Lawn Grasses

We've had less than four inches of rain since the end of March. In mid-July we had three to four inches . .and since the first of August, we've had nothing. Pair that with 100 degree or better temperatures and you can see why I've had such difficulty doing anything except trying to keep things alive much less maintaining the 'perfect' lawn . ..which I LOVE! So today I'll just talk about lawn grasses!


I'm a real stickler about the perfect lawn. So much so that my offsprings warn their friends to "Keep off the Grass."  I'm not really that bad, but I'm close! Nothing softens my heart more than to see children playing on my lawn!

Or better yet, see them working!

There are tons of lawn grasses out there for homeowners to choose from. However, there is only two out there that I am 'intimately' involved with; therefore, those are the only two I'll discuss here. One I love - the other I dislike immensely!

My love is for the centipede grass. It's a low growing grass that doesn't look too bad even if it's unmanicured. Four inches is about as tall as it grows and it grows profusely in the shade.

Centipede propagates by above-ground runners therefore you can always see where it's headed.

Approximately every inch on these runners are nodes. From these nodes other runners will begin and run in four directions, from those other runners are developed. Soon there's a carpet of grass. When we first planted mine (hubby helped me plant), we planted plugs on 12" squares and it took a couple of seasons to get the carpet effect. Once centipede is established it's almost impossible for a weed to germinate in it, much less thrive. I think that's because of the thick, dense root structure.

Centipede Grass

Since centipede runners travel on top of the ground it's also easy to control. When I see a runner headed for a flower bed or shrubbery planting it's quite easy to reach down and pull it out. The centipede is also very hardy and can tolerate abuse and dry periods but doesn't like extended droughts like we're in now. During drought periods it goes dormant but as soon as a good rain comes, it greens up. I have found that during these droughts, weeds and Bahiagrass can penetrate. I do my best not to let mine stay dry for too long, but in weather like we've had this year, it's impossible to keep EVERYthing hydrated.



Centipede Grass



Now to get to the one that I dislike immensely. That is Bahiagrass. Some well-meaning farmer brought this grass from Brazil in 1914 for use as a pasture grass. It's a shame the Bahiagrass doesn't remain in the pasture! Like the kudzu, left to its own volition it overtakes EVERYTHING.

The southeastern US is literally covered with this stuff and it will take advantage of any bare, sunny spot it can find!! The Bahiagrass is very, very drought tolerant, requires no fertilizer and when the centipede goes dormant due to lack of moisture, the Bahiagrass will literally take over the sunny areas if you let it.

It's ugly - it will not 'carpet' and even though a lot of people in this part of the country use it as a lawn grass, it's seedheads are atrocious!!!! I think the main reason they use it as  lawn grass is that it's so difficult to destroy - and unless a person is willing to be combative, in this dry, acid, sandy soil, the Bahiagrass will win.

After a rain those atrocious seedheads pop up. Cut them today and they're right back tomorrow. Don't even try to walk through it in nice slacks when it's seeding. .they 'll be ruined!!!

Until it puts on those ugly seedheads, it's difficult for the untrained eye to pick up the difference in the centipede and Bahiagrass. But I've trained my eye to pick up the difference in the color as well as the size and texture of the blades. I can spot Bahiagrass trying to get started a mile away (I've been known to exaggerate some). Also, the seedheads are murder on lawnmower blades. If you use this as a lawn grass, be sure to have a good grinder handy or be prepared to replace blades frequently!

There are two things that I do like about it though. One is that it's non-competitive. Other grasses, particularly centipede, will push it right out of the ground during good growing conditions. It has a thick fibrous root system that grows just under the top of the ground and any competition literally destroys it. Two is that it will NOT grow in the shade and since the majority of my lawn is in the shade, I don't have to deal with it there. But I do have to be vigilant in and around the flower beds - which are in the sun.