How to Grow Centipede Grass? Learn the Correct Cultivation Methods
Centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) is a perennial sod-forming broadleaf lawn plant of the genus Eremochloa in the grass family (Poaceae). It has deep roots and is drought-tolerant, tolerant of poor soil, and tolerant of shady and humid environments. It has a relatively long green period, grows rapidly, and has strong invasiveness and regeneration capacity. It forms a lawn quickly, has a high coverage rate, and a thick grass layer, and tolerates extensive management. It is an ideal ground cover material for establishing various types of lawns as well as for highway slope protection, ridge protection, and embankment protection. Let's take a look at the cultivation methods for centipede grass below!
Growth Habits of Centipede Grass
Centipede grass likes light, tolerates shade, tolerates drought, and is relatively tolerant of trampling. In the Xiamen area, it turns green in mid-March and turns yellow by the end of December, with a long green period. It likes sunlight and loose soil. If the soil can be kept moist and there is no frost in winter, it can remain green year-round. Its narrow leaves and stolons lie flat on the ground, forming a dense and even lawn, with almost no intrusion by other weeds. It tolerates pruning, resists harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide, and has good dust-absorbing and dust-retaining properties.
Propagation Methods for Centipede Grass
Centipede grass is somewhat similar to other lawn plants. When winter arrives, the seeds mature and fall to the ground, giving it a certain self-seeding ability, so it can be used for direct seeding to establish a lawn. Its vegetative propagation ability is also very strong, and it is customary to use the methods of transplanting sod pieces and burying stolons to establish a lawn. Generally, each square meter of sod can establish 6 to 8 sq m of lawn.
Cultivation Methods for Centipede Grass
1. Soil: Centipede grass grows relatively slowly vertically and thrives in moderately acidic, low-fertility soil. When a large amount of fertilizer is applied and the soil pH is very high, it is prone to dying.
2. Weeding: Centipede grass grows vigorously and has a high degree of ground coverage, making it difficult for other weeds to intrude. Even the robust purple nutsedge and goosegrass find it hard to gain a foothold, which to a certain extent reduces the work of weeding.
3. Fertilizing: During the growing season of centipede grass, the monthly nitrogen application rate should be 0.05 to 0.15 kg per 100 sq m. It is more prone to showing iron deficiency symptoms than St. Augustine grass, and the leaves often turn yellow and chlorotic. Especially after applying nitrogen fertilizer, iron supplementation is needed. Under high maintenance and management levels, excessive thatch accumulation is likely to occur.
4. Pruning: Pruning is one of the most basic measures in all lawn management and requires considerable manpower and material resources. Because the stems and leaves of centipede grass lie flat on the ground, the lawn it forms is naturally even and beautiful. Even during the growing season from May to September, it does not need frequent pruning, saving a certain amount of machinery and labor costs compared with other lawns.