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Alabama Grass Seed

USDA Zone Map For Alabama & Best Grass Seed Choices

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Grasses used in Alabama can be divided in to two groups: warm season grasses and cool season grasses. As their names imply, warm season grasses are adapted to hot weather and are usually native to tropical or sub-tropical environments. They go dormant in the winter and turn brown. Cool season grasses are better suited to cool weather and are usually native to temperate areas. They remain green all winter long.

Most of the grasses used for turf in Alabama are warm season grasses. In north Alabama, some species of fescue (especially tall fescue) are used for permanent lawns. Creeping bentgrass is used on golf courses for putting greens in the northern half of the state. Ryegrass is used to overseed warm season grasses in the winter. This provides a green color when the wearm season grass is dormant.

One grass which is not suitable for use in Alabama is Kentucky bluegrass. Although this is the most popular grass nationwide because of its great appearance, it does not have the heat resistance to stand up to Alabama summers.

Bermuda grass is the most common grass found in Alabama. While Northern Alabama lies in a transitional zone, the cool season grasses (Fescue, Ryegrass, Bluegrass) will struggle to survive the hot summer temperatures when planted. Turf Type Fescue would be the exception to that in some areas of Northern Alabama. Due to summer heat stress, warm season grasses are the primary grasses planted in Alabama for full sun. For shade, turf type fescue is the best option like our Combat Extreme.

Below is the USDA Zone Map for Alabama so you can determine which zone you reside in. Below that are our picks for your state which will do best in your area. Next on this page are tables which list various grasses and their characteristics so you can compare before you decide on your purchase. Click on the product name (ie. La Prima) for more information about that grass and to make your purchase.

USDA Zone Map For Alabama
Alabama Grass Seed Alabama Zones

Best Grasses For Alabama
Product Name Species Category Applications
La Prima Bermuda Grass Warm Season Lawns - Full Sun
Yukon Bermuda Grass Warm Season Lawns - Full Sun
Centipede Centipede Grass Warm Season Lawns - Mostly Sunny to Full Sun
Zenith Zoysia Grass Warm Season Lawns - Mostly Sunny to Full Sun
Compadre Zoysia Grass Warm Season Lawns - Mostly Sunny to Full Sun
Carpet Carpet Grass Warm Season Lawns - Partial Sun
Lawns - Wet Areas
Combat Extreme Fescue - Turf Type Cool Season Lawns - Partial Sun
Lawns - Full Sun Zone 7a
Champion Ryegrass Rye Grass Cool Season Lawns - Winter Overseed
Sports Fields - Winter Overseed

Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics
Cool Season
Grasses		 Leaf
Texture		 Establish
Rate		 Nitrogen
Use		 Water
Use 		Drought
Tolerance		 Salinity
Tolerance		 Shade
Tolerance
Bentgrass - Creeping Fine Moderate
to Fast		 Low to
Moderate		 High Poor to
Moderate		 High Poor to
Moderate
Bentgrass - Colonial Fine Moderate
to Fast		 Low Moderate Poor to
Moderate		 Moderate Moderate
Bluegrass - Kentucky Moderate
to Fine		 Slow Moderate
to High		 Moderate
to High		 Good Moderate Poor
Bluegrass - Rough Moderate
to Fine		 Slow Moderate
to High		 Moderate
to High		 Poor Moderate Excellent
Fescue - Chewings Fine Moderate Moderate
to Low		 Moderate Good
to Excellent		 Low Excellent
Fescue - Hard Fine Slow to
Moderate		 Low to
Very Low		 Moderate Excellent Low to
Moderate		 Excellent
Fescue - Creeping Fine Moderate Low to
Moderate		 Moderate Good Low Excellent
Fescue - Turf Type Moderate
to Coarse		 Moderate Moderate
to High		 Low to
Moderate		 Excellent Low Good to
Excellent
Ryegrass - Perennial Fine to
Moderate		 Very Fast Moderate
to High		 Moderate
to High		 Good Poor to
Moderate		 Poor to
Moderate
Warm Season
Grasses		 Leaf
Texture		 Establish
Rate		 Nitrogen
Use		 Water
Use 		Drought
Tolerance		 Salinity
Tolerance		 Shade
Tolerance
Bahiagrass Coarse
toVery Coarse		 Slow to
Moderate		 Low Low Excellent Excellent Moderate
to Good
Bermudagrass Fine
to Moderate		 Moderate
to Fast		 Moderate Moderate
to High		 Excellent Very Good Poor
Blue Grama Fine
to Moderate		 Slow to
Moderate		 Low Low Excellent Moderate Very Poor
Buffalograss Moderate
to Coarse		 Slow to
Moderate		 Low Low Excellent Moderate Very Poor
Carpetgrass Coarse Moderate
to Fast		 Low High Low Low Excellent
Centipedegrass Moderate
to Coarse		 Slow Low Low Good Moderate Moderate
to Good
Seashore Paspalum Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Excellent Excellent Good
Zoysiagrass Fine
to Medium		 Slow to
Moderate		 Moderate Moderate Excellent Good Moderate
to Good
Compare Various Grasses For Their Characteristics - Continued
Cool Season
Grasses		 Fertility
Needs		 Wear
Resistance		 Mowing
Height		 Cold
Tolerance		 Acid Soil
Tolerance 		Thatching
Tendency		 Heat
Tolerance
Bentgrass - Creeping High Low Low Low Medium
to High		 High High
Bentgrass - Colonial High Low Low Low Medium
to High		 High High
Bluegrass - Kentucky Medium Medium
to High		 Medium High Medium Medium Medium
Bluegrass - Rough Medium Medium Medium High Medium Medium Medium
Fescue - Chewings Low Low Medium Medium
to High		 Medium
to High		 Low to
Medium		 Low to
Medium
Fescue - Hard Low Low Medium Medium
to High		 Medium
to High		 Low to
Medium		 Low to
Medium
Fescue - Creeping Low Low Medium High Medium
to High		 Low to
Medium		 Low to
Medium
Fescue - Turf Type Low to
Medium		 Medium
to High		 Medium
to High		 Medium High Low High
Ryegrass - Perennial Medium High Low to
Medium		 Medium Medium Low Medium
to High
Warm Season
Grasses		 Fertility
Needs		 Wear
Resistance		 Mowing
Height		 Cold
Tolerance		 Acