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CENTIPEDE GRASS LAWNS — 
Cli; ecd ate. Sprigs 
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COPYRIGHT, 1953, by Patten Seed Company. 
Planting & Care 
All rights reserved. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
Grateful acknowledgement is hereby made of the help 
given by the Agricultural Research Administration, Bu- 
reau of Plant industry, Beltsville Maryland, including 
their extensive tests with different varieties of Centipede 
in Southeastern states, and of the help given by Dr, Glenn 
W. Burton, Senior Geneticist, Coastal Plain Experiment 
Station, Tifton, Georgia, who discovered that Cen- 
tipede grass seed could be produced in commercial 
quantities. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION 
Centipede grass is a native of Asia. It was intro- 
duced into the United States in 1919 from China and 
since then has been distributed over Southern states 
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 
it is a low growing perennial which spreads by 
stolons that resemble a centipede — hence its name. 
In appearance it is intermediate between carpet and 
Bermuda grass. It resembles St. Augustine grass, except 
that it is finer in texture. 
Centipede is green the whole year only in semi-tropi- 
cal climates, but the period during winter that it turns 
brown is shorter than for most other summer grasses 
(despite high-pressure sales bally-hoo, no grass or mix- 
ture of grasses has yet been developed that is capable 
of making a good, permanent, evergreen lawn under 
average Southern conditions). 
Responsible turf specialists have time and again 
termed Centipede the BEST all-round GRASS for the 
SOUTH because: 
In appearance it is unsurpassed. 
It thrives in shade or sun. 
It hugs the ground, requires little mowing. 
It makes a dense, permanent, weed-free sod. 
It grows on any soil - - rich or poor. 
It is highly resistant to disease. 
It requires little fertilization, 
It is the best solution to the chinch bug problem. 
VARIETIES 
Extensive tests with different introductions and strains 
have been made at Gainesville, Fla. and Tifton, Ga. A 
number of different types showing marked varia- 
tion in habit of growth have been isolated, indicating con- 
siderable variation within the species. P. I. 72,260 is 
more vigorous and produces longer leaves than other 
strains. It produces a heavy mat of grass and is the most 
desirable for turf purposes. It has withstood tempera- 
tures of near zero, but it is not recommended for areas 
where sub-zero temperatures are common. 
It is a favorite lawn grass not only with home owners, 
but also for factories, public buildings, institutions, cem- 
eteries and golf course fairways. 
ADVANTAGES OF SEED 
To anyone who has ever tried to establish a lawn by 
sprigging the advantages of using seed are obvious. At 
average Centipede sprig prices and minimum wages the 
cost of sprigs and labor needed for planting a sprig each 
square foot will run about $6.00 per thousand square 
feet. 
Seed planted at the recommended seeding rate and 
given proper care will make a sod in less time than sprigs 
- - - at about half the cost - - - and the lawn will not be 
rough or uneven as are areas that have been sprigged. 
Planting Centi-Seed is no problem whereas sprigs 
must be bought, dug and planted in fresh condition if 
they are to survive transplanting. The average home 
owner can plant his lawn with seed in the time he 
would spend recruiting enough labor to sprig it. 
FEATURES OF CENTI-SEED 
Centi-Seed is a trademark registered by Patten Seed 
Company, Lakeland, Georgia, which guarantees that 
Centi-Seed are the progeny of the genuine Chinese Cen- 
tipede Grass (P. I. 72,260). Beware of all imitations 
and substitutions. 
By actual count there are more than 400 thousand 
Centi-Seed per pound—over 25,000 per ounce. They are 
dark brown and have a hard seed coat. They must be 
subjected to constant moisture for 10 to 15 days at mod- 
erately warm temperatures to germinate. Seed are 
labeled according to the percentage germinating in a 
28-day test, and this germination figure does not include 
all seed that will sprout. Centi-Seed are triple-tested 
for germination and only top quality Centipede grass 
seed bear the Centi-Seed trademark. Those testing 30% 
or better germination are good for planting. 
For best results Centi-Seed should be planted at the 
minimum rate of 3 ounces per thousand square feet of 
lawn area, which gives an average of 75 seed per square 
foot. More seed should be used when quicker coverage 
is desired, or when planting under adverse conditions. 
The best time to plant Centi-Seed is early spring, so 
as to take advantage of a full growing season. Centi- 
Seed may be planted year ’round in Coastal areas where 
mild winters are expected, or through mid-August in 
areas where harsh winters are common. Centi-Seed 
WILL NOT sprout in cold soil, but will remain dormant 
until the soil warms in the spring. 
Centi-Seed give best results when planted in a pure 
Centi-Seed, dry sand mixture. However, under certain 
conditions it may be desirable to add common rye grass 
(winter grass), which sprouts quickly and gives a green 
sod that will aid in erosion control and moisture con- 
servation. Such conditions are: (1) Late summer or 
early fall plantings, in which case the rye grass will pro- 
vide some frost protection and keep the seed or seed- 
lings from being washed away during heavy rains. (2) 
Plantings made after frost, or near the first frost date, 
in localities where winters are mild. Such plantings are 
desirable only where construction of a new home has 
just been completed and waiting until spring to plant is 
impractical. (3) Plantings made any time where there 
is danger of the seed or seedlings being washed away. 
Rye grass will survive only a short time during hot 
weather, but makes a soil holding root growth which 
will serve a useful purpose after the rye grass dies. 
To plant Centi-Seed with rye grass, simply mix rye 
grass and Centi-Seed together with dry sand and sow as 
recommended below. Use one ounce of Centi-Seed per 
pound of rye grass. DO NOT USE more than six pounds 
of rye grass per thousand square feet of lawn area, but 
increase the foregoing Centi-Seed ratio if you wish quick- 
er Centipede coverage. Be certain to include plenty 
of sand in the mixture, as Centi-Seed and rye grass 
alone do not readily make a homogenous mixture. Be- 
ware of any mixture of Centipede seed and rye grass 
that does not bear the Centi-Seed trademark. 
Buyers should understand that the use of rye grass 
will retard the growth and coverage of Centipede grass 
because of the temporary competition offered by the 
rye grass. 
