Thinking about re-seeding your lawn and want to make sure that it grows quickly and healthily?
If you’re in the south of Texas, some types of grass seed are clear winners with growth rates. These seed types are well-adapted to the hot, sub-tropical, and semi-arid climates in these parts, establishing easily and quickly flourishing into healthy, verdant green oases for families.
Let’s take a quick look at the best types for your lawn—as well as one grass alternative that you may not yet have considered.
WHAT’S BEST FAST-GROWING GRASS SEED FOR SOUTH TEXAS
The best fast-growing grass seed for South Texas lawns is Bermuda Grass. This type of grass seed is popular across the south because it is well-adapted to the semi-arid climate along the Mexican border as well as the more humid, subtropical regions of the coast and inland.
Bermuda Grass is tolerant of heat and drought, grows densely, and stands up well to foot traffic. The main downside is its intolerance of shade. Unless your lawn gets 5-6 hours of sunlight per day, you might want to consider an alternative to Bermuda Grass, such as Zoysia.
WHY IS BERMUDA GRASS THE BEST FAST-GROWING VARIETY IN SOUTH TEXAS?
Bermuda Grass is a warm-season grass and one of the major turf species in the world. It is widely used for sports fields, parks, and golf courses, as well as lawns. It is popular in the south of the U.S., as well as in Africa, India, South America, and Australia.
Why does Bermuda Grass grow so fast?
Bermuda Grass is a fast grower because of its natural system of above-ground stolon and below-ground rhizomes.
Stolon are parallel stems that grow above the soil. Rhizomes do the same underground. Both are spreading mechanisms that enable Bermuda grass to send out new shoots, generate new plants, and establish new growth in the right conditions, rapidly filling in open spaces in a lawn.
Bermuda Grass seed or sod has many other benefits for South Texas lawns:
Lush, verdant appearance
Bermuda Grass grows densely with an attractive green coloration for a lush, verdant lawn that can make your yard the envy of the street.
Rapid establishment
Bermuda Grass can establish and reach full maturity from seed within two months. If the seed is planted in the spring with ideal conditions (soil temperature over 65°F with regular watering for the first few weeks), the grass should take 3–7 days to germinate and 5–6 weeks to establish basic coverage.
Heat resistant
Temperatures in South Texas can reach well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the area has some of the hottest cities in the entire state of Texas. Lawn grass here needs to be able to withstand these high temperatures and Bermuda Grass does a great job of that.
Drought resistant
Parts of South Texas—notably those along the Mexican border— receive less than 20 inches of rainfall per year. This is well below the Texas average of just over 27 inches.
The rainfall is lowest during winter and highest during spring and fall, meaning that winters and hot, dry summers can be a struggle for many lawn grasses. With adequate care and attention, Bermuda Grass should fare quite well and stay green.
Foot-traffic tolerant
High-traffic lawns that keep the whole family amused—including the kids and pets—may easily damage and take time to recover. Bermuda Grass is tough and resilient and recovers well from foot traffic, bouncing back into shape.
MAIN DOWNSIDES OF BERMUDA GRASS
One of the main drawbacks of Bermuda Grass is usually that it turns brown and dormant when ground temperatures are low. This is less of a problem in South Texas, where winters are generally milder than in other parts of the state.
However, like all warm-season grasses, Bermuda Grass is susceptible to cold snaps and frost and will go dormant (brown) during these periods.
Besides this, there are several other potential downsides to watch out for if you’re considering Bermuda Grass seed for its fast growth:
DON’T WANT THE MAINTENANCE INVOLVED WITH FAST-GROWING GRASS?
An obvious downside to fast-growing grass is that you must cut it more often than slower-growing grass.
If pushing or driving your mower at weekends is something you enjoy, no problem! But many homeowners want the look of a lush healthy lawn without the work and expense of mowing, fertilizing, aerating, irrigation, overseeding, and more.
Artificial grass is an alternative to natural grass that removes the work and ongoing costs—usually paying back its higher installation costs within five years.
As well as leading to significant cost savings over its long lifespan, homeowners can enjoy the realistic look and aesthetic appeal of a verdant and lush lawn all year round with virtually no maintenance—and without having to worry about sun, shade, foot traffic, drainage, pests or disease.
There are different types of synthetic turf to suit different purposes—besides lawns, synthetic grass can be used for low-maintenance backyard playgrounds, putting greens, dog runs, and more.
We’ve helped thousands of Texas homeowners switch from high-maintenance grass yards to low-maintenance synthetic grass…
GET A FREE ARTIFICIAL GRASS ESTIMATE
The experienced team at DFW Turf Solutions can help you install the lowest-maintenance option for your backyard. Get a free estimate here.
ALTERNATIVE GRASS SEED OPTIONS FOR SOUTH TEXAS
You’ll see several other types of grass in South Texas but few will grow as quickly as a well-tended Bermuda Grass lawn.
Zoysia Grass
Certain types of Zoysia grass may be preferable for shaded yards in South Texas. This grass can be grown from seed, tolerates drought and heat, and requires only moderate maintenance—but it grows slower than Bermuda Grass.
Buffalo Grass
Buffalo Grass is native to Texas and highly drought-resistant. It requires minimal fertilization or other maintenance but prefers 6-8 hours of full sun and struggles in shade and with heavy foot traffic. It usually takes longer to establish from seed than Bermuda Grass too.
St. Augustine grass is often seen in Texas, particularly where there are mild winter temperatures and high humidity—and it also grows well in shade. However, it is not available in seed form and doesn’t grow as quickly as Bermuda Grass.
TIPS TO MAKE GRASS GROW FASTER
Understanding the type of grass that you plant can help you establish and maintain a picture-perfect lawn.
When seeding your Bermuda Grass lawn, pay attention to the following:
Plant lawn seed at the right time of year
Bermuda grass, like all warm-season grass seeds, should be planted in late spring or early summer when the soil temperature is between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Plant in the right weather conditions
Ideally, plant your grass seed when there’s no wind or rain to ensure that it lands and stays in position. Generally speaking, early morning or evening is best as winds tend to be lighter and you can avoid intense heat, which will increase evaporation after you water.
Plant in the right soil conditions
New seed requires moist soil to sprout and grow. Overly dry soil may kill seeds before they sprout so water twice a day to help germination. Ideally, a soil pH between 5.8 and 7.0 suits Bermuda Grass best—but it can tolerate more alkaline soil too.
Fertilize frequently
Bermuda Grass requires frequent fertilization for even and efficient growth and to help prevent weeds. By fertilizing, your lawn receives nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which promote rapid growth, density, healthy roots, drought resistance, and disease resistance.
Water deeply and infrequently
Bermuda Grass requires deep but relatively infrequent watering (once or twice per week) for fast, healthy growth once it has germinated and reached maturity. Your grass should dry out between waterings—don’t overwater Bermuda Grass or you may invite disease and pests.
FAQs
CONSIDERING SWITCHING TO ARTIFICIAL GRASS?
If you’re considering the switch from real grass to synthetic grass in your South Texas yard, discuss your options with an artificial grass professional.
