When is the Best Time to Plant Bahia Grass in Florida?

Time Frame

• Bahia grass is best established in Florida during the warm temperatures of March through early September. Grass seed sown or sod laid in the fall and winter grows slowly and is susceptible to cold damage. Seed scattered in fall and winter doesn't sprout until temperatures consistently rise above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Considerations

• Sow Bahia grass seed at a rate of 7 to 10 lbs. per 1,000 square feet, raking the seed into the soil to a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Keep the soil evenly moist. Three weeks after the seeds sprout and grow or laid sod begins growing, apply a balanced fertilizer.

Expert Insight

• Two Bahia grass varieties are commonly grown: Argentine and Pensacola. The former has wider blades and doesn't yellow as much in spring, while Pensacola is the least expensive to sow from seed.