Bermuda grass is a common purchase among homeowners. It’s inexpensive and easy to grow. Bermuda grass does well in warm climates and areas that are prone to droughts, but there are certain varieties that can handle a bit of temperature drop, too.
Since there are so many varieties on the market, it can be hard to decide which is the best Bermuda grass seed for you. Luckily, we’re here to help.
We’ve compiled a shortlist of our top 7 seed recommendations as well as a comprehensive buying guide and a FAQ section.
The 7 Best Bermuda Grass Seeds
1. Scott’s Turf Builder Bermuda Grass Seed
Scott’s Turf Builder Bermuda grass seed is one of the most well-known varieties of grassed on the market. It’s especially popular with homeowners and renters who live in cry climates that receive little waterfall and struggle with keeping their grass healthy. The grass-grown from this seed can withstand extended periods of drought.
In terms of spreading, the seed does so aggressively. This means that barren lawns go quickly from bare to thick and luxurious. The grass grows to be healthy and durable, beginning to grow within 5-12 days; after the grass has sprouted care is easy, requiring only to be watered a few times a day.
Every seed comes carefully wrapped in a 4-in-1 WaterSmart PLUS coating that has been created specially for Scott’s Turf Builder. This coating absorbs 2x more water than uncoated seeds would. It also provides the seeds with all the essential nutrients and vitamins that they need to grow and protects them from the disease. It protects from everyday diseases and damage to give your lawn a better chance of thriving.
The seed is available in three different bag size options: 1lb, 1.5lb, and 5lb. A 5-pound bag can cover up to 5,000 square feet of soil.
Pros:
- Ideal for hot, dry climates
- Easy to care for
- Available in a variety of package sizes
- Seeds contain nutrients and absorb 2x more water
Cons:
- Requires frequent and consistent watering
2. Pennington Bermuda Grass Seed
By Pennington, this Bermuda grass seed is ideal for full-sun, dry areas that experience droughts or periods with no rain. In each bag of seed are a variety of premium grass seeds that have been chosen with care for their performance in warm weather.
The seed is easy to germinate and care for, with the only requirements being the proper soil and frequent watering. It is hardy and can withstand harsh weather, as it has a deep root system and holds onto the water for later use.
Once germinated, the seed spreads quickly, providing the intended areas with a layer of thick, healthy grass that goes dormant during cold months. It turns brown each winter when outdoor temperatures die down and regrows each summer. The grass is also able to self-repair should it become damaged.
Pros:
- Spreads quickly
- Self-repairing and hardy
- Grows well in hot climates
Cons:
- Temperature must be at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit to plant
3. Hydra Mousse Liquid Bermuda Grass Seed
This As-See-On-TV product is unique in terms of its basic application; it is a liquid Bermuda grass seed. It uses Spray N’ Stay technology to attach the seed to the soil and reduce its water surface tension, allowing it to absorb more water.
The liquid formula contains a unique sticking solution and a soil conditioner. This conditioner works to loosen hard soil and prepare it for the seed germination process. The liquid seed mixture is designed for use in areas with little water or direct sunlight for extended periods of time. It can even be used in areas that are prone to frequent droughts.
In addition, the mixture is easy to use as its container can attach to any standard garden hose, which makes it not only convenient but cost-friendly and simple. Once the seed has started to grow, the resulting grass comes in thick and with good coverage. It blends into pre-existing grass seamlessly for a flawless finish.
Pros:
- Simple, convenient application
- Seed mixture absorbs maximum amount of water
- Grows thick, even patches of grass
- Ideal for use in drought-prone areas
Cons:
- Liquid mixture is green; can stain hands
4. WonderLawn Bermuda Grass Blend
Available in a generous 1-pound bag, this bulk Bermuda grass seed by Wonderlawn is a staple for homeowners in desert-like climates. The grass seed is designed to grow and thrive in hot weather and require very little water to grow, which makes it great for withstanding droughts. As a bonus, it also means a lower water bill for growers.
Once grown, the grass is a fine texture and dark green in color. The grass is durable and turf-like to the touch. It springs back to shape after it has been compressed or stepped on. This makes it good for use on lawns and other high traffic areas.
Each bag of seed is comprised of 50% seed and 50% inert coating. This makeup helps the grass seed to germinate and grow quickly, as well as remain safe from disease.
Pros:
- Highly appealing aesthetic
- Designed to grow quickly and easily in low-water conditions
- Durable once fully grown and established
Cons:
- Mixture does not contain 100% seeds
5. Outsidepride Yukon Bermuda grass Seed
Family owned and U.S based, Outsidepride’s Yukon Bermuda grass seed is trusted by homeowners within USDA zones 7-11. It is somewhat cold tolerant, which means it can be planted farther up North than other Bermuda grass varieties. 2 to 3 pounds of seed can cover up to 1,000 square feet of land.
