A healthy, green lawn is the center stage of any beautiful home landscape, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. If you live in a hot climate and would love to have a hardy, drought-tolerant lawn as attractive as it is tough, Bermuda grass could be your match. This guide covers everything you need to know about Bermuda seeding, including selecting the proper type and growing a beautiful, healthy lawn.
Bermuda grass takes the cake for being one of the most durable and sun-loving. It forms thick, lush turf that people and pets can play on, even in dense shade or scorching sun. Most homeowners choose Bermuda sod for its immediate results, but planting Bermuda seeding is a surprisingly inexpensive process—and with proper establishment and care, your lawn will be just as beautiful.
This blog will educate you through the steps of planting Bermuda seeding. Learn how to prepare your soil, the best types of planting methods for bermuda seeding, and the necessary steps taken after seeding that are essential in successfully germinating grass seed. Whether you just bought your first home or own a landscaping business of 20 years, there is something here for everyone to take away and implement into growing their Bermuda grass lawn from seed.
Why Choose Bermuda Grass?
Before we get to the “how,” let’s discuss the “why.” There’s a reason Bermuda grass is so popular, particularly in the southern states.
Drought Tolerance and Heat Resistance: Loves hot, full sun, and is resistant to both drought and high temperatures, with green that lasts.
Longevity: It grows quickly and has deep roots, forming a dense ground cover that can manage kids, pets, and backyard parties. It recovers quickly from damage.
Easy Care: Once Bermuda turf is established, care is easy. It is a prolific grower and can choke out many weeds.
Adaptability: Bermuda grass is a common choice for residential lawns and public parks as well as golf courses, athletic fields.
Understanding Bermuda Grass Varieties
Not all Bermuda grass is the same. There are many types, all of them distinct. The right Bermuda grass seed for your purposes is the first crucial step toward success.
Common Bermuda Grass: This is the least expensive as well as the most common. It sets fast and is considered durable, but can also be a bit more coarse.
Hulled vs. Unhulled Seeds: You will frequently see seeds listed as “hulled” or “unhulled.” Hulled Bermuda grass seed means that most of the protective outer shell has been removed, so you can expect faster germination! usually, within 7-10 days. These are slower to sprout, but if you have less-than-ideal conditions in which to start the watermelon seeds, they will be more likely to survive.
Hybrid Bermuda Grass Seed: Hybrids are created and tested to have more desirable qualities, such as a finer texture, richer color, better disease resistance, etc. They are frequently found on golf courses and sports fields. Although some of the improved cultivars are available only as sod, newer choices, such as seeded hybrids, provide a good compromise.
How to Plant Bermuda Grass?
Seeding a lawn (even if it is just a small portion) properly helps ensure long-term success.
Want to roll up your sleeves? This is how to plant Bermuda seeding for a thick and healthy lawn.
Step 1: Collect Your Tools And Supplies
It will also help that everything you need is there. You’ll need:
- Bermuda grass seeds
- A rotary or drop spreader
- Garden rake
- Lawn roller (optional, but helpful)
- Topsoil or compost
- Lawn starter fertilizer
- Hose with a sprinkler attachment
Step 2: Know When to Plant
Timing is everything. When to Put Bermuda Seeding Down? The best time is late spring to early summer when temperatures reach and hover at over 65°F/18°C. This warm soil is important in regard to how long it takes grass seed to grow; quick germination and establishment before the peak heat of summer. Don’t wait too late to plant, as the grass needs time to establish itself before the first frost.
Step 3: Getting Your Lawn Ready for Planting
You can’t mess up the time of year to plant Bermuda seeding either, it’s such an accommodating grass! 5. The Most Important Step: Prepare Your Soil Properly. Preparing your soil is far and away the most important step when seeding Bermuda grass.
- Prepare the Surface: Clear a way of vines, grasses, rocks, and debris. You must begin with a clean table, after all.
- Prepare the Soil: Till up to 4-6 inches of soil with a tiller. This fractures compacted soil and promotes drainage and root growth.
