Centipede Grass Pros and Cons – A Good Choice?

I find that the best kinds of grasses are the ones that let you plant them quickly and then basically forget about them for years. Centipede grass is a perfect example of one such turf. It makes for a great lawn for a ton of situations but it pays off to check out all of centipede grass’ pros and cons before you decide whether it’s right for your yard or not.

An Overview of Centipede Grass Pros and Cons

This grass can handle really high temperatures making it a great asset in the southern US. It deals with droughts easily with dense growth locking moisture down by the roots and it needs little more than water and well-draining soil to thrive.

Centipede grass has several disadvantages as well. It is not a strong stemmed grass and therefore is damaged by even moderate foot traffic. If there is any shade or less than  7 hours of direct sunlight, centipede grass will lose its vigor and color. When the temperatures begin to drop after the summer this turf tends to brown quickly and remain dormant well into spring. During hot summers, additional irrigation will be needed to keep centipede grass green.

Advantages of Centipede Grass

There are a bunch of benefits to planting centipede grass for your lawn. It is hardy and resilient to high heat and drought making it reliable throughout the summer. There are few fast-growing warm-season grasses that are as easy and cheap to maintain as centipede grass. This grass has a bunch of awesome advantages!

Handles High Temperatures

Centipede grass grows very dense mats of turf and creates an interlocking pattern a few inches above the soil. This pattern allows for airflow and retains moisture during the hot summer months. You can be sure this grass will survive even the hottest heat wave.

Drought Tolerant

Although this grass enjoys at least 1” of rainfall a week, it can survive several weeks without watering. If a drought extends past 3-4 weeks it is best to water to prevent damage and browning of the turf.

Low Maintenance

The soft grass blades and lateral growth make this a very easy turf to maintain. Centipede grass branches and grows over itself reducing the amount of time you need to go out and mow during the summer.

Thrives in Sandy Soils with Low Fertility

Even if you have lousy soil, as long as it drains well and the temps are high you can grow a lush and lovely light green lawn. Centipede grass is not picky about anything other than wet roots, so avoid it if you have heavy clay soil.

Disadvantages of Centipede Grass

This turf does have some serious drawbacks that might make it a terrible choice for your yard.

If you live somewhere cold, forget about it! Centipede grass has some specific requirements it needs in order to perform well.

Doesn’t Handle Foot Traffic Well

A big issue with centipede grass is that it is not a strong vertical growing grass that can handle being walked on. It easily gets damaged when used frequently and takes some time to fill in the damaged zones. Walking also causes compaction which leads to pest and disease issues near the roots.

Cannot Tolerate Shade

Centipede grass prefers 7 or more hours of direct sunlight a day. It is common to see stunted growth and dull colors on grass that is shaded throughout the day. The slow growth in the shade can lead to weed invasions affecting the whole shaded area of lawn.

Browns in the Winter

When the temperature begins to drop as early as September, centipede grass can already start to show brown areas. As the months get colder, it will completely brown until well into the following year’s spring. This can leave your lawn unattractive for as much as half the year.

Heavy Water Use Needed

Although centipede grass can survive high heat and drought it can lose its color if exposed to drought for too long. Once it goes dormant it can take a fair amount of water to get it green again. To prevent centipede grass from going brown during the summer, you will need at least an inch of rainfall a week or you’ll need to supply that through irrigation yourself.

Weighing Up Whether Centipede Grass is Right for Your Yard

Centipede grass has many pros and cons that can make it a fit for some yards but not others. Let’s recap to see if this turf is right for you.

If you live where it is hot and dry and are able to supply supplemental water regularly, centipede grass is a good choice to establish and forget. It is low maintenance, it can thrive in sandy infertile soils, and it blocks out weeds in full sun.

Centipede grass might be a poor choice if it is cold and wet where you are or if you have poorly draining soil. This turf can not handle the cold, turns brown early in the fall, and stays dormant late into the spring. It cannot grow in the shade and needs ample water in the summer to stay green

If some of the pros of centipede grass are attractive but the cons make it a no-go, check out some of the turf alternatives below:

Bermuda Grass: A heat and drought-tolerant plant that can survive even the harshest summers, this grass may be a better choice if your summers are scorchers. Bermuda grass is able to handle heavy traffic and can regenerate rapidly. This is a great substitute for centipede grass lawns that need to repair faster.

Buffalo Grass: A hardy, drought-tolerant, warm-season grass, this turf can handle harsh conditions with little attention. It is a plain grass and goes dormant rather than dies off in cool weather. It is a good substitute if you have some cool winter temperatures.

Zoysia Grass: Heat and drought-tolerant, zoysia has some distinct advantages over other turfs. It is a shade-tolerant plant that can accommodate foot traffic. It is also considered one of the cheaper grasses to get started and maintain with virtually no cost on well-established lawns.