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Help with getting Centipede to recover/spread in BR

Posted on 6/28/25 at 1:53 pm
Posted by jlsufan
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2021
385 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 1:53 pm
I have centipede in my front yard....the last few years, between drought and hard freezes/snow, it's really declined, with 4-5 spots of bare dirt.

this Spring/Summer it's starting to grow back but it's VERY SLOW. I know it doesn't like a lot of fert (at least N) so I've only put minimum N down...

anything else I can do to help speed it up??

Posted by tigerskin
Member since Nov 2004
44728 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 1:59 pm to
Kill it and resod with Zoysia
Posted by Tifway419
Member since Sep 2022
1677 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 2:34 pm to
Go to Lowe’s or Home Depot and buy pieces of sod. Only cost about $3 per slab. Keep it watered
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
41385 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 3:13 pm to
Find a garden center or sod seller and get a few pieces of what you need. Not everyone would agree but I've thrown down a few St. Aug squares in some areas my centipede is doing the same as yours.
If you're patient you can get some good quality lawn soil and fill in those areas liberally. In time the centipede will run over that good soil.
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16313 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 4:07 pm to
Centipede does not grow or recover fast. That's why it is arse. Only good if you don't want to cut your lawn often.
Posted by Slingscode
Houston, TX
Member since Sep 2011
2189 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 4:51 pm to
Don't buy from home depot or lowes, the quality isn't very good.
Posted by Tifway419
Member since Sep 2022
1677 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 7:43 pm to
quote:

Don't buy from home depot or lowes, the quality isn't very good.
You can’t be serious, it’s fricken grass lol. Other than it being centipede to begin with
Posted by bonstonker
Member since Jan 2008
361 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 11:08 pm to
I'd like yo know your secret.
I'm trying to make mine decline and it is laughing at me.
Sprayed quinclorac 4 times.
Scarified twice.
Last August started pumping 46-0-0 urea and
21-0-0 ammonium sulfate.
Cut at 1 inch and it looks great.smh

Posted by xBirdx
Member since Sep 2018
2251 posts
Posted on 6/28/25 at 11:38 pm to
Not sure why people say that… I’m still cutting every 5-6 days…grew up with st Aug…. In the summer, cut about every 5-6 days…
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
60365 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 1:05 am to
I have centipede on some fairly shitty clay soil, and it barely grows. I have lost my patience and started sprigging with some st. Augustine from my neighbors yard and the st Augustine is taking over quickly.
Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
23479 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 10:27 am to
The following WORKS!
1. Hand till the area to loosen existing soil.
2. Add play sand and compost/manure mix from Lowe’s.
3. Fertilize with 15-0-15. Two small applications per month.
4. Water and mow frequently

Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
23479 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 10:29 am to
quote:

I'm trying to make mine decline and it is laughing at me. Sprayed quinclorac 4 times. Scarified twice. Last August started pumping 46-0-0 urea and 21-0-0 ammonium sulfate. Cut at 1 inch and it looks great.smh

I’m with you.
I experiment with mine and have been treating it like I do my Bermuda on the other side of the walk way.
Looks great
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
15585 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 1:48 pm to
Buy a pro plugger and get after it
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16313 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 3:00 pm to
It can look good and grow but it's not the easiest. You must be doing something right. I could cut my Bermuda daily if I had the time. Trying to keep up with every 3 days now. It just recovers from any stress way faster.
Posted by CenlaLowell
Alexandria, la
Member since Apr 2016
1223 posts
Posted on 6/29/25 at 3:13 pm to
Glysophate fuilsade 2, tricoyplr. Mixed together I promise you it's not coming back
Posted by OceanMan
Member since Mar 2010
22637 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 6:52 am to
quote:

You can’t be serious, it’s fricken grass lol.


quote:

Tifway419


Your username is a particular cultivar of grass…
Posted by OceanMan
Member since Mar 2010
22637 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 7:05 am to
Centipede has a tough time growing in compacted soil. It will run but not tack down and suffer in the heat without constant rain

You have to work the shite out of those bare spots, loosen it up and put good top soil. And not the shite from Lowe’s that says top soil but is really just mulch. Someone already provided a good recipe that was sand based.

In the end, centipede disappoints. You can get it to grow but it stresses easily, loses volume and either allows weeds in or creates bare spots. Empire zoysia is thriving pretty much everywhere in my yard, have been sodding, sprigging and plugging since late last summer and it’s finally starting to fill in. Mixed in well with centipede when both are healthy, and stands out when centipede is stressed.
Posted by FreddieMac
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2010
24834 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 10:04 am to
This is not a a bad idea, I think I might start doing something like this. St. Aug will choke out most other grasses. May take 5 years to do an entire lawn this way, but it will do it.
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
41385 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 7:12 pm to
quote:

2. Add play sand and compost/manure mix from Lowe’s.

Oh God, NO!
I tried that last Spring and it looks like crap.
Posted by bayoubengals88
LA
Member since Sep 2007
23479 posts
Posted on 6/30/25 at 7:29 pm to
quote:

Oh God, NO! I tried that last Spring and it looks like crap.
There’s something else going on then.
Sand levels and compost has nutrients. That’s only beneficial.
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