Centipede sod

Centipede sod was introduced to the United States in 1916. It originated in China and other parts of Southeast Asia. The U.S. Department of Agriculture was interested in it, because it could flourish in soil that had little fertility and did not take much maintenance. It was first grown in South Carolina by Frank N. Meyer.

Meyer was famous for his expeditions around the globe to search for different kinds of plant life. He traveled to places like Mexico, Cuba, and all throughout Europe. In May of 1918, Meyer was on his way to Shanghai in China. He was sailing down the Yangtze River and apparently fell overboard and died. Many people still consider the circumstances surrounding his death as mysterious.

Centipede sod is usually grown in May and June. Early June is a good time to fertilize it, but you must be very careful how you fertilize it. Some of the precautions in fertilizing are as follows:

 

• Do not use fertilizers with a lot of nitrogen - If fertilizers with nitrogen are used the grass can begin to turn dark green and produce thatch. Thatch is a layer of dead stems and roots that forms in the grass. Thatch can keep roots from growing and may encourage weed growth and pest problems. To remove any thatch, you should vertically mow your lawn. Nitrogen based fertilizers can also turn the grass yellow.
• Do not add too much lime to the grass - Liming your centipede sod raises the pH level of the soil. Too much lime can cause your grass to turn yellow as well.
• Do not fertilize near the periods of dormancy - Centipede sod goes dormant in the winter. If you fertilize in the early spring or in the fall, you could kill the grass. However, you should winterize your grass in the fall. This will feed the roots of this type of sod throughout the winter.

Centipede grass is usually a light or lime green color and has a medium texture. It should not look dark green or yellow. Soil conditions should always be tested before fertilizer is applied.
Bermuda grass is more salt tolerant than centipede sod, but centipede sod is more tolerant to shade. It also requires less maintenance than Bermuda grass. It is also slow growing, so it is ideal for yards and lining walkways and flowerbeds. It is not as invasive as Bermuda grass. It can be mowed closely, but it is important to use a sharp blade. If it is mowed too high, you may run into problems with the grass, such as dead patches .

There are different varieties of centipede sod, but the most common is Georgia Centipede. This variety was introduced by the University of Georgia. Researchers conducted studies to create this popular variety of grass. It is considered to be the best variety, because it stays greener for a longer period of time and is more drought resistant than other varieties and is designed for poor and acidic soil. This means that water can be conserved if necessary when maintaining the grass. It can be used residentially, for landscaping, and to reduce soil erosion.  

Centipede sod is grown throughout the Southeast region of the United States. Homeowners prefer this type of grass, because it doesn’t require as much maintenance as some other types. It is aptly named "Lazy Man Grass".It has an attractive color and is resistant to high temperatures. It grows best in the Southern half of Georgia, but we distribute it all throughout the state. If you have any question about centipede sod or any other types of sod, please contact us.

We supply sod throughout Georgia, including:

• Atlanta
• Augusta
• Columbus
• Savannah
• Athens
• Macon
• Roswell
• Sandy Springs
• Albany
• Marietta