Bermuda Grass Seed. Your Definitive Guide

I'm here to share my experience. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Bermuda grass is just amazing. I mean let us count the ways It looks amazing under the sun. It’s resilient. And it grows… quickly.

Whether it’s on your lawn, a park, or a golf course, this type of grass imported sometime in the 1800s  has shown its versatility. This among characteristics may have been enough to get you on the Bermuda grass bandwagon.

It’s pretty safe to say that Bermuda grass can be a one-size-fits-all choice when it comes to grass. To decorate your lawn or pitch with this type of grass involves choosing the right type of Bermuda grass seed.

That’s right folks. There are different types of Bermuda grass seeds. And, not all are created equal. Fear not, for here are our top 5 picks of the best Bermuda grass seeds.

But, before we get into all of that, let’s get a few things out of the way.

What To Consider When Planting Or Switching To Bermudagrass

Choosing the right seed involves taking stock of your unique circumstances.

Here are some of the factors you need to think of as you consider switching to good ol’ Bermudagrass:

Average Temperature Of Your Area

For the most part, Bermuda grass thrives in dry and humid environments. This type of grass can survive even on minimal irrigation.

Bermuda grass could be your best option if you live in a warm or tropical climate.

Average Annual Rainfall In Your Area

Since Bermuda grass thrives in warmer weather, it can hold a lot of moisture. Sure, this is great when rainfall isn’t much in your town or state.

But, having too much rainfall can drown your Bermuda grass. Inundated Bermuda grass either turns brown or dies.

So, if you get a lot of rain in your state, you may be better off with some other type of grass seed.

Your Intended Area Or Surface

Bermuda grass needs two things:

Minimal moisture and full sunlight.

To ensure these, your area or lawn needs to be fully exposed to the sun. More importantly, the area should be flat. Why? Because any concavity can create puddles. Puddles can mean uneven water distribution. We don’t want that!

This can lead to some patches of Bermudagrass dying from inundation.

What Grass You Already Have On Your Lawn And How Much

Bermudagrass is not only resilient and versatile. It coexists with other types of grass or seeds. But, not all.

You need to be sure that the grass on your lawn right now (if any) mixes with Bermudagrass.

For example, you don’t need to worry about seeding Bermudagrass alongside Kentucky Bluegrass or St. Augustine grass.

On the other hand, it’s a different story if you’re seeding alongside Zoysiagrass. Bermudagrass’s aggressive growth and resilience can end up growing on top of your Zoysiagrass.

Timing Is Everything.

This question comes up a lot:

When is the best time to plant Bermudagrass?

The answer is simple, folks. You plant Bermuda Grass during the summer months. This can vary depending on where you’re from in the United States or elsewhere.

Why? Because Bermudagrass grows when the soil reaches temperatures of about 18 to 20 degrees Celsius.

Fall? Not a good idea either.

If you’re thinking of spring, maybe. Just make sure that the chances of frost are minimal.

In short, plant your Bermuda Grass Seeds when it’s nice and warm. Plant them when you know they won’t freeze.

My Top 5 Picks For The Best Bermuda Grass Seeds On The Market

 Now that you’re sure about Bermudagrass, where do you start? What can you choose from?

 To take away your analysis from paralysis, I have narrowed the best Bermudagrass seeds down to 5. 

 By the way, these are not necessarily ranked in order of preference. Be that is it may, it does give you a good range of choices.

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed: Rogaine For Your Lawn

The Turf Builder is Scotts’ flagship Bermudagrass seed. Scotts has made improvements with its WaterSmart technology.

WaterSmart coating can be found on the Turf Builder seeds. This technology is the latest in water absorption for all types of seeds. With WaterSmart, the Turf Builder retains moisture for longer periods even with minimal water.

This allows the Bermudagrass to survive for months on end in hot and dry places. Not only does WaterSmart coating lead to long-lasting Bermudagrass. It also allows for fuller and thicker grass growth.

