Grasses for sandy, southern coastal plains??

Question

All:Recommendations for grasses to plant in a sandy, acidic pine-barrens soil?Something that take the doughtiness of the nearly pure sand soil. pH can behandled with lime so I am not concerned. I know that there are cv's out forthis sort of application. I am wondering if folks with experience in thisenvironment ( MA - FL costal sites) have any experiences to share. I surewould like to avoid trucking in top-soil just to grow grass!Thanks

Roy · Accepted Answer

I am not quite coastal but my soil is basically sand. It can rain  abelly washer and within minutes any standing water is gone. I thihnkyou would have good luck with pensacola bahia grass. It does great insuch soils. I planted it and its nice and thick. I also seeded someareas with centipede which has also done good. You can grow grassonconcrete if you can keep it watered enough and provide it withnutrients, so sand really is not as much of an issue as you think.Once its started and until it gets some natural build up of clippingsetc it will require a good watering periodically, but once bahai grasstakes ahold its there, and it takes droughts pretty good and cantolerate some salt. I live in south central portion of Alabama, butalso lived on the Gulf coast and the bahai was also my choice there aswellVisit my website:  expressed are those of my wifes, I had no input whatsoever.Remove "nospam" from email addy.

FarmerDill · Answer

Agreed if the aforementioned lawn is in the south. Bahia is about the toughestsouthern grass there is. Bermuda also does pretty well and is prettier but notas drought tolerant. These are not cool weather grasses and wait until hotweather to green up.

kate · Answer

I'm in middle TN and have been pulling Bermuda grass out of my flowerbedsthis morning, as I will be tomorrow and forever after. I personallywouldn't recommend it if you also want to garden. YMMVKate

gregpresley · Answer

Centipede grass is another grass recommended for poor sandy soils. Itdoesn't develop the unsightly seed heads of most of the other southerngrasses, and needs little in the way of fertilizers, etc.

Grasses for sandy, southern coastal plains??

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?