How to Harvest Centipede Grass Seed
Centipede grass seed can often be difficult to find or expensive when it is available. The reason for this is that centipede grass does not often produce commercial-grade seed. No special equipment is necessary for harvesting centipede grass seed from a residential yard. If you have centipede grass, you may harvest your own seeds by hand, although the process can be somewhat tedious and time-consuming.
Water your centipede grass as usual, keeping it green and healthy.
Stop mowing your grass. Allow your grass to blossom and establish seed heads. Seed heads are generally ripe toward the end of summer — often two harvests can be made, one in midsummer and the other in late summer, depending on your local weather conditions. Warm weather favors multiple harvests. Seeds are usually ready to harvest approximately six weeks after the grass flowers.
- Centipede grass seed can often be difficult to find or expensive when it is available.
- If you have centipede grass, you may harvest your own seeds by hand, although the process can be somewhat tedious and time-consuming.
Check a seed head for ripeness by slapping it against the palm of your hand. If seeds break loose, the seed heads are ready for harvest.
Put on gloves. Grab the grass stalk just below the seed head and pull your fingers up through the seed head. Seeds will separate from the grass and collect on your fingers and hands. Practice will allow you to develop a method of collecting the largest number of seeds with each pass of your fingers. Collect seeds from one or two seed heads at a time.
- Check a seed head for ripeness by slapping it against the palm of your hand.
Place the collected seeds in a brown paper bag as you collect them. Place the bag of collected seeds in a warm, dry location with the bag open and allow the seeds to dry for two weeks. Shake the bag every two days to encourage even drying.
Spread the dry seeds on a clean sheet and gently blow on the seeds to remove dry leaves and other debris. Pick out larger pieces of debris with your fingers until the seeds are clean. Place the seeds in a small brown paper bag, mark the bag indicating the contents and the date of harvest and seal the bag until you are ready to plant your new lawn.
Tip
Plant the seeds during the spring following their harvest.
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References
Tips
- Plant the seeds during the spring following their harvest.
Writer Bio
Larry Parr has been a full-time professional freelance writer for more than 30 years. For 25 years he wrote cartoons for television, everything from "Smurfs" to "Spider-Man." Today Parr train dogs and write articles on a variety of topics for websites worldwide.
