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Carpetgrass Definition and Types

Carpetgrass: Definition, Types, Benefits and Usage

Carpetgrass comes from the Poaceae grass family and can grow in wet and sandy soils. It is ideal for low soil fertility and thrives in the wettest soil conditions

Carpetgrass comes in various types and has a blunt end that renders a soft texture. Its uses are limited, given its features and functions. It is best suited for parks or the side of the roads.

Carpet Grass

What is Carpetgrass?

Carpetgrass, commonly known as flat grass, is a perennial warm-season grass. Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of America, this creeping grass tolerates low soil fertility and high soil moisture.

Carpet grass was introduced to the United States in the early 1800s, and today you can find them growing from East Texas to Florida in the South and Arkansas to Virginia in the North. The ability to thrive under low fertility makes Carpetgrass a perfect choice for low-maintenance areas, such as golf courses, airports, etc. It is why most people prefer this stoloniferous grass on their home lawn or commercial property. 

Carpetgrass can be an excellent addition to your garden or lawn since it controls soil erosion and can thrive on moist sites without supplemental water.

What are the Types of Carpetgrass?

While Carpetgrass is also referred to as Louisianagrass and petit gazon, three types of carpetgrass are majorly popular as warm-season grass – Narrowleaf Carpetgrass (or Axonopus affinis), Broadleaf Carpetgrass (or Axonopus compressus), and Louisianagrass (or Axonopus fissifolius). 

Narrowleaf Carpetgrass has wide blades that are somewhat hairy and can thrive in cool, shady or less fertile areas. This type does not spread aggressively and, with all these features, still manages to be aesthetically appealing.

As the name implies, broadleaf Carpetgrass comes with broader leaf blades but resembles any common Carpetgrass. Unlike the narrow-leaf Carpetgrass, this particular type of Carpetgrass spreads rapidly, making itself the best choice for ground cover and grazing in orchards or plantations.

Mostly used for pasture and grazing fodder for cattle, the axonopus fissifolius or Louisianagrass loves water and grows marvelously near water. This species of grass forms a dense sod, making it difficult for the insect pests to damage its blades.

What are the Benefits of Carpetgrass?

  • Survives in the worst conditions: If you are a homeowner who chose Carpetgrass lawn, we understand that you might not have other choices, simply because either the soil at your lawn lacks plant nutrients, or fertility, is acidic with a pH of 5 – 6 or is wet for most of the year. Carpetgrass becomes the easiest and most popular choice if the soil has any of the above mentioned problems. This particular species of grass does not require you to make soil amendments and thrives in the worst soil conditions while saving you a lot of time and money over the years. 
  • Good tolerance for shade: Carpetgrass rises above most warm-season grasses since they require at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Carpetgrass, on the other hand, has great tolerance for shade. Let’s not assume that Carpetgrass does not need sunlight at all, but it can survive in more shade than any other warm-season grass. Well, there is a reason why Carpetgrass is preferred to turfgrass. 
  • Controls soil erosion : The first thing that every professional landscaper and novice gardener learns about landscape is that topsoil is essential for any plant growth and development. And soil erosion is the process of wind and rain weathering away topsoil. Dense grasses are planted to hold the soil, especially on slopes to prevent this problem. Carpetgrass is one of the most popular dense grasses that you can plant on erosion-prone soil or hilly yards to prevent a lack of topsoil.
  • Dense turfgrass: Carpetgrass is dense grass that spreads rapidly and fills gaps. This growth process doesn’t leave much room for weeds to sprout, making your job way easier when it comes to the weeding process. However, weeds encroaching on your Carpetgrass can be hard to manage since it is sensitive to many herbicides. 
  • Requires little to no fertilizer: Carpetgrass is the epitome of low maintenance, given its needs or requirements. They can thrive with no fertilizer to nourish them, which is why they are often used in cities for roadsides, parks, airports, and other areas that need vegetation, foliage, and greenery but won’t get regular maintenance. For thin and sparse grass blades, you can consider applying some nitrogen fertilizer only twice a year. 
  • Low-maintenance : After going through the above advantages of Carpetgrass, it won’t be incorrect to say that it is a low-maintenance warm-season grass with shade tolerance, low soil fertility tolerance, ideal for wet and sandy soil, but still thrive in the worst conditions without hassle.

Carpet Grass

How is Carpet Grass Used?

Carpetgrass is used often for lawns and as pasture grass in warm areas. Its use, however, indicates declining soil fertility in that particular area. And since Carpetgrass is better than many other grass types, lasts for a long time, and thrives in wet or sandy soil conditions, it is an excellent choice for those areas or turfgrass that receive a great deal of foot traffic. 

Carpetgrass is also majorly vegetatively propagated through runners or sown since it can seed easily. Nevertheless, due to the requirement of less maintenance, Carpetgrass is commonly planted for areas such as roadsides, airports, parks, and golf course roughs.

How Should Carpet Grass Be Maintained?

Even though Carpetgrass is a low-maintenance turfgrass, it is still important to follow some simple Carpetgrass maintenance tips to attain an attractive and aesthetically pleasing Carpet grass lawn. 

  • It is vital to water your Carpetgrass each week with either supplemental irrigation or rainfall. At the initial stage, irrigation is important to establish roots from the Carpetgrass seeds, but over time, it will require less maintenance. However, sandy soils may require more watering in case rainfall isn’t sufficient. Note that watering during the spring can be beneficial to prevent or reduce problems in the summer. 
  • Mowing is essential, especially during summer, since Carpetgrass can produce seed stalks and weeds that can be hard to pull out if left unattended. Eden recommends keeping a height of 1 to 2 inches of Carpetgrass to prevent producing seed heads. 
  • Avoid using herbicides as Carpetgrass is sensitive to most herbicides.
  • Avoid over-fertilizing the Carpetgrass lawn, or it will lead to a thatch layer (layer of undecomposed grass). The same suggestion applies to watering the grass. 
  • Make a note of your lawn areas that encounter any pest or fungal lawn disease to apply a preventive application.

Carpetgrass can be a great addition to your yard if you wish to plant grass that needs less maintenance and still thrives for most of the year. If you have more questions about Carpetgrass, its uses and benefits, or how to revive it after a long winter, contact Eden for more information. 

From selecting the right seasonal plants to installing an outdoor kitchen, our landscaping services can do it all for you. Contact us today for a stunning landscape!

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