Warm-season grass
How to fertilize centipedegrass
A low-maintenance warm-season grass of the Southeast that does best on very little fertilizer. Here is how much it needs, when to feed it, and a calculator already set up for it.
Centipedegrass at a glance
- Nitrogen a year0.4–2 lbper 1,000 sq ft
- Main feedingsJunafter green-up
- Per feeding0.5 lb Nusual band 0.5–1 lb
- Feedings a year1–4at 0.5 lb each
Feeding calendar
When to feed centipedegrass
Warm-season grass
0.4–2 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft a year
At 0.50 lb a feeding, that is about 1–4 feedings a year.
Main feedings: June. Light or regional feedings: May and July.
Centipede does best on very little fertilizer: one or two light feedings in late spring to early summer, after green-up.
Typical ranges from university extension guides. Your state or county guide wins. See the sources.
Calculator
How much to spread on your centipedegrass
It starts at 0.5 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft on a 5,000 sq ft lawn. Change the numbers to match your lawn and your bag.
Worked examples
One feeding on 5,000 sq ft of centipedegrass
At 0.5 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft, with four common bag numbers.
| Bag numbers | Per 1,000 sq ft | For 5,000 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 29-0-4 | 1.7 lb | 8.6 lb |
| 16-4-8 | 3.1 lb | 15.6 lb |
| 10-10-10 | 5.0 lb | 25.0 lb |
| 46-0-0 | 1.1 lb | 5.4 lb |
Good to know
Feeding centipedegrass well
Centipede does best on very little fertilizer: one or two light feedings in late spring to early summer, after green-up.
Keep any single feeding to about 1 lb of quick-release nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft or less. Slow-release products may be labeled for more. Florida limits quick-release nitrogen to 0.7 lb per feeding.
The product label has the final say on rate and timing, and some states limit phosphorus or set dates when lawn fertilizer cannot go down. See how these numbers are worked out.
Questions
Centipedegrass, answered
How much nitrogen does centipedegrass need a year?
Typical university guidance is 0.4–2 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft a year. Centipede does best on very little fertilizer: one or two light feedings in late spring to early summer, after green-up.
When should I fertilize centipedegrass?
The main feedings fall in June. Light or regional feedings: May and July. Start after spring green-up and stop by early fall.
How much fertilizer do I need for 5,000 sq ft of centipedegrass?
At 0.5 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft, a 29-0-4 product needs 1.7 lb per 1,000 sq ft, so 8.6 lb for 5,000 sq ft in one feeding. Use the calculator on this page for your own lawn and bag.