When selecting grass for your lawn or pasture, not just any variety will work. There are several factors that can dictate your success in having a productive pasture or lush lawn, such as location, winter hardiness, and forage yield. For homeowners, farmers, and landscapers located in a warm climate who are looking for the best grass for pasture and lawn applications, Bermuda grass is sure to deliver. There are numerous Bermuda grass varieties around, some of which are suitable for both lawns and pastures—such as Hancock’s Common Bermuda Grass Seed and Hancock’s Highlander Turf Bermuda Grass Seed. Others you may find benefit your intended use more precisely.
Hancock Seed has put together this guide to assist you in determining which Bermuda grass variety is the best for your lawn or pasture, while also recommending high-quality products for both applications.
Is Bermuda Grass Good for Lawns?
Bermuda grass can be found in tropical and subtropical countries around the globe. As a warm season turf grass, Bermuda grass thrives in the lower two thirds of the contiguous United States. This grass variety is quite drought tolerant and low maintenance once established.
Benefits of Bermuda Grass for Lawns
Bermuda grass is a top choice among homeowners living in warmer climates who long for an elegant, fine-blade appearance for their lawns. Although this particular grass variety requires more maintenance than others, it offers an array of benefits that heavily outweigh this minor drawback. These include:
- A toleration for high temperatures and prolonged droughts that other grasses cannot bear
- An ability to rapidly recover from high traffic and wear, thanks to its fast-growing nature
- A high resistance to pests such as grubs, mole crickets and mites
Having covered a few of the general benefits that Bermuda grasses yield, now we’ll take a look at some of the more attractive options specifically for Florida lawns.
Popular Bermuda Grass for Florida Lawns
All Bermuda grass varieties have some qualities in common, however, some varieties may be better suited for your particular lawn needs and goals. Take our LaPrima Bermuda grass seed, for instance. This cost-effective blend establishes quickly and germinates faster than most of its counterparts, making it perfect for repairing imperfections or divots in your lawn.
Another popular blend among Florida homeowners is our Triangle Bermuda grass seed. Consisting of a tri-blend of Certified Mohawk Bermuda, Sultan Bermuda, and Sydney Bermudagrass seed, Triangle Bermuda seed blend is renowned for its dark green color and its high turf density. What’s more, this Bermuda grass variety has a moderate cold tolerance, which means it will continue to perform even during the brief temperature dips experienced in Florida each year.
A hardy, turf-type variety, Hancock’s Yukon Bermuda grass seed is another wonderful choice for Florida residents to consider for their home. Yukon Bermuda is renowned for its remarkable drought tolerance, as it uses up to 25% less water than other Bermuda grass varieties, and its strong ability to blend well with other turf-type Bermuda grasses.
It would be remiss not to include our Highlander Turf Bermuda grass seed as a viable option for Florida lawns. Thanks to its ability to grow rapidly and thrive in hot weather, this Highlander variety is perfect for those looking to start an easy, cost-effective Bermuda lawn from scratch.
Rounding out our list of recommended Bermuda varieties for Florida lawns is our Tierra Verde seed blend. Made up of two improved varieties, Mohawk and Sahara II Bermuda, Tierra Verde is an all-purpose seed blend that features rapid emergence and recovery as well as outstanding drought and heat tolerance.
Can Bermuda Grass Grow & Thrive in Colder Climates?
Bermuda grass is a warm-season grass that is generally grown in hot and humid climates. However, in the right conditions, Bermuda grass can grow and thrive in colder areas. Having success in this respect is heavily contingent on the variety chosen. One variety that is tolerant of low temperatures is our aforementioned Yukon Bermuda grass seed, which has exhibited excellent turf quality and winter hardiness at ½-inch and 1 ½-inch mow heights.
Is Bermuda Grass Good for Pastures?
In addition to its ability to survive in droughts, Bermuda grass also has a high tolerance for grazing, making it an ideal choice for pastures. However, some Bermuda grass varieties are more suitable for foraging than others, as some varieties do not produce usable seeds and others do. One popular variety that is commonly used for foraging is Hancock’s Common Bermuda grass seed – coated and unhulled.
What Grass Variety Should You Plant for Pastures?
When considering your options for Bermuda grass seeds for your pasture, you’ll want to invest in a blend that is high yielding and easy to establish, and produces a palatable leafy forage. These traits and more can be found in Cheyenne II Bermuda grass seed, which offers an economical alternative to sprigging.
The conditions for growing high-quality forage can be rather tough in southern climates. Developed to withstand such conditions is our Wrangler Bermuda grass seed. Similar in appearance to Coastal and Tifton 44 varieties, Wrangler is excellent for pasture, yielding a high-quality forage.
If you are looking for a tall-growing, aggressive Bermuda grass for commercial pasture or hay production, we highly recommend Giant Bermuda grass seed. Giant Bermuda grows an average of 30 inches and can be harvested up to 4 to 5 times annually, when managed properly.
When to Plant Bermuda Pasture Grass
Generally, Bermuda grass can be pastured and harvested from mid-April until frost time in November. In order to ensure the proper nutrients are being supplied, it is best to test your soil each year.
We’re Happy to Help You Find the Perfect Solution for Your Needs
At Hancock Seed, we’re dedicated to providing top-quality seed blends that meet the needs of homeowners, farmers, and landscapers alike. To learn more about our Bermuda grass blends, reach out today via our website or email us at info@hancockseed.com.
