Bermuda and Centipede grass are popular warm-season turf options across the Southern United States, chosen for their ability to thrive in hot climates. While they can grow in the same area, intentionally mixing them is strongly discouraged for anyone seeking a uniform, high-quality lawn. Their fundamental differences in growth habits and maintenance requirements create a conflict, making any single care regimen detrimental to one or both species.
Distinct Needs of Bermuda and Centipede
Bermuda and Centipede grass have vastly different needs regarding nutrition and soil conditions. Bermuda is a high-performance turf that is a heavy feeder, requiring frequent applications of nitrogen fertilizer every four to six weeks during its active growing season. It thrives best in full, direct sun and prefers a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH, typically ranging from 6.0 to 7.0.
Centipede grass is a low-maintenance species that needs minimal fertilization; over-fertilizing it with nitrogen can lead to thatch buildup or yellowing. It requires only about one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet annually, often satisfied by a single feeding in the late spring. Centipede also requires acidic conditions with a lower pH range of 5.0 to 6.0 to maintain vigor.
Bermuda is aggressive, spreading via both above-ground runners (stolons) and underground stems (rhizomes). Centipede is a slow-growing grass that spreads only by stolons.
Turf Competition and Appearance Issues
When these two species are mixed, Bermuda’s aggressive growth habit allows it to overwhelm the slower-growing Centipede. Bermuda’s rapid expansion, especially when highly fertilized, quickly invades and chokes out Centipede patches. This competition results in a visually inconsistent and patchy lawn.
Aesthetic differences further compound the problem. Bermuda grass has a fine texture and a deep, dark green color, creating a dense appearance. Centipede grass features a coarser leaf texture and a distinctive lime or apple-green color, which stands out noticeably against the darker Bermuda. The mixed textures and colors create a mottled look rather than a cohesive turf.
Managing the lawn becomes a dilemma due to these conflicting needs. If care meets Bermuda’s high needs, Centipede suffers from nutrient burn and overgrowth. If the regimen suits Centipede’s low-input needs, Bermuda becomes starved for nitrogen, thinning out and losing density.
Correcting a Mixed Grass Lawn
Homeowners with a mixed lawn must choose one species to favor and implement a targeted strategy to eliminate the other. To favor Centipede grass, stop applying high-nitrogen fertilizers, which weakens Bermuda over time. The soil pH can be lowered closer to the Centipede’s preferred acidic range (5.0 to 6.0) by applying elemental sulfur.
Selective herbicides containing Sethoxydim can specifically suppress Bermuda grass without harming the Centipede, though this often requires multiple applications.
If the goal is to favor Bermuda grass, the opposite approach is necessary: increase nitrogen fertilizer applications to the recommended Bermuda schedule. For chemical control, selective herbicides containing Quinclorac are effective, as Centipede grass is sensitive to this active ingredient while Bermuda grass is tolerant.
If the invasion is widespread and a fast, complete solution is desired, total lawn renovation is the most reliable method. This involves using a non-selective herbicide, such as glyphosate, to kill all vegetation, followed by soil preparation and replanting with the desired single turf type.