Carpet Grass Lawn Turf

Geographic Zones: Carpet grass is a type of grass that is native to the inner Gulf states. This gives it an effective growth area from the edge of Virginia through the southern states all the way to the east side of Texas.

Water Requirements: Watering needs to be fairly frequent, as carpet grass grows best in moist ground. It has very little tolerance for drought.

Fertilizer Requirements: With this type of grass, you will need to apply fertilizer about every 6 months for best results.

When to Plant: The best time to plant this grass is after the last freeze in spring. The period from mid-April to May is usually considered to be the best time for planting.

Recommended Mowing Height: The recommended mowing height is anywhere from 3/4 inch to 2 inches, depending on personal preference as well as what the area will be used for.

Light Requirements: This grass does not handle shade well. It needs lots of sunshine in order to grow. If you are planning on planting a lawn in a high-shade area, this is not the grass for you.

Best Places to Use: This grass type grows best in wet soil areas, leading it to be very useful in and around drainage ditches, for erosion control projects, as well as for lawns, parks, and other low maintenance areas. It handles traffic much better than most grass types in wet-soil conditions.

Common Diseases: Brown patch is the most common disease faced by this grass.

Common Pests: Carpet grass is susceptible to caterpillars, mole crickets and some types of worms. Nematodes can also cause damage, especially when the grass is grown on well drained and dry soils.

Soil pH: The grass can tolerate pH levels ranging from 4.0 - 7.0, though it is recommended that you add lime to increase the pH level if it is below 5.0 for best results

Special Advantages:

• Carpet grass grows extremely well in areas where damp, moist soil is present.
• It withstands high traffic much better than most grass types in damp, moist soil conditions.
• Its dense growth can choke out many weeds and other grass types.

Special Problems:

• Does not tolerate much shade.
• Does not tolerate high salt areas well.