Have you ever heard of the term “centipede decline”? It is a term used to describe numerous diseases that affect the centipede lawn. If you are working on your lawn then you must beware of this and try to reduce chances of it affecting your centipede sod farm. Apart from this disease, others may affect your farm. These include:
- Dollar Spot – This usually happens to the farm in summer, and causes brown spots that are 2-4 inches in width.
- Nematodes – These can cause a lot of damage if the lawn is in a sandy location. It causes the centipede lawn to turn dry and causes it to decline very fast.
- Large Patch – This occurs when the lawn gets too much water during fall, spring, or summer or when the weather is too wet. They occur as large yellow patches, which turn brown.
- Ground Pearls – Small scales attack the roots and destroy the root system. There will be a decline in fairy rings and there is no known treatment for this disease. Besides removing the affected grass, the other option you have is to plant Bahia or Bermuda.
- Fairy Rings – When the centipede farm gets this disease, the symptoms include large circular spots of dead grass or even green spots that are 3-20 feet wide. The symptoms usually last several years and are visible outside the affected areas.
Several other factors affect the decline and growth of the centipede lawn. With proper watering and fertilization, the centipede sod farms in North Atlanta can grow healthy and beautiful.
Cultural Practices Affecting Centipede Sod Farms in North Atlanta
Some cultural practices can have a huge impact on the lawn. These practices include:
Improper fertilization
Underuse of fertilizers can prevent good growth. The overuse of fertilizers can cause serious damage, which affects the sod in different ways. Therefore, it is important to follow recommendations by professionals like Sod Company.
Mowing
When you trim the centipede grass, it grows healthy; however, you must first let it grow long enough to mow it to the right height. Scalping the centipede causes the grass to become susceptible to diseases. You must not let the thatch level to be too high. If you leave the thatch to grow too much, then diseases will set in. The most height you should maintain for the centipede sod farm is 1”-1.5”. After mowing it, make sure it is not less than this height.
Irrigating
Centipede lawnsare not strong enough to tolerate drought. This is why you have to give them regular precipitation to ensure optimal health. You may consider not watering the lawn in the evening because this creates the right conditions for diseases.
Herbicides
Some types of herbicides are not good for this lawn, and you should apply some at a specific time. You must follow the instructions that come with any chemical you use on your lawn. Ideally, you should consult with the professional to assist you. If you take proper care of the centipede sod farms in North Atlanta, you can make it look awesome. It does require diligent care, but with caution.
