Remember, avoid excessive fertilization and avoid early spring applications. Proper mowing is also very important to maintaining healthy, attractive turf. High and infrequent mowing tends to encourage thatch development, which can lead to chlorosis, drought stress and winter injury. Water only when the grass shows signs of moisture stress, such as rolling leaves, gray color or wilting. Apply enough water to thoroughly wet the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.
Early morning is the best time to water, since evening watering can encourage disease development.
Irrigation during the fall and spring can be very helpful to centipedegrass. Although the grass is not totally green, it is still growing at this time. Therefore, it should receive some water either from rainfall or irrigation every two weeks. This may be particularly important in the spring as new shoot and root growth begin. As mentioned, centipede is susceptible to yellowing or iron chlorosis.