My Thoughts On The Turf Builder

Scotts has made the right choice in the technology it incorporates. With WaterSmart, the company’s Bermudagrass seeds germinate with minimal moisture.

The Turf Builder seeds also grow to become thick and dense Bermudagrass. Under the right conditions, you can get grass that is three inches high in about a month. Besides height, the Turf Builder also guarantees quick spread and establishment.

Quick and full spread sounds great, right? Well, it is. But, this can backfire in some ways.

First, you may need to be ready to uproot some of your other grass. In particular, if you have some Zoysia grass, be prepared to say goodbye to it.

Bermudagrass, especially the Turf Builder, can and will over-encroach.

Second, its rapid growth with minimal water might make it seem low maintenance. But, then again, if you have grass that grows quickly and thick, verticutting is bound to be a ritual of yours.

All in all, for all its pros and cons, the Scotts Turf Builder does live up to its name.

Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Bermudagrass: Heavy-Duty Bermudagrass For Your Lawn Or Lacrosse Pitch

EZ Seed Patch and Repair comes with everything needed to make your Bermudagrass grow. Scotts pulled out all the stops on this one.

Other than seeds, the contents of the pack include mulch. This mulch acts as a sponge for the seeds, ensuring adequate moisture once applied. There is more.

The product also comes with fertilizer. The fertilizer features the latest in controlled release technology. This technology provides nutrients to the seeds as early as seeding.

The EZ Seed’s tackifier also provides the necessary adhesion to the soil. The tackifier allows the seed to maintain its growth without being washed away.

All in all, you get four products for the price of one. The resulting grass is nothing short of tough, able to withstand high traffic and scorching heat.

My Honest Review Of The EZ Seed Patch And Repair

The EZ Seed Patch and Repair lives up to its name.

With everything included, Bermudagrass can be seen thick and full in as little as two weeks. Another two to four weeks, and you get the full establishment of your turf. Also, it
Right off the bat, however, one thing that sticks out is the price. Not that it breaks the bank. But, it isn’t the cheapest of Bermudagrass seeds. Many also take issue with the ration. After all, when a person spends on Bermudagrass seeds, that is what they expect. The approximate ratio between mulch and seeds is 10:1. This tends to concern some consumers.

Yet, as mentioned earlier, you get seeds, mulch, tackifier, and fertilizer in one package- everything that makes the product effective.

There also seems to be a difference in growth depending on area. Generally, you can expect growth within 20 days. The first 10 days are often filled with watering and other maintenance activities.

Outsidepride Arden 15 Hybrid Bermuda Grass Seed: Quick Growth And Color Vibrance

The Arden 15 Hybrid is the latest addition to Outsidepride’s line of Bermudagrass seeds. Its predecessor is the Princess 77.

For the Arden 15 hybrid, Outsidepride has made certain improvements to ensure the seed’s cold tolerance and color vibrancy. The seed can sprout in virtually any area, making it a mainstay of golf courses, lawns, and parks.

You can even find Bermudagrass of the Arden 15 Hybrid variety on sports turfs.

The Arden Hybrid 15 boasts color retention even in the fall. As a hybrid, this seed germinates to be grass that gets green even as early as spring. It also takes a while for it to lose its color once fall sets in.

The germination period of the Arden 15 Hybrid is about 7 days. With enough TLC and sunlight, you can see full Bermudagrass within two weeks. The trick, though, is keeping the grass most for the first week to 10 days.

My Review

It’s pretty easy to plant. You only need to bury the seed in less than an inch of soil. I would say that there are only a couple of downsides:

  • The Arden Hybrid 15 Bermudaseeds mature into really dense grass. So, if you live in a place as warm as Arizona or Florida, prepare to mow or cut your grass once every few weeks.
  • It can be pretty high maintenance. This is especially true for the first couple of weeks when you need to keep the grass watered. This could cause some problems if you’ve got a lot going on in your day.

Princess 77 Hybrid Bermuda Grass Seeds- The Granddaddy Of Bermudagrass Seeds

A product of the Pennington Seed Company, the Princess 77 was one of the first Bermudagrass seeds to hit the horticultural market.