This seed uses 25% less water than other varieties while maintaining a high-quality turf-like structure. It is ideal for creating home golf courses, establishing new lawns, and providing coverage for transition zones.
The grass, once established, comes up sporting a dark green color and ultra-fine construction that is both soft yet durable. When it comes to weather, Yukon Bermuda grass can withstand a reasonable temperature drop.
Pros:
- Great for a variety of home projects
- Can handle some colder weather
- Grass is durable and soft
- Uses less water than other species of grass
Cons:
- Some reports of poor germination
6. Pennington Bermuda Grass Seed
Another great option from Pennington, this premium Bermuda grass seed is guaranteed to grow. It thrives in sunny climates and doesn’t require a ton of water, which makes it ideal for geographical areas that experience drought.
Its texture is very fine-medium and soft, but the established grass is still durable and resistant to the wear from foot traffic. The seed spreads along the ground with ease and doesn’t grow too tall, which makes it easy to mow and maintain. Moreover, the seeds germinate quickly, averaging only 7-21 days.
Each bag contains 100% seeds, with no synthetic coating present or additives. Most yards can be completely covered with only 1 or 2 bags of seed, thanks to the way that the seeds spread among their general areas. In addition, each bag of seeds is generous in its amount, providing good bang for your buck.
Pros:
- Spreads quickly
- 100% seeds with no coating
- Quick germination time if planted according to instructions
- Thrives in a hot climate
Cons:
- Small bags
7. Outsidepride Arden 15 Bermuda Grass Seed
Arden 15 Bermuda grass seed is available in three package sizes. Under ideal conditions, this grass will start to germinate within 7 days. Full lawn coverage can be obtained within 4 to 6 weeks with the proper care and warm weather.
Arden 15 is a hybrid variety with an improved cold resistance and faster coverage time than many other types of Bermuda grass. The grass seed can be used to create home putting greens and on commercial golf course tees, as it is durable and resistant to crushing.
During the colder months, Arden 15 has a moderate level of color retention and will come back easily when the weather warms up next season. Every season the grass comes back with the same medium-dark green color as the year prior.
Pros:
- Hardy hybrid variety
- Versatile in terms of use
- Rich color and durable, soft texture
- Great for warm areas
Cons:
- Reports of failed germination
Best Bermuda Grass Seed Buying Guide
Seed Availability
If you’ve ever been recommended a product only to find that it’s only available online, you know how important availability is. Availability is especially important if it’s a product you use and rebuy often.
While you may not buy Bermuda grass seed every month, availability might still be a factor. Should you need it for multiple projects or find that your original layer has become patchy, you might need to buy more.
This can be a challenge when your grass seed is only available for purchase from a certain seller or from one certain store. However, minimal availability doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker if you’re willing to plan your purchases and have a bit of patience.
If you’re prone to running out of grass seed and needing it quickly, though, you might want to make sure that the seed you choose to use is available from a variety of different places.
Geographical Zone
Turfgrass within the USA has specific zones. Within these zones, certain types of grasses thrive while others struggle to survive. Before buying Bermuda grass it’s important to ensure that the grass seed will grow well within your local geographical zone.
Bermuda grass will do the best in zones 2, 2A, 3, and 3A. These zones are the Southern most states within the United States.
Germination Time
Germination time for Bermuda grass depends on a few factors. First, it depends on whether the seeds are hulled or unhulled; unhulled seeds will take longer to germinate.
Secondly, it depends on the conditions of your soil. For most Bermuda grass, soil needs to be at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit in temperature before planting. This temperature should be held steady for a period of time before planting occurs.
In addition, it should be planted in soil that has a pH of roughly 7. Although, most Bermuda grasses will do just fine with a pH of 5.8 or 6. Soil should also be raked and loosened, as well has have any other debris removed.
Color
While all grass is green, not all grass is the same shade of green. For most people this isn’t a factor, but if it is, it’s important to know that not all Bermuda grass is the same color.
Depending on which blend you buy your grass can vary from medium to dark shades of green. In addition, some species of Bermuda grass will go from green to brown during the colder months, which is something you may want to consider if aesthetics is important to you.
Texture
Grass can have varying textures. Some grass is softer, while other species are denser and rougher to the touch. Most bags of Bermuda seed will specify these details, but if they don’t and you have a specific texture of grass in mind, some additional research might be needed.
Shade
While Bermuda grass is designed to thrive in areas with a lot of sun, the amount of shade that your species needs can vary some. There are some species that need a few hours of shade a day and others that do better with indirect sunlight.
