Mowing centipede grass

At the end of the winter, a centipede grass lawn will have a certain amount of dead top growth. Unlike other warm season grasses do not mow your Centipede grass closely before the growing season begins. Centipede grass spreads by stolons that grow along the surface of the soil. New grass leaves will grow from these stolons and it is best not to disrupt them when they are low on stored energy at the end of the winter. It is a good idea, however, to mow at 1 - 1.5 inches around the time the Bradford Pears are in bloom (mid-March). Rake and remove as many of the grass clipping and as much leftover thatch as possible.

Your lawn will begin to turn green several weeks later when the soil temperatures reach a consistent 60-65 degrees. This is usually in mid-March to mid-April, depending on weather. Do not mow lower at this time than you will during the rest of the season. Wait until it reaches the recommended height.

Centipede grass lawns should be mowed consistently at 1.5 - 2 inches throughout the growing season. Most of a centipede grass lawn's growth is horizontal, so you will not have to mow as frequently as with other types of lawn grass. Don't neglect to mow, however. Consistent mowing will train the grass to spread and form a dense turf.

Centipede grass lawns are often grown in areas with partial shade. In these situations, centipede grass plants elongate in much the same way a houseplant stretches toward light from a window. You can still have a beautiful, thick lawn, but it helps to raise your mowing height to 2.5 inches. This will prevent you from removing too much leaf material at a given time.

Allow your centipede grass lawn to grow to 3 inches in the fall in preparation for cold weather. This extra height will act as insulation for roots rhizomes and stolons over the winter months. Plan ahead because Centipede grass grows slowly in late fall. ONE THIRD RULE: Never reduce the height of your lawn by more than one-third when mowing