The hybrid seeds allow it to compete with other Bermudagrass varieties. The seed is the product of cloning. The seeds were created by cloning and cross-fertilizing two parent varieties.

The product is a resilient Bermudagrass seed that can cover much ground. The seed also has excellent resilience to drought. So, plant away if you happen to be in Texas or Arizona for the summer.

What Do I Think Of The Princess 77 Hybrid? Pretty High-Maintenance!

Well, for starters, I admire the heat resistance.

But, I take issue with a few of the seed’s shortcomings.

First, full coverage of your lawn can take four to eight weeks. It is not a long time. But, if you like quick results, there may be other alternatives like the Turf Builder and the Arden 15 Hybrid.

The seed is also relatively high-maintenance. You would have to be particular about how deep you bury the seed and mowing it. For results, you need to attend to your grass for two full weeks.

But, when it grows, you can bet that the product is resilient Bermudagrass that has a dark green color to it.

Outsidepride Yukon Bermuda Grass Seed- Turf That Lasts Even In The Cold

Here is another product from the boys and girls at Outsidepride.

The Yukon Bermudagrass seed was developed alongside Oklahoma State University’s Turf Research and Development team. The seed features the best in moisture retention and resilience.

What sets the Yukon Bermudagrass seed apart from its contemporaries is its tolerance to cold. Unlike other variants of Bermudagrass, that of the Outsidepride Yukon’s can survive temperatures much lower than 50 degrees.

Truly, it’s a surprise this isn’t Outsidepride’s flagship Bermuda Grass seed brand.

My Thoughts On Yukon

Bermudagrass has generally earned a bad rep for being abrasive. But, then again, we could put that down to the grass’s resilience. You won’t get that with Outsidepride’s Yukon.

Somehow, Outsidepride and the University of Oklahoma got this type of Bermudagrass to be soft. So soft, in fact, that many have found it a joy to lie down on.

Yukon has excellent moisture retention. Its resilience is top-notch. Perhaps, this is because the seed is the product of crossing five different parent plants.

Overall, Outsidepride’s Yukon boasts longevity and softness.

Manual for Applying Bermuda Grass

This manual provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply Bermuda grass.

Materials:

  • Bermuda grass seed or sod
  • Lawn spreader or roller
  • Fertilizer
  • Garden rake
  • Lawn mower
  • Water hose or irrigation system

Step 1: Preparing the Soil

  1. Remove all existing vegetation, rocks, and debris from the area where you plan to apply Bermuda grass.
  2. Test the soil pH and make any necessary adjustments to ensure it is between 6.0 and 7.0, which is optimal for Bermuda grass growth.
  3. Use a garden rake to loosen the top 1-2 inches of soil.

Step 2: Applying the Grass Seed or Sod

  1. Determine the amount of Bermuda grass seed or sod needed for your area. Refer to the table below for seeding rates.
  2. Use a lawn spreader or roller to distribute the grass seed evenly over the prepared soil. If using sod, lay it down in a staggered pattern, so the seams do not line up.
  3. Lightly rake the soil to cover the seed or sod with a thin layer of soil.
  4. Apply a starter fertilizer according to the package directions.
Area to be Seeded (sq. ft.) Amount of Seed (lbs.) Amount of Sod (sq. ft.)
1,000 1-2 400-500
2,000 2-4 800-1,000
5,000 5-10 2,000-2,500
10,000 10-20 4,000-5,000
20,000 20-40 8,000-10,000

Step 3: Watering and Maintenance

  1. Water the area immediately after planting, keeping the soil consistently moist until the grass is established. Refer to the table below for watering recommendations.
  2. After the grass is established, mow it to a height of 1-2 inches.
  3. Fertilize the grass every 6-8 weeks during the growing season.
  4. Water the grass deeply once a week, or as needed, to keep it healthy and green.
Week Frequency Duration
1 3 times/day 15-20 minutes each time
2 2 times/day 15-20 minutes each time
3 1 time/day 30-40 minutes
4+ 1 time/week 30-40 minutes

Bermuda Grass FAQs

Bermuda Grass may be common. But, questions about its maintenance and seeding pop up on the forums as quickly as weeds.

