparingly since centipedegrass grows slowly. Truly, you should rarely mow. The grass creates a thick sod and reaches 3 to 5 inches tall.
  • Nitrogen fertilization is sometimes needed, but it’s generally best not to overdo nitrogen, as it will actually have a detrimental effect on centipedegrass.
close-up of centipedegrass flower
Mowing isn’t a frequent chore with a centipedegrass lawn, but sometimes it gets tall enough to need a trim. Credit: Hank Asia

Types

Centipedegrass varieties share many traits but differ slightly in some characteristics. While some varieties don’t produce viable seed and must be established from sod, plugs, or sprigs, others can be seeded.

  • Common — stems may be red, yellow, or green
  • Chinese Red Stem — an early cultivar
  • TifBlair — selected for winter hardiness
  • Okland — features a subtle bluish tint
  • Centennial — more tolerant of less-than-ideal soil pH
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Pests/Diseases

Centipedegrass is generally easygoing, but like any lawn, it has its share of challenges:

  • Chinch Bugs: These little sap-suckers love warm-season grasses like centipedegrass. They weaken your lawn by feeding on the grass blades, causing yellowing and damage. If you spot them regularly, insecticides can help, or you can try natural options like diatomaceous earth.
  • Ground Pearls: Tough pests that quietly feed on roots, slowly weakening your grass over time. They’re tricky to manage and might mean you’ll have to do some replanting if the infestation gets bad.
  • Brown Patch: A fungal disease that often strikes when your grass is stressed—think cooler temps, too much moisture, or neglected aeration and thatch control. It shows up as brown, irregular patches that don’t look great.
  • Dollar Spot: Another fungus that likes humid conditions, causing small, straw-colored spots scattered across the lawn.
  • Nutrient Deficiencies: If your centipedegrass looks pale or thin, it might be missing key nutrients like nitrogen or iron. A soil test can pinpoint what’s needed.
  • Thatch Buildup: When thatch gets too thick, it blocks water and nutrients from reaching the roots, making your lawn more vulnerable to problems.
  • Drought Stress: Centipedegrass tolerates dry spells better than many grasses, but long droughts can still cause thinning and browning.

Tips to Keep It Healthy:
Keep your mower blade sharp and cut at the right height (around 1.5 to 2 inches). Aerate regularly to relieve soil compaction and reduce thatch buildup. Avoid overwatering—centipedegrass prefers moderate moisture. And don’t skip soil testing; it’s the best way to know exactly what your lawn needs.

Wit and Wisdom

  • Naturalist Frank N. Meyer—yes, the guy behind the Meyer Lemon—brought centipedegrass from China over 100 years ago on his fourth plant-hunting adventure.
  • The United States Golf Association (USGA) gives centipedegrass a thumbs-up as a low-maintenance superstar for those tricky “rough” spots on southern golf courses.
  • And speaking of low-maintenance, that’s exactly why centipedegrass is a go-to choice along southeastern roadsides, where easy care is king.
Lawn Care
About The Author

Samantha Johnson

Samantha Johnson is an award-winning author and gardening expert with over 20 years of experience cultivating heirloom vegetables and sharing her passion for rural living. Read More from Samantha Johnson
 

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