Do not use a power rake with a 1-inch blade spacing, as severe turf injury may result. For best results, use a dethatcher with a 2- or 3-inch blade spacing set a ¼-inch depth. Consider dethatching centipedegrass when the thatch layer is greater than ¼ inch. Thatch Removal: If a thatch layer becomes a problem, use a dethatcher or vertical mower to remove it. For more information on mowing, refer to HGIC 1205, Mowing Lawns. Because of possible injury to the lawn and the potential fire hazard, do not burn off centipedegrass to remove excessive debris. It is not unusual for centipedegrass to green up and be burnt back several times during the late winter or early spring due to late season frosts. In the coastal and more Southern regions of South Carolina, this generally will occur sometime during April, but further inland, this may be as late as mid-May. The date of initial turf green-up can be quite variable. Sharpen the mower blade annually or as needed. Dull mower blades rip rather than cut the grass and make the grass more susceptible to diseases. Alternatively, the lawn can be hand raked to remove the excessive dead leaf material from the lawn surface.Ī sharp mower blade will cleanly cut the grass blades as opposed to tearing the leaves. If possible, use a mower with a bagger to collect the clippings and remove any dead material left from winter dormancy. This height reduction should be done just before the time of lawn green-up, which usually occurs during late April or early May. Be careful not to set the mower too low, as it might scalp the lawn. The mower setting should be around 1-inch high.

Mowing: Mow the lawn slightly lower than the regular summer mowing height. This turfgrass maintenance calendar may be used on turf grown throughout the state however, management practices may need to be adjusted based on the year’s climate and the region where the turf is grown. Last frost dates and first frost dates can vary by several weeks to a month from coastal areas of South Carolina to the foothills of the Upstate. Important times to monitor the weather are during late winter or early spring when the turf is coming out of dormancy and early fall when the first frost is forecasted. Because of this, it is important to monitor temperatures and apply the needed management practices based on that year’s climate.

Producing a yearly maintenance calendar for managing turfgrass consistently year after year can be difficult in a state with such a diverse climate as South Carolina. Centipedegrass is a slow-growing, apple-green colored, coarse-leaved, low maintenance turfgrass.

Lawn mousse