A Little Bit About Grass Seed Planting

 

I’ve been fielding a lot of questions about the best type of grass seed to plant. My answer really comes down to two things:

 

1) Is the soil warm enough for warm-season grass seed to germinate?

2) Are you planting in sun or shade?

Warm-season grasses need consistently warm soil temperatures for good germination and establishment. Instead of planting simply because the calendar says it’s spring, wait until soil temperatures are appropriate for the particular grass you’re planting. Planting too early can result in slow or uneven germination.

 
 

Common Bermuda Grass

 

Common Bermuda is one of the most economical and widely used warm-season grasses grown from seed. It establishes relatively quickly under favorable warm conditions and spreads by both stolons and rhizomes to form a durable lawn.

Bermuda performs best in full sun and has good heat and drought tolerance once established. Its biggest limitation is shade—it generally performs poorly when it doesn’t receive enough sunlight.

Germination time varies with soil temperature, moisture, seed quality, and other growing conditions, so don’t rely on an exact number of days.

 

 
 

Centipede Grass

 

Centipede Grass is another warm-season turfgrass commonly grown in our region. It generally establishes more slowly from seed than Bermuda and prefers acidic, well-drained soils with relatively modest fertility.

Centipede performs best with plenty of sunlight but can tolerate some partial shade. However, it shouldn’t be considered a true shade grass.

Once established, Centipede forms a relatively dense, low-growing lawn and is popular because of its lower maintenance and fertilizer requirements compared with some other warm-season turfgrasses.

A healthy, dense Centipede lawn can help suppress weeds, but no turfgrass will completely “choke out” weeds under every condition.

 

 
 

Zoysia Grass

 

Zoysia Grass creates a dense, attractive warm-season lawn once established. That density can help reduce weed competition, but Zoysia is generally slower to establish than Bermuda.

Some Zoysia varieties can be established from seed, while others are available primarily as sod or vegetative material. Establishment speed and shade tolerance also vary considerably by Zoysia species and cultivar.

In general, Zoysia performs best with plenty of sunlight but many varieties tolerate more partial shade than Bermuda.

 

 
 

How Do You Plant Warm-Season Grass Seed?

 

Warm-season grass seed can be planted using several methods. For a traditional seeding project, prepare the soil properly, distribute the seed evenly with an appropriate spreader, and follow the seed label for recommended rates, soil contact, and watering.

Hydroseeding or hydromulching is another option. This method applies a slurry that may contain seed, mulch, water, fertilizer, and other materials using specialized equipment.

Whichever method you choose, consistent moisture during germination and early establishment is critical. Newly seeded areas shouldn’t be allowed to completely dry out, but they also shouldn’t remain waterlogged.

 
 

What About a Shady Lawn?

 

Shade is one of the biggest challenges when growing warm-season turfgrass in East Texas. There isn’t a warm-season grass seed that’s going to create a beautiful lawn in deep shade.

St. Augustine is commonly used where more shade tolerance is needed and generally tolerates partial shade better than Bermuda, but it still requires adequate light to remain healthy. It is typically established with sod or plugs rather than seed.

Certain Zoysia cultivars can also offer useful shade tolerance, depending on the site and amount of available sunlight.

If an area receives very little direct or filtered sunlight, even shade-tolerant turf may struggle. In those locations, consider alternatives such as shade-tolerant groundcovers, landscape beds, or mulch instead of repeatedly trying to establish grass.

 
 

Choose the Grass for Your Yard

 

There isn’t one grass that’s best for every East Texas lawn. Consider sunlight, soil conditions, drainage, maintenance requirements, and how the area will be used before choosing a turfgrass.

And if you’re planting from seed, be patient! Wait for appropriately warm soil, prepare the area properly, and give those seedlings the moisture and care they need to become established.