grass for middle Georgia

knuffel – posted 30 March 2004 10:57

Help! I live in middle Georgia (hot and somewhat dry). I need to establish a lawn in a large area where there used to be bermuda and alot of weeds. It has been cleared and is ready to be seeded. WHAT TYPE OF GRASS DO I PLANT?

I had been told to plant Bermuda for a low maintenence lawn but recently someone discouraged me saying that fire ants LOVE bermuda and I would have a real ant problem if I plant it. So, what do I plant for low maintenence/full sun? Any help her would be appreciated. Thanks.

ted – posted 30 March 2004 20:05

i would go with bermuda. there’s no connection between fire ants and bermuda. i’m from houston, the fire ant capital of the free world.

redbird – posted 31 March 2004 06:26

FYI – bermuda is not low mainenance. It has a lot of positive attributes, can make a beautiful lawn, but you will be working on it a lot. For some people cutting your lawn every 3 – 5 during peak growth is a joy – for some it’s slavery. It responds very well to your hard work – but will really disappoint you if ignored.

I have had common bermuda hydro-seeded in the Dallas area and currently have sodded empire zoysia in hot, humid SE Georgia. I have enjoyed both lawns – but – the bermuda was definitely more work, less effective at choking out weeds, tolerated absolutely no shade, and although it is not more prone to fire-ants, all lawn imperfections are highly visible in bermuda due to it’s extremely flat, low growth habit (weeds/anthills stick up over it). One unexpected benefit that I have discovered regarding the zoysia is the fact that weeds/fire ants only seem to be able to push up through it on the edges of the lawn.

Both are good choices, I think, for your area – it’s a matter of preference, many vpros and cons.

Mike