Parts of Metairie supply the acid; almost nowhere here supplies the drainage, so this grass needs an honest look before you buy it.
Centipede GrassMetairie
Centipede Sod in Metairie: Where It Works
Centipede sod in Metairie can give you the low-feed, low-mow lawn its “lazy man’s grass” nickname promises, but only on the right lot. It wants acidic soil and good drainage.
Centipede for your Metairie yard
Parish
Jefferson ParishBest for
Owners who want a lawn, not a hobbyPallet coverage
About 450 sq ft eachEstimates
FREE on all servicesLicensed & Insured, Best Price GuaranteeFREE Estimates4 Grass Varieties14 Metro Cities
01 · Metairie
Which Metairie soils give centipede the acid it wants?
LSU puts centipede’s ideal pH at 5 to 6 and warns that leaves can yellow above 7. Here’s where Metairie’s mapped soils land:
An LSU AgCenter article on centipede adds that it survives at pH 5 and can do fine at 6.7, just lighter in color. Fill trucked in for a regrade can change the picture entirely, so test the finished grade, not just the old yard. The LSU AgCenter soil testing lab runs routine lawn samples.
- 01
Allemands muck, around Lakeshore Playground
Allemands muck, around Lakeshore Playground: About pH 5.4 at the surface, right in centipede’s preferred range.
- 02
Cancienne loams, along Metairie Road
Cancienne loams, along Metairie Road: Around 5.7 at the points we checked in Old Metairie, Metairie Terrace and Beverly Knoll, also a good match.
- 03
Schriever clay, Bonnabel Place
Schriever clay, Bonnabel Place: Near 7.3, past the point where LSU expects yellowing.
- 04
The big marsh muck unit near the lake
The big marsh muck unit near the lake: Federal soil data has no pH value for it, and its series range runs from moderately acid to moderately alkaline. Only a soil test answers it.
02 · Metairie
Can centipede cope with Metairie drainage?
This is the weak point. LSU says centipede performs best in well-drained soil with little compaction, and not one soil in Metairie rates better than somewhat poorly drained. LSU’s 2026 winter decline sheet names poorly drained, low-lying and silty clay soils as where centipede and St. Augustine suffer most, and the Cancienne silty clay loam along Metairie Road carries a perched wet layer from December through April.
LSU’s fixes for winter decline are core aeration with sand topdressing, grading or surface drains, and deep, infrequent watering in summer. Filling low spots is part of our prep, but installing drains is not a service we offer, so a yard that truly needs drains should get them before sod.
Drought is the opposite problem. That LSU article also calls centipede one of the most drought-sensitive turfgrasses, and October averages only about 3.7 inches of rain here.
03 · Metairie
How do you keep centipede decline away?
LSU describes centipede decline as a complex, lethal syndrome that shows up as large dead or yellow patches in spring. Three habits drive it, and you control all of them.
- 01
Overfeeding
LSU’s figures run from 1 to 2 lb of nitrogen yearly on each 1,000 square feet of lawn. Stay in that band and never go past 2. Skip fall nitrogen, and go easy on phosphorus, which can hurt centipede quality.
- 02
Tall mowing and thatch
Keep it around 1 to 2 inches. LSU warns that tall cuts and heavy thatch set centipede up for freeze damage and decline.
- 03
Dry spells
Give it a deep soak when it wilts in a dry spell, and don’t skip watering in a dry October. Our post on fixing common centipede problems covers the symptoms.
04 · Metairie
Centipede questions from Metairie homeowners
Will centipede grow under live oaks?
It tolerates light shade and declines in heavy shade. Under the protected canopy of Old Metairie, St. Augustine for Metairie shade is the stronger pick.
Can kids and dogs play on it?
Not much. Centipede doesn’t tolerate traffic or compaction, and stressed spots turn purple to red. For a busy yard, compare zoysia in Metairie.
Why is my centipede turning yellow?
LSU notes the leaves can yellow once soil pH rises above 7, which can happen on Schriever clay or alkaline fill. A soil test sorts it out before you add anything.
Is centipede right for your Metairie yard?
On acidic ground near Metairie Road with decent grade and light use, centipede can be an easy lawn to live with. We’ll check the soil, the slope and the shade before recommending it. Learn more on our centipede sod service page, see how we lay sod in Metairie or our Metairie area page, and get a free estimate.
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