Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[jinman]

Jim,
How much did you pay for the Bermuda grass seed this year? I paid $9 a pound last year.
hugs, Brandi

Wow Brandi, you got robbed a bit on that seed. I bought Pennington Sahara drought tolerant seed in a 15 lb bag at Sam's for $40.88. That's $2.73 lb. I bought two bags, so I spent some $$$. It looks like a small quantity of seed, but Bermuda is so tiny you can set your spreader the minimum and cover a large area. I used to think bermuda was very hard to start, but the keys seem to be getting it into good ground contact, weather temperatures above 70 so it will germinate, and keeping it very moist for 72 hours straight. Of those three, I think on large areas getting enough moisture to promote a good germination is the hardest to achieve.

A couple of years ago, I tilled up a large portion of my yard and prepped it perfectly for seed. I spread the seed and fertilizer I had bought and was proud of my job until I went to throw away the fertilizer bags and saw that it was 'weed and feed' fertilizer that inhibits seed germination. What a dope!:ashamed: I had seen a stack of non-weed and feed fertilizer in the store, but when I went back they had added a weed and feed type in a similar bag. I bought the wrong fertilizer and didn't even notice until I'd already ruined my seed. Almost no seed sprouted. I waited a month and went through the whole process again with the correct stuff. Like magic, the seed germinated and provided a nice new lawn. I guess that's my reverse version of a 2-fer-1 sale. Sheesh!:confused2:

 

[Western]

Well Jim, at least we now know the "Weed & Feed" works! Just an expensive "experiment" no mistake:laughing:

 

[bindian]

Jim,
What is the difference in the bermuda seed from the big box stores and the bermuda pasture stuff seed I buy from the local feed store...............besides the price? The $9 a pound price was from my local feed store where they sell it by the pound. I have always had excellant results with it, except where it got too much dirt on top.
hugs, Brandi

 

[foreman Etexas]

Jim,
What is the difference in the bermuda seed from the big box stores and the bermuda pasture stuff seed I buy from the local feed store...............besides the price? The $9 a pound price was from my local feed store where they sell it by the pound. I have always had excellant results with it, except where it got too much dirt on top.
hugs, Brandi

Was it the texas tough bermuda? It was about 450 for 50lbs last year...
Wrangler common bermuda was 275 for 50lbs

 

[jinman]

Jim,
What is the difference in the bermuda seed from the big box stores and the bermuda pasture stuff seed I buy from the local feed store...............besides the price?

Brandi, I wish I could tell you. It seems the most common attribute of everyone's seed they are trying to sell is that they all say theirs is the easiest and best. I have had good luck with the Pennington seed, but I'd bet the difference between your seed and mine is that yours is hulled seed and mine unhulled. The unhulled seed is still tiny, but may take 3 or 4 additional days to germinate. Hulled will germinate in 3-4 days in perfect conditions and the unhulled type takes 5-7 days for germination. Checking the package to see if it says hulled or unhulled is what I'd suggest. A web search will show you that prices are all over the place on the same sized bag of seed. You might actually find somebody at your feed-seed store who could tell you why their seed is so much more.

 

[CowboyRon]

Does anyone have an opinion on buffalo grass. I have heard it can handle droughts very good, but I was wondering if it is good enough for cattle grazing.

Sent from my EVO using TractorByNet

 

[Western]

Ron, from my experience with BG, it grows slow, so rotational grazing my be in order, unless you have low head per acre. The little I had never grew over maybe 6"-8", but it is hardy grass if not overgrazed.

I have a friend that planted it for his yard and loves it, doesn't even mow it.

Jim, the way the radar is looking at this moment, you are in a pretty good little storm!!

 

[bindian]

Was it the texas tough bermuda? It was about 450 for 50lbs last year...
Wrangler common bermuda was 275 for 50lbs

I think it is Texas Tough Bermuda. It stays green most of the winter.....and through the summer rainless season. I do remember it was expansive for a whole bag, but the same price by the pound.
hugs, Brandi

 

[jinman]

Woohoo! Medium heavy rain with pea to nickel sized hail at 4:15 pm. More on the way.:thumbsup:

 

[jinman]

Does anyone have an opinion on buffalo grass.

I've heard it is very tough to get started and grows in clumps like little bluestem. It's also very expensive at around 3 times the cost of bermuda. It also is a tiny seed, so spread sparingly. Buffalo is extremely drought tolerant and hearty once established.

With this rain shower we just had, I may be reseeding in some bare ground areas because the seed washed away. My 2nd bag is for reseeding where needed.