Before you purchase, you’ll need to map out the area that the grass is going to grow in and decide how much shade you can give it. Then, you’ll want to make your decision factoring in the shade that your potential grass needs.
Wear and tear
Much like rugs, Bermuda grass species aren’t all equipped to handle the same amount of foot traffic. There are some varieties that are, all things considered, relatively soft and delicate; these are best for areas with little foot traffic.
There are other species that are rugged and durable. These can withstand children, soccer practice, large gatherings, and frequent traffic. Even still, there are a handful of even more hardy Bermuda grasses that are best used in public areas such as sports fields.
Bermuda Grass Care Tips
- Keep grass blades ½-inch to 2-inches long. Cutting the blades any shorter will cause undue stress and could damage the grass.
- Aerate your Bermuda grass lawn once or twice a year. This allows the roots of the grass to receive the maximum amount of nutrients and water. It also prevents the soil from becoming compacted and hard to work with.
- The best way to prevent weeds within your Bermuda grass lawn is by preventing them from sprouting from the ground. You can do this by using preemergent solutions on your grass.
- Always conduct a soil test before each seeding. You may also do a soil test each time you want to seed new Bermuda grass.
- Although some Bermuda grasses do need shade, most will suffer if they are placed in an area that has more than 70% shade. Too much shade will thin out the grass strands.
- Lawn clippings are a great source of organic matter for Bermuda grass. Leaving a thin layer of grass clippings on the lawn will provide your grass will slowly decompose and fertilize the grass.
Bermuda Grass: Choosing the Right Season to Seed
In general, Bermuda grass shouldn’t be planted late in the fall season. If the grass is planted in early spring, there is still a high chance of your grass being negatively impacted when it comes to germination.
Bermuda grass should also never be planted later than 90 days before the expected date of the first seasonal frost in Northernmost areas. In Southernmost areas, the grass should never be seeded later than 60 days before the first expected frost.
Moreover, there are a few additional risks to planting Bermuda grass later in the year. The first is that when planted late in the year, the grass doesn’t have a chance to store food reserves in their roots. Grass that is seeded to late can starve and die during the winter.
In areas with high temperatures all year round, the grass can be planted successfully all year. Places where this is possible include Hawaii and South Florida.
Even though this grass is best suited for warmth, it can handle a bit of temperature fluctuation. When the temperature grows colder, Bermuda grass will turn brown. In warm areas like Hawaii, as we said, the grass will maintain its vibrant green color all year around with the proper amount of water.
If you need to seed Bermuda grass during the late fall or winter, you will benefit from using a method known as “dormant seeding”. Dormant seeding is best completed with unhulled seeds and requires the temperature outside to never reach anything higher than 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Using this method, the seeds will stay dormant after they are planted and only start to germinate during the next warm season. While this method can work, it does come with the risk of premature germination.
This is most often due to a warm snap that causes the seeds to germinate and then die when the cold weather comes back. The extension of the colder, more wet weather is almost always detrimental to germination, as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, Bermuda grass does the best when planted in spring to late summer. The specific time is dependant on soil temperatures.
Yes. However, Bermuda grass should be over seeded with cold-weather grass that won’t stick around too far into summer.
Yes. Bermuda grass used to be primarily grown from sprigs or sod, but there are now a wide range of Bermuda grass seed options available.
Nope! Bermuda grass can grow weeds and will benefit from preventative measures.
There’s no one-size-fits-all Bermuda grass seed. Which one is best comes down to preference and needs.
For 1 acre, you can count on planting 15 to 20 pounds of live, unhulled seed or 5 to 10 pounds of hulled seed. This is an estimate, however.
Yes. Common Bermuda grass is a great option for lawns – especially those that have high foot traffic.
This depends on whether the seeds are hulled or unhulled, soil conditions, care, and a host of other factors. Most Bermuda grass turfs will be complete within 4 to 6 weeks.
Hulled Bermuda grass seeds have had their outermost “shells” removed by a mechanical process. Unhulled seeds still have this coating intact.
Yes. Bermuda seeds need to be covered with soil in order to start to grow.
The first mow can usually be done 3 or 4 weeks after the initial seeding.
Conclusion
Bermuda grass is ideal for warm weathered areas. Overall, it’s pretty easy to establish and once established, is even easier to maintain. It’s versatile in its use and makes a great turf for busy households and outdoor sports arenas.
When trying to find the best Bermuda grass seed for you, it’s important to consider the factors mentioned above. Not only will doing so make the process easier for you, but it will also save you the hassle of buying the wrong type of seed.
When properly seeded, Bermuda grass can overtake an entire lawn within just a year, making it one of the fastest-growing types of grass around.