Bahia Lawn Grass Information

Geographic Zones: Being a warm season grass, Bahiagrass doesn't survive well in low temperatures. In general, even the most cold tolerant variety of this lawn turf can't survive if planted further north than areas similar to Northern Georgia and Tennessee.

Water Requirements: While Bahia grass has a fairly high drought resistance and is sometimes used in xeriscaping, it still needs regular watering when establishing the lawn, especially in the seedling stage. It's also important to keep in mind that, during a drought situation, Bahiagrass will turn brown and go dormant. It is not dead, however, and will become green again quickly after rainfall or watering.

Fertilizer Requirements There are no special fertilizer requirements for this lawn type. Just fertilize when needed.

When to Plant: February is the most ideal time to seed Bahia, but the period for seeding can extend into mid-August. When starting this type of yard with seeds, it can take anywhere from four months to two full years for a fully compact growth to be established which generally doesn't work well with most landscaping ideas and plans..

Recommended Mowing Height: The best mowing height for this grass is between 2 and 3 inches. During its annual growing season, which runs from early may to late August, Bahiagrass usually needs to be mowed every 5-7 days to keep it looking its best.

Light Requirements: Bahia has no real light requirements. It will grow just fine in areas with high amounts of shade or sun.

Best Places to Use: This lawn type grows surprisingly well in sandy, infertile areas. Also, thanks to its low-maintenance nature and ease of seeding, it can be used for anything from lawn landscaping and roadside coverage to pastures and erosion control areas.

Common Diseases: There are very few turf disease problems associated with Bahiagrass and none of these are particularly severe. Any diseases that affect it can usually be treated through simple fertilization practices.

Common Pests: Very few pests bother Bahia. In fact, the only major pest to be concerned about is the Mole Cricket.

Soil pH: The ideal pH level for this lawn type is between 6 - 7.5, though it can grow in slightly acidic soils.

Special Benifits:

• Easy to start form seed
• Grows well in infertile, sandy soils
• Survives in a variety of soils, from sandy to clays
• Grows thick enough to compete with weeds
• Withstands close grazing and high traffic
• High pest and disease resistance
• Can create a beautiful, light-green lawn when provided with proper care & fertilizer
• Responds well to nitrogen applications to create a dark-green color

Special Problems:

• Not suitable for soils with a high pH level
• Bahia has a Coarse texture
• Susceptible to a lack of iron, which can cause the grass to yellow in the spring & fall
• Bahia grass has prolific seed head production during growing season
• Somewhat open growth habit over time, causing the ground cover to thin-out
• Low tolerance to many weed control, post-emergence herbicides