100 degree heat-Anything besides Bermuda + St. Aug

DmansPadge · Jul 16, 2005

I would like to get some grass growing on my land that is now not much more than dirt and mud. Since I bought and cleared the lot next to me it's made quite a mess! I'm in SE Texas and about all I know that will handle the 95+ heat/drought/rain well is Bermuda and St. Augustine. Is there a cheaper alternative? I just need a temporary lawn until I build... then I plan on laying St. Aug. sod. Of course.. it'll be about 2 years until then.

Any ideas? Thanks.

cphilip · Jul 16, 2005

I don't know of much better than Bermuda for this. We got similar conditions here and I just had to do a area for the University where we dug out some old Fly Ash that was dumped in a creek bottom many years back. 4200 tons of it had to come out. Had to deal with several landfalling Hurricane rains and in between lots of heat. Since we had storm water runnoff issues for that site I had to rip rap the heck out of it and have it Hydroseeded with Bermuda and Millet. And then that very night we had a 6" rain on it. And rain almost every day after that. Tropical downpours. Half of it stayed put. And looks like a good stand anyway! Hard to believe. I am fairly certian most of what we seeing up do far is more the Millet but I can see plenty of strands of Bermuda as well. And some of the lovegrass on the steep banks. So knowing its going to take a while to let the Bermuda come in the Millet seems to be giving it a hold for that to occur. Then the good thing is the Bermuda should get established and come back in ernest next Summer.

I don't know what to recommend other than that. Its sort of the best choice for the conditions you got.

Gunfighter · Jul 16, 2005

Don't know much about Texas conditions but in Illinois an here in Michigan
I've used rye grass for a quick grow cover. If there is moisture rye grass
will sprout in a few weeks... It's a good temporary cover, some rye seed
will grow only one season an others will come back next year...

Good Luck...

Richard...
West Michigan...

Bird · Jul 16, 2005

Richard, rye grass is common in Texas . . but . . . only during the cool months of the year. If a person is trying to start a lawn too late in the year for bermuda, etc., then rye grass is often used for a ground cover until the next Spring, but it dies out when the hot summer weather arrives. There's also a lot of rye grass hay cut and baled early in the year, but not in the heat of the summer.

cphilip · Jul 17, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Richard, rye grass is common in Texas . . but . . . only during the cool months of the year. )</font>

Yep. Same here. Late and cool weather Rye mixed with Grass of choice. But summer.... here they using Millet for that. Mixed with Bermuda.... Thats what the local Landscapers/hydroseeders are recomending here. And it seems to be working.

JTKub · Jul 18, 2005

My 1.5acres of closely-cropped weeds are doing pretty well in the 90+ deg temps we've been getting in the Buffalo NY area. Little rain but 100% humidity /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. I guess it's the hottest summer we've had so far in 30 something years! I still have to mow ATLEAST once a week /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
G/luck
Joel

johan3400 · Jul 20, 2005

Ron, Bermuda and St Augustine are the standards for turf in warm season grasses. Turf Type Tall Fescues have had some great success moving into you region. It is fast to establish and withstands the heat well. On golf courses and many commercial sites the perennial ryegrasses are overseeded in your region to give a beautiful green lawn all winter long. It is undertood that it will die out in the heat of late May or June. This is just a tough time to try and establish a lawn anywhere because of the heat and humidity which brings on disease in the turf. Good luck with your project.

Panache · Jul 20, 2005

Zoysia and centipede will grow good there too. Centipede is high on cost at seed time but good later. Looks good just after it has been cut. Hard to tell it has even been cut. Grows well in my red clay. There is a major difference in turf quality between St A and Bermuda. St A is very course and bermuda is finer depending which type you use.

DmansPadge · Jul 20, 2005

Thanks guys. I'll have to look into the fescues. I don't know how much $ is it. I really don't care to spend a whole not for now. I'd rather wait until I'm planting my yard after the house is built. But I need to get some more dirt in to fill some of the stump holes and low spots and I don't want it to want it to wash off with no established roots in it.

I have used the ryegrass in winter with great success. I basically through it out and let it be. Within a week or two I had a beautiful green yard!

Any other suggestions would be appreciated!

EddieWalker · Jul 21, 2005

St Augustine is for shady areas and Bermuda for sun. St Augistine needs to be transplanted. No seeds for it. Bermuda is either pallats or seed. The best price for seed is at Sams Club that I've found.

Rye is good when it cools off, but that's four months from now.

Centipede is expensive, but very nice once you have it. Shade or sun. Very slow growing, but thick and lush when it does come in. Usually you plant bermuda as a starter with centipede mixed in. In a few years it will take over.

Bahia grows in just about any conditions regardless of heat. It biggest drawback is the tall stalks that shoot up. If you mow once a week, it's fine, but any more and you have the stalks.

I've read Buffalo Grass is a native Texas grass that does great in the heat. More expensive then bermuda.

Eddie