BAHIA SOD GRASS

Bahia sod grass, also known as Paspalum notatum, common bahia, and Pensacola bahia, is a tropical to subtropical perennial grass. It is known for its prominent V-shaped inflorescence consisting of two spike-like racemes containing multiple tiny spikelets, each about 2.8–3.5 millimeters (0.11–0.14 in) long.

Bahia sod grass is low-growing and creeping with stolons and stout, scaly rhizomes. The stolons are pressed firmly to the ground and root freely from the internodes, forming a dense sod. The flat, tough-textured leaves are usually hairless, with blades 2–6 millimeters (0.079–0.236 in) wide. They are flat, folded, and inrolled, tapering to a fine point. The leaf bases at the terminus of each rhizome usually have a purplish hue. The stems reach 20–75 centimeters (7.9–29.5 in) tall.

Bahia sod grass is native to Mexico and South America but has been naturalized elsewhere in North America and other regions. Bahia sod grass prefers sandy soils and is tolerant of shade. It is also reasonably hardy, tolerating saline conditions and drought.

Bahia sod grass is used primarily as forage. Its nutritive value remains high when mature, but is not very productive. It is also valued as an erosion-controlling soil stabilizer for its productivity, ease of establishment, and persistence. Bahia sod grass also makes a relatively low-maintenance turf, with its tolerance for minimal maintenance, drought tolerance, and less disease and insect damage than some of the other warm-season grasses.

BLADE TYPE

Medium width and texture

Bahia

DROUGHT RESISTANCE

Good to Excellent

Bahia

ESTABLISHMENT TIME

Moderate

Bahia

IRRIGATION NEEDS

Irrigation Required Only to Establish

Bahia

MAINTENANCE LEVEL

Low

Bahia

SUN/SHADE TOLERANCE

Good: Full Sun; Limited for Shaded Areas

Bahia

TRAFFIC TOLERANCE

Moderate to Good wear; Moderate foot traffic

Bahia

FAQ: BAHIA SOD GRASS

Bahia sod grass can spread on its own because of its short root-like stems. But, it can take up to two years to become established and may not seem to spread quickly because it grows slowly.

Mow your Bahia grass to a height of 3–4 inches. This will help it develop a deeper root system and become more stress-tolerant. Mowing Bahia grass too short can make it more susceptible to disease and pests. Also, keep your mower blade sharp and use a heavy-duty mower because the thickness of Bahia grass can make it a challenge to mow.

Overseeding your Bahia grass in late spring can help it to become denser. You can overseed your Bahia grass every year.

Bahia grass does its best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil, with a pH below 7. Bahia grass doesn’t grow well in high-pH soils, shade, or saltwater and is not very tolerant of traffic. Bahia grass doesn’t require much fertilizer, but you should get a soil test to determine your fertilizer needs before installing a lawn. In the typical Florida soil, you can apply 1–4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year. Avoid using weed-n-feed fertilizers that contain atrazine or metsulfuron, as these herbicides can damage Bahia grass.

During the winter, you should only water dormant Bahia grass lawns as required to prevent them from drying out. You can spot-treat winter weeds as they stand out against the dormant grass. You can skip mowing dormant lawns during the winter, but if your lawn grows year-round, you can continue mowing to no lower than 3 to 4 inches in height.

Slow germination and growth.
Only mildly shade-tolerant.
Nonuniform, patchy appearance if not properly watered and fertilized.
Susceptible to foot-traffic damage.
Susceptible to weeds in early stages and during winter dormancy.

Bahia grass is generally considered a low-maintenance lawn grass that can thrive in conditions where other grasses struggle. It is well-suited to Florida, where it can tolerate heat and drought. Bahia grass also does well in acidic, sandy, poor soil. Bahia grass requires less water and fertilizer than other grasses and is less susceptible to insect pests and disease. However, Bahia grass doesn’t provide the same uniform coverage as other grasses.

If you’ve grown warm-season grass, like Bahia, you must aerate during late spring or early summer (between April and July) when the grass is actively growing.

Bahia grass is more heat-tolerant and requires minimal maintenance compared to St. Augustine. St. Augustine grass requires more frequent watering and fertilization than Bahia grass. Both are popular grass types for warm, humid climates.

For the first ten days, watering your Bahia grass for 10 minutes several times throughout the day will help the grass become established and not dry out. For days 11 through 20, water once per day, applying one-half inch of water. You can use a kitchen measuring cup to determine how long this is for each yard section. Starting on day 21, the watering frequency should be three times per week, with one-half inch of water applied.

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BAHIA SOD GRASS

BAHIA SOD GRASS

BLADE TYPE

DROUGHT RESISTANCE

ESTABLISHMENT TIME

IRRIGATION NEEDS

MAINTENANCE LEVEL

SUN/SHADE TOLERANCE

TRAFFIC TOLERANCE

FAQ: BAHIA SOD GRASS

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