Types of Lawn Seeds for Southern Lawns

Types

• Several varieties of lawn seeds will work well for southern climates, including St. Augustine, centipede, Bermuda and zoysia. St. Augustine and centipede grass thrive in acidic soil conditions, which makes them well suited for southern lawns. Zoysia grass needs lots of sunlight and can maintain itself with little watering, another good choice for southern lawns.

Considerations

• When choosing lawn seeds, consider weather, growing season and the type of soil required for optimum growth.

Sunlight

• Some types of lawn seeds do well in the shade while others needs lots of sunlight. Bermuda, centipede and zoysia do well in direct sunlight, while St. Augustine grass does not require a large amount of direct sunlight.

Maintenance

• Whatever type of lawn seed you chose for a southern lawn, you will need to perform basic maintenance to keep your lawn healthy, such as fertilizing, pest control and weeding. For St. Augustine, take care that it is not in too shady of a spot, as this can cause root damage. Centipede grass is prone to pest problems so make sure and keep it well weeded. With zoysia grass, the pH level needs to be maintained, so fertilize it well. Bermuda grass needs little specialty care but should have plenty of direct sunlight.

Warning

• Make sure to maintain ideal growing conditions for your particular type of grass; otherwise, other varieties may begin to invade and take over your lawn.