- Amend the soil: Spread 1 to 2 inches of good-quality topsoil or compost over the area and work it into the native soil. This amends the soil with organic matter.
- Level the Ground: Rake the area to level it, getting rid of all dark spots and raising lower points. As I said earlier, this guarantees even water distribution and a nice final yard. Walk on the soil or use a lawn roller to gently tamp it.
Step 4: Bermuda Seeding Tips and Tricks
Onto the real reason for the season: Bermuda seeding.
- Set Your Spreader: Adjust your spreader per the seed bag recommendations. The average amount to apply Bermuda seeding is about 1-2 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft.
- Spread the Seed: To distribute the seed evenly, subdivide it into halves. Apply over the entire lawn in a north-south direction with the first half. Then use the second half to make another pass over the area in an east-west direction.
- Rake It In: Gently rake the seeded area so that the seeds are covered with about ¼ inch of soil. This covers the seeds and provides good seed-to-soil contact, which is necessary for germination.
- Roll the Area: If you have a lawn roller, fill it up about one-third with water and gently roll the whole area. This ensures the seed pressing into the soil.
- After Seeding: The First 30 Days, the job doesn’t end once the seeds are in. Good care during the first growth year is vital.
- Watering: Until the new grass takes root, keep the top inch of soil consistently moist. This could mean a small amount of water 2-3 times a day, in the first 1-2 weeks. Don’t cause puddles by overwatering, because it will wash out the seeds. When the grass grows about 2 inches tall, you can cut watering back to once a day and then move gradually to deeper but less frequent watering.
- Fertilizing: Use a high-phosphate starter fertilizer immediately after seeding. This element helps in the root formation. Be sure to follow application rates from the product label so you won’t scorch the new seedlings.
- Weed Control: Weeds will want to compete with the new grass. Hand-pull any you see, but avoid using herbicides during the first three months at least. After you’ve established your lawn, you can apply the best pre-emergent for Bermuda grass in spring and fall to keep new weeds from popping up.
Keeping your Bermuda Grass Lawn in Good Condition
Does Bermuda grass spread?
Yes, and aggressively! This is among its great features. Once you have that in place, follow proper Bermuda grass maintenance to maintain its appearance.
- Mowing: Mow Bermuda grass low, 1-1.5 inches deep. Frequent mowing makes the grass spread sideways, producing a lower lawn.
- Watering: Water well, but infrequently, about 1 inch of water per week.
- Fertilizing: Give a balanced fertilizer to your lawn every 4-6 weeks throughout the growing season.
- Overseed Bermuda Grass: In regions where Bermuda grass turns brown and dormant in winter, some homeowners overseed with annual rye grass in the fall for year-round green lawns.
Your Path to a Beautiful Lawn from Bermuda Seeding
Starting a Lawn From Seed. Bermuda seeding your lawn can be time-consuming, but the reward is having a lush carpet of grass. From its high tolerance to the scorching heat to its thick carpet feel, there are many reasons why people like Bermuda grass for a thriving lawn that won’t cost much maintenance. And there you have it! Through these processes, Bermuda grass seeding and maintenance for a beautiful lawn are within your reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for Bermuda seeding to germinate?
Bermuda grass seed germination can begin in just 7 days with ideal conditions (warm soil and consistent moisture). Hulled seeds can germinate in as few as 9 days, while unhulled ones may take up to 21. You ought to see broad growth within a month.
Can I just put grass seed on my existing lawn?
And while you can, you won’t get good results. Bermuda seed requires contact with soil in order to germinate. Just throwing it onto an established lawn means most of it will likely fail to germinate at all. Proper soil preparation is key.
What is the quickest way to kill weeds prior to seeding Bermuda grass?
The best method is to apply a non-selective herbicide two weeks prior to tilling the soil, which will kill all living vegetation. Read safety instructions provided with the product.
How do I know that my soil is warm enough to plant Bermuda seed?
One to two inches below the surface, the temperature is measured with a soil thermometer. Or you could plant after the last spring frost, when daytime temperatures are consistently in the 80s ( Fahrenheit).
