Warm Season Grass Seed

About Warm Season Grass Seed

Warm season grasses grow best in the summer months and go dormant at the first sign of frost in the fall. They are found in warm and humid or warm and arid climates, generally in the south and southwest. The most common types of warm season grass you will find is Bermudagrass, centipede grass, zoysiagrass, and bahiagrass. Each grass is suited for different environments, varying with drought tolerance, shade tolerance, high traffic, slow or fast growing, etc. If you are not sure what type of lawn you have, check out our lawn care schedule.

How To Use Warm Season Grass Seed

The seeding process itself is not difficult when it comes to warm season grass seed; it is the choices you will be faced with. Below is a brief description of the common warm season grass types, so you can get a better idea of what will work best for your lawn. If you are unsure, your local extension office or master gardener can help lead you down the right path.

• Bermudagrass: This type of seed grows dense, attractive turf, with good growth since it spreads very quickly and can become established quickly. It can recover from damage well and is a great choice for high-traffic areas. It does best in well-drained, balanced pH soils, but can adapt to different soil environments and is fairly drought tolerant. However, it does need a lot of water, fertilizer, and mowing to maintain its aesthetic appeal.
• Centipede grass: This grass is a very low maintenance grass with high drought tolerance. It has a thick thatch that crowds out weeds and doesn’t grow very high on average. It does well in acidic, sandy soil, but does best in well-drained, slightly moist soil. Centipede grass is very slow growing, which means it has a hard time recovering from damage or injury and isn’t suited for high-traffic areas.
• Zoysiagrass: This type of grass will form a dense sod that has moderate shade tolerance, good drought tolerance, and good weed control. It has a fine, attractive look, but struggles in clay soils or soil with poor drainage. It does require moderate maintenance, especially when it comes to mowing.
• Bahiagrass: Bahiagrass can be a good middle ground for many people, since it has good shade tolerance, excellent drought tolerance, and water tolerance, so it is hard to mess up the maintenance of this grass. However, it doesn’t spread well, which will create a clumpy or spaced out looking turf, and doesn’t recover from damage well.