Will this warm winter affect my centipedegrass?

ASK THE HORT AGENT

Question Will this warm winter affect my centipedegrass?

Answer Centipede has the lowest maintenance requirements of all the lawn grasses. It is often referred to as “lazy man’s grass” or “lazy man’s lawn.” However, the man that brought this grass to the United States was anything but lazy. Dr. Frank N. Meyer worked for the US Dept. of Agriculture and also traveled around the world collecting plants. In 1906, he collected samples of zoysiagrass from Korea. A variety of zoysia was later named after him, Meyer zoysia.

While traveling in China around 1918, he found another grass. Dr. Meyer collected some seeds and headed back to the US. As he was leaving China, he was killed by Chinese bandits. His suitcase contained the grass seeds and continued back to the US without him. These seeds turned out to be centipedegrass seeds.

Ironically, centipedegrass can also be killed suddenly. Instead of Chinese bandits, cold temperatures can be the killer. With 10 days exposure to cold hardening conditions, centipede will be prepared for further cold temperatures. However, only 2 days of warm weather can eliminate this cold hardening. January temperatures often reach the mid to upper 60s (F) for several consecutive days followed by a cold front where temperatures then drop to the teens. Several days later, temperatures may again reach the high 60s. Such weather patterns predispose centipede grass to winter injury. So the answer is “yes,” this warm weather certainly can affect your centipede.

This type of damage cannot be totally prevented, but it can be lessened. Simply quit being lazy and follow the few maintenance requirements that centipede has. Mow between 1 and 1.5 inches. Fertilize with 1 lb of potassium per 1,000 sq ft in the fall. Fertilize with ½ lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft in June. Core aerate in June if your lawn is 3 or more years old and growing vigorously.

All of these cultural practices have an impact on the winter hardiness of centipede. Each lawn grass (fescue, Bermuda, zoysia, etc.) has a set of annual maintenance requirements. If they are followed, then damage attributed to disease, cold, heat and drought can be lessened or eliminated. The opposite is also true. Incorrect maintenance can make all of these problems worse.

For more info about centipede problems, visit http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/turfornamental/tmi/fertlime/CentipedegrassDecline.pdf

If you do not have internet access, please call the Extension Office at 893-7533 or email me at gpierce@harnett.org

Nowadays, the NC Dept. of Transportation is planting “lazy man’s grass” on the roadsides under the guardrails. We all know they are merely thrifty.

Gary L. Pierce

Horticulture Extension Agent

Harnett County