New Lawns - Plant 4 - 5 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. or 175 - 215 lbs. per acre.

Over seeding an existing lawn - Plant 2 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. or 90 -110 lbs. per acre.

For Orders 250 lbs. or more please use our E-Quote system

Advantages
Carpet grass grows on wet, low-pH soils where few other grasses persist, and has moderate shade
tolerance. It is low growing and produces a dense turf with good color if moderate fertilization rates are applied. It is a low-maintenance grass that does not require excessive amounts of fertilizer. Carpet grass also can be grown from seed.

Disadvantages
Carpet grass will not survive on very dry soils unless irrigated frequently. It has shallow roots that
impart poor drought tolerance. During the summer, carpet grass produces numerous tall, thin seedheads that require frequent mowing for removal. It has poor cold tolerance, turning brown with the first cold spell. It is also slow to green up in the spring. Carpet grass has poor salt tolerance and a medium leaf texture. It is subject to insect, nematode, and disease problems. It does not grow well outside of acidic (pH: 5.0 to 5.5) soils. Carpet grass is not recommended for a high-quality lawn; however, it can be used in wet, shady areas where ease of maintenance is more
important than quality.

Maintenance of Carpetgrass (Axonopus affinis or Axonopus compressus)

Establishment
Carpet grass may be established from seeds or sprigs. Sod is not commonly available. Success with either propagation method is highly dependent on proper soil preparation. Refer to the “Preparing to Plant a Florida Lawn” section in Chapter 2(LH012) for information on seedbed preparation.

Seeding
Seeding is easier and less expensive than sprigging. Use fresh, weed-free seed. Broadcast at the
rate of 4 - 5 pounds per 1000 square feet. Planting dates are April to July. It is advisable to kill any existing weeds with a nonselective herbicide such as glyphosate before planting.

Fertiliziation
Proper fertilization of carpet grass is an important practice in a good maintenance program. Carpet grass does not tolerate excessive use of fertilizer, especially nitrogen. For a low-fertility regime, a complete fertilizer can be applied at 1 pound of N per 1000 square feet annually. For a slightly higher quality lawn, up to 2 pounds of N can be applied annually.

Mowing
If fertilized as recommended, carpetgrass will require mowing every 10 to 14 days at a height of 1 to 2 inches. Weekly mowing with a rotary mower may be necessary during the summer to remove the unsightly seedheads.

Watering
Carpetgrass thrives in wet soil and will require irrigation if grown on well-drained soils. Irrigating as needed is an excellent way to water any grass, provided the proper amount of water is applied when needed and not at a later or more convenient time. When using this approach, water at the first sign of wilt and apply 3/4 inch of water per application. During prolonged droughts, it may be necessary to water carpetgrass every other day. If carpetgrass is grown on naturally wet soils where it is best adapted, irrigation may not be necessary.

Pest Problems
Carpetgrass is damaged by nematodes and several insects and diseases. Refer to pest control chapters of the Florida Lawn Handbook for control measures.

Insects
Lawn caterpillars, mole crickets and spittlebugs cause damage. Worms are especially damaging on well-fertilized carpetgrass.

Diseases
The principal disease affecting carpetgrass is brown patch.

Nematodes
If carpetgrass is grown on poorly drained, wet soils, nematodes should not be a major problem.
However, on well-drained soils, nematodes can cause very serious damage to carpetgrass. These soilborne, microscopic worms attack the grass roots and, if not controlled, can weaken or ultimately kill the entire lawn.

Courtsey of http://www.ufl.edu