Bahia Grass Seed For Pastures & Lawns

BAHIA GRASS LAWNS & PASTURES

Bahia grass is a good low input warm season lawn and pasture grass. Bahia can be easily planted from grass seed and provides a decent "medium utility" turf grass lawn in Southern state areas. Bahia turf requires a moderate amount of lawn grass care, maintenance and mowing. Several bahia grass varieties are available.

Bahia grass is a good all-around purpose grass that has increased in use due to it's ability to survive periods of drought. It is also a relatively low maintenance grass with less disease and insect problems than some of the other warm season grasses.

Please look through more information about Bahia grass lawns and pastures at the links on right.

This warm season perennial from South America was imported into the Southern USA states over 70+ years ago.

Primarily used extensively for beef production in pastures, it has also gained favor as a good low maintenance lawn grass for use in the deep South.

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Bahia Grass Seed For Lawns

Bahia grass is used extensively for lawns in the southern USA area, especially along coastal areas and in Florida. Argentine Bahia Grass is the preferred variety for Florida area, while Pensacola Bahia Grass is used in colder areas up to and inclusive of the transition zone. It is of course, not a fine bladed grass such as the cool season grasses, it is a good warm season area choice. Tifton 9 Bahia Grass is the newest Bahia and is generally the best choice for a pasture. It works well for both cattle and horses.

It's drought resistance coupled with the ease of establishment from seeds, and its resistance to diseases and pests have made bahia grass a popular choice. About the only visual objection is the fact that bahia grass is a prolific grower and thus can require mowing every 5 to 7 days during summer growth months and the tendency to have a coarse look. Some homeowners do not like these prolific seed heads the plant produces, but that can be managed by mowing every 5 days during June-July-August when Bahia grass seeds out. It also produces a durable sod which is able to withstand the impact of moderate traffic.

Argentine Bahia is considered the best Bahia variety for use in deep-south lawns - Coastal areas and deep south locations from Georgia to Texas. It can form a good dense sod and will provide a better green lawn color than the other Bahia varieties. Argentine Bahia is not as cold-hardy as Pensacola Bahia Grass. Several other varieties of Bahia grass exist, with Pensacola especially Tifton 9 Bahia Grass Seed considered the next acceptable choices for lawn use. Learn more about the different Bahia grass varieties on our bahia grass variety page. For pasture usage, visit our bahia pasture page on Bahia grass.

Bahia Grass Seed for Pasture Use

The establishment rate for Bahia is somewhat slow, taking from 3-4 months to two years to fully establish a quality sod. Higher seeding rates can help accelerate establishment time. Bahia grass is a perennial grass that lasts indefinitely. For additional forage and land building purposes it is possible to plant seasonal legumes or grasses in the Bahia. The grass is easily managed and seed production is a secondary crop benefit for many farmers and ranchers in the South.

Drought resistance rate is high because of the deep and extensive root system that extends many feet into the soil. Bahia grass roots can extend as deep as 8-10 feet. This is a suitable grass to use on dry sandy soils and has extensive use as a soil builder crop rotation grass and for general forage pasture use in the Southern states.

Bahia Grass Advantages

• Easy to start from seed.
• High disease and insect resistance.
• Survives in a variety of soils from sandy to clays.
• Grows well on infertile, dry soils.
• Withstands close grazing and traffic wear.
• Grows thick enough to compete with weeds.
• With proper care & fertilizer, Bahia creates a beautiful light green lawn.
• Responds well to nitrogen applications - creating darker green color.

Bahia's Disadvantages When Used In Lawns

• Prolific seed head production during growing season - Not Great in lawns.
• Somewhat open growth habit over time (thinning out).
• Coarse texture.
• Not suitable for high PH soils.
• Not suitable for high shade areas - Performs best in full sun.
• Low tolerance to many weed control post-emergence herbicides.
• Susceptible to lack of iron, causing yellow color in spring & fall.

Find the Right-Stuff Lawn Grass for your lawn www.lawngrasses.com

Read about Turfgrass Production in Florida - 70 years of Bahia Grass History!
Glenn W. Burton - One of the foremost pioneers in the history of Bahia grass - With both research and genetic introduction of new cultivars.