Here, we try to answer some of the most commonly-asked questions about Bermudagrass.

“When Is The Best Time To Plant Bermuda Grass?”

As mentioned earlier, Bermudagrass is one of those species of grass that sprout in the heat. More specifically, the ideal ground temperature is at least 65 degrees. At least, this is the ideal temperature for most variants. So, you will have to plan your seeding and maintenance around times of the year when it is hot and sunny. Often, this means summer. Depending on where you are in the United States, this can vary. Summer typically starts in June and continues until September.

Of course, in a place like Fresno, California, you can plant your Bermudagrass seeds year-round. The same is true if you live in Nevada.

“Is It Hard To Grow Bermuda Grass From A Seed?”

Quick answer for you: NO!

In fact, Bermuda grass grows from seeds. Part of the misconception about its difficulty with seeding might come from how quickly it tends to spread.

Bermuda grass has been known to over-encroach and take over lawns like weeds. This is due to its aggressive spread, especially in the warmer months. So, for most people, the assumption is that Bermuda grass only spreads. It is not planted.

Of course, you only need to look at the horticultural market to see that this is far from the truth.

In short, it is easy to grow Bermuda grass by planting its seeds.

“Can You Walk On Bermuda Grass Seed?”

Bermuda grass is generally resilient. Ironically, the same cannot be said of its seeds. Yes, Bermuda grass is planted under a protective layer of soil. But, this does not mean that it will survive traffic. In fact, this is Bermuda grass in its most delicate state. As the owner of the lawn, you need to ensure that the seeded area does not experience any traffic.

You can do this by:

  • Seeding in a low-traffic part of your lawn first
  • Prohibiting access to your lawn altogether

Once your seeds mature into fully-established turf, trample away! In general, you may want to protect your seeds for about 8 to 12 weeks. This can vary. If you use some of the Bermuda grass seeds reviewed earlier, the time may be shorter.

“How Do I Make My Bermuda Grass Dark Green?”

Bermuda grass is, by default, bright green. If you want a darker shade of green, it comes right down to fertilizer and how you use it.

A nitrogen-based fertilizer can give Bermudagrass a darker hue of green. You need to be mindful of when you apply the fertilizer. Apply fertilizer only when the grass is dry. The ratio also comes into play. For every 1,000 square meters, you need to use 2 to 3 pounds of fertilizer.

Also, what you do after you move your Bermudagrass plays a role too. Most lawn owners make the mistake of raking the trimmings to keep the lawn clean. Don’t do this.

Instead, leave the clippings. The clippings decompose naturally. When they do, they provide additional nitrogen and nutrients for your Bermuda grass.

“How Do I Make My Bermuda Grass Thicker?”

Just like making it greener, it comes down to fertilizer. Another way to add density to your Bermudagrass turf is by additional seeding. When choosing a seed for this purpose, go for one that is not a lawn replacement. When thickness is the goal, some of the best seeds are:

  • Scotts Turf Builder
  • Scotts EZ Seed Patch
  • Outsidepride Yukon

These are just some. Feel free to scour the web and experiment. Also, do something about your soil’s pH. For the most part, Bermuda grass grows in slightly acidic soil. By slightly acidic, we mean anything between 6.0 to 6.5. You can alter your soil’s pH by adding dolomitic lime to your soil.

“Will Bermuda Grass Seed Grow If I Just “Throw It Into The Ground”?”

Well, it depends on how hard you throw. Just kidding! No, you need to bury the seed.

But, don’t bury Bermuda seeds too deep. They need to be buried deep enough to prevent them from being washed away or moved. But, planted superficially enough to allow for sunlight.

So what’s the sweet spot? About ⅛ of an inch. This is the ideal depth for your Bermudagrass to sprout and germinate.

“Can Bermuda Grass Choke Out Weeds?”

If by “choke out” you mean “take over” or “grow in place of”, then yes. In fact, Bermuda grass has an aggressive growth and spread rate. It can easily overpower not just weeds. It can spread and take over other grass a lawn might have.

For this reason, many have considered Bermuda grass a weed itself. For lawn owners who enjoy Bermuda grass, the spread is a good thing. But, this may be something you need to take into account. Especially if you have other grass that you want to preserve. This conveniently brings us to the next question:

“Can You Mix Bermuda Grass With Zoysiagrass, St. Augustine Grass, And Kentucky Bluegrass?”

Bermudagrass can mix with other types of grass. A good rule of thumb to follow is this: If it grows in the same conditions as Bermuda grass, it can be planted alongside it.

This means that it is possible to plant the following with Bermudagrass:

  • Kentucky Bluegrass
  • St Augustine Grass

These two types of grass grow during the summer. Like Bermuda grass, they need full sun exposure. One type of grass that will not grow in similar conditions is Zoysiagrass. Zoysiagrass grows in shaded environments.

“How Do You Prepare Soil For Bermuda Grass?”

The first step is killing off the weeds or grass on your lawn (if any). Although it may not jeopardize the growth of Bermuda grass, the presence of other weeds or grass can create a patchy uneven appearance later on.

The best way to do this is to roto-till the grass. Roto-tilling does not require any chemicals that can damage your soil. You may need to do this two times, a week or two apart.

Then, you need to level the surface as Bermuda Grass grows best in flat soil that is fully exposed to sunlight. After levelling your soil, you can now overseed with Bermuda grass seeds.

“How Can I Make Bermuda Grass Spread Faster?”

You can get your Bermuda grass to spread faster by adding fertilizer and allowing air and sunlight to enter the soil. The real challenge lies in ensuring that this happens. The most common obstacles to getting Bermuda grass to spread are thatches.

Thatches are thick patches of dry grass that come together at certain parts of your lawn. These are so thick and dense that they prevent sunlight, water, and fertilizer to enter the soil. To remove these thatches, you can use a high-pressure blower. This will loosen up thatches and allow the soil to breathe.

As a result, fertilizer and sunlight can be allowed to nourish your Bermuda grass seeds.

“Does Bermuda Grass Spread On Its Own?”

Yes. Bermuda grows through seeding (with your intervention, obviously). And, through its stolons and rhizomes, through vegetative reproduction.

The stolons are above ground. As these elongate, some parts of the stolons root themselves to the soil. Here, they grow into new patches of Bermuda grass.

Rhizomes underground proliferate until they sprout into more patches of Bermuda grass on the topsoil.

“How Do You Keep Bermuda Grass From Spreading?”

Bermudagrass spreads aggressively due to its efficiency in photosynthesis. In other words, the more exposed it is to the sun, the quicker it spreads.

So, the most obvious way to mitigate the spread of Bermudagrass is to cover it. You can choose several materials. The material just needs to be dark.

For the most part, people tend to choose black plastic.

“In Which States Is It Best To Plant Bermuda Grass?”

Three words: Dry. Hot. States.

Right now, five states fit the description to a tee:

  • Florida
  • Texas
  • Louisiana
  • Hawaii

There are also other states where Bermuda grass thrives. These other states are Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas and some parts of California.

“Does Bermuda Grass Continue To Grow At Night?”

Whether or not Bermudagrass grows at night depends on some factors. One is the average day temperature. Day temperatures that are over 70 degrees can keep the soil warm for hours after the sun sets. So, at least for a few hours at night, Bermudagrass continues to grow.

The temperature in the soil at night does decrease. But, not long enough to stunt the growth of Bermudagrass if the average day temperature is 70 degrees.

“How Do You Keep Bermuda Grass Healthy?”

Mowing is the primary way to keep Bermuda grass healthy. Mowing your Bermudagrass regularly can prevent the development of thatches. Thatches can prevent air, sunlight, and fertilizer from nourishing your grass.

