When To Seed
Plant TifBlair Centipede seed in May, June, and July for best results.
Your latest summer or fall TifBlair seed planting date is best determined by your growing zone. The standard guideline is to plant TifBlair seed a MINIMUM of 60 days before you expect the first frost in the fall. If seed is planted too late in your growing season, even if it germinates, it might not have sufficient time to become hardy enough to survive fall and winter conditions.
How Much Seed
Spreading TifBlair Centipede seed at the rate of ½ lb. per 1,000 square feet will produce a good lawn in 2-3 months of summer growth. Using plenty of seed is the least expensive part of establishing a good lawn. "Saving" on the cost of seed results in spending more on watering and weeding.
Calculate the square footage of your lawn without leaving your chair by using Super-Sod's online Lawn Area Calculator.
Or make a sketch of your lot and then measure with a tape the area you wish to seed. Calculate the square feet to be covered by multiplying length times the width of the area. Don't forget to deduct a reasonable amount for buildings, paved drives, and walks.
length x width = square feet of sod needed
You can purchase TifBlair Certified Super-Wrapped Seed online or at your local Super-Sod store:
- 1 lb. bag will cover up to 4,000 square feet
- 5 lb. bag will cover up to 20,000 square feet (.45 acre)
Good seedbed preparation
Do not use any type of pre-emergent or “weed and feed” weed control for at least 90 days before seeding. Such chemicals will inhibit germination or kill the TifBlair seedlings as they sprout! Exception: A non-selective weed-killer (that does not contain a long-lasting chemical, i.e., a pre-emergent herbicide) sprayed to kill existing vegetation during seedbed preparation and before seeding TifBlair is safe.
Seeding a NEW Lawn
- Apply non-selective herbicide (note limitations and directions above) to eliminate existing lawn grass and weeds.
- Wait 10 days until the lawn is killed out, then till, grade, level, and smooth the bare soil in the lawn planting area.
- Remove debris, sticks, and stones.
- Centipede thrives on an acid soil with a pH range of 5.0 to 6.0. Do NOT apply lime to your seed bed unless soil tests for a Centipede lawn indicate a need.
- Apply 10 lb balanced lawn fertilizer or Super-Sod’s “Total Lawn Food 5-10-30 Plus Iron” per 1,000 square feet. All grasses perform better where fertilizer is tilled into the soil.
- Distribute seed: Use a Cyclone-type seeder. Divide seed in half and go over the area twice, distributing from east to west and then north to south to insure uniformity.
- We do not advise mixing seed with sand. There is no possible way to get a good homogeneous mixture that way or get a precise planting rate.
- Lightly rake to insure good seed/soil contact - no deeper than 1/4 inch (adequate light speeds germination).
- Roll to smooth.
- Use a mulch, such as wheat straw, on sloping areas where erosion might be a problem. Distribute straw thinly so as not to shade young TifBlair seedlings.
- Superior seeding results are gained by using Soil³ humus compost as a treatment over newly applied turfgrass seed, instead of wheat straw.
Overseeding an EXISTING Lawn
- Scalp the existing Centipede lawn by setting your mower to its lowest cutting height and mow, bagging and removing clippings and any surface debris.
- Rake, scratch, or aerify the lawn surface to loosen the soil and create a good seedbed. Your goal in these first two steps is to provide as much bare ground as you can for good seed to ground contact, without harming existing Centipede stolons.
- Centipede thrives on an acid soil with a pH range of 5.0 to 6.0. Do NOT apply lime to your seed bed unless soil tests for a Centipede lawn indicate a need.
- Apply 10 lb balanced lawn fertilizer or Super-Sod’s “Total Lawn Food 5-10-30 Plus Iron” per 1,000 square feet. All grasses perform better where fertilizer is tilled into the soil.
- Distribute seed: Use a Cyclone-type seeder. Divide seed in half and go over the area twice, distributing from east to west and then north to south to insure uniformity.
- We do not advise mixing seed with sand. There is no possible way to get a good homogeneous mixture that way or get a precise planting rate.
- Lightly rake to insure good seed/soil contact - no deeper than 1/4 inch (adequate light speeds germination).
- Roll to smooth.
- Use a mulch, such as wheat straw, on sloping areas where erosion might be a problem. Distribute straw thinly so as not to shade young TifBlair seedlings.
Please note: If you have a struggling lawn, overseeding centipede with centipede isn't going to solve the underlying problem that is causing the existing centipede lawn to need fixing. Underlying issues include: high pH, too much shade, too much or too little water, or too much fertility (especially nitrogen). Once issues are addressed, the centipede will fix itself.
Watering After Seeding
Water thoroughly and immediately after planting; avoid run-off. Continue to water as often as necessary to keep soil constantly moist. After seedlings emerge, water less frequently until watering only as needed once the stand is established. (How and When to Water Your Lawn)
Weeds
Control weeds by mowing frequently (at a 1.5" cut height) until TifBlair is established. Going forward, in early spring a pre-emergent herbicide application will reduce summer weeds.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow this link for DIY instructions + video: How to Seed a TifBlair Centipede Lawn