You do not need to cut the grass completely. Just be sure to keep the height at half an inch to an inch.

Also, there is no need to rake the clippings. You can leave them on the grass for additional soil and grass nutrition.

“What Kills Bermuda Grass?”

Covering Bermuda grass to prevent photosynthesis may retard the spread. But, it will not kill it. Bear in mind that Bermuda grass is very resilient to traffic and heat. With that in mind, you will need to resort to drastic ways to kill it.

One such drastic way is with a herbicide. One other way is by stripping the Bermuda grass off the lawn. After stripping the lawn, you may need to do it a second time to remove all rhizomes.

Once you have done this, cover the remaining soil with cardboard. Thereafter, you can bury the cardboard in either mulch or more topsoil.

“Do I Need To Rake In Grass Seed?”

Soil contact is essential for Bermudagrass seeds to germinate well.

For this reason, you cannot leave Bermudagrass seeds on the topsoil. Instead, you need to rake the seeds in. Once again, make sure that you bury the seeds ¼ to ⅛ of an inch to keep the seeds exposed to sunlight.

“Should I Put Topsoil Over Bermuda Grass Seed?”

Ordinarily, it is essential to put topsoil on any type of grass seed. But, not for Bermuda grass. Topsoil can interfere with the Bermudagrass seed’s ability to photosynthesize. This can slow down or stop its germination.

So, to prevent suffocating the seeds, you can opt for other materials like hay or straw. You can even consider mulching material.

“How Do I Keep Weeds Out Of My Bermuda Grass?”

Bermuda grass becomes susceptible to weeds for one reason: The Bermuda grass is thinning.

Bermudagrass grows thin for a laundry list of reasons. These reasons can be any of the following:

  • Insufficient sun exposure
  • Drought
  • Insects/ pests
  • Sub-optimal soil pH (too acidic or too basic)
  • Uneven moisture
  • Thatches
  • Compacted soil

When weeds grow, the only way to get rid of them is with selective weed control sprays. These sprays can kill weeds without causing damage to your Bermudagrass. You can also prevent weeds from growing. There are pre-emergence formulas that kill immature weeds and prevent them from maturing and spreading.

“How Long Does It Take Bermuda Grass To Sprout?”

It depends. But, on average, Bermudagrass sprouts anywhere from two to three weeks.

“Is Bermuda Grass Easy To Grow?”

Assuming that you are in an area where it is warm, growing Bermuda grass can be a walk in the park for you.

It will also help if you plan on seeding Bermuda grass in an area that is flat and receives a lot of sunlight.

“How Often Should You Fertilize Bermuda Grass?”

Ideally, you should fertilizer to your Bermuda grass every four to six weeks.

“How Often Should I Mow My Bermuda Grass Lawn?”

After the grass has been established, you would be surprised at how quickly your Bermuda lawn will require mowing. This means that mowing is frequent. You can expect to mow your Bermuda lawn once every week.

“How Often Should I Water My Bermuda Grass?”

It is possible to water Bermuda grass too much. So, water your Bermuda grass only once every three to four days. The only time you may have to water your Bermuda grass daily is probably the first one to two weeks during seeding.

“What Time Of Day Should I Water My Bermuda Grass?”

There are two times of the day you can water Bermuda grass. One is in the morning. More specifically, early in the morning. Try to water your Bermuda grass before 10 AM. At 10 AM is usually when it starts to get warmer. This can cause water to evaporate too quickly for your grass to absorb it.

The other time is later in the afternoon. Any time between 3 to 5 PM is best. Why? Because too early, and the water dries up. Too late (in the evening), and the water stays on the grass. This can inundate your Bermuda grass.

Final Word

Now that you know more about Bermuda grass, you can head to your local horticultural shop and take your pick of seeds.

Bermuda grass can be tough to control and grow. But, with what you’ve learned from this article, you can exercise your green thumb on this popular variety of grass.

Nick Wayne

Gardening and lawn care enthusiast

Nicolaslawn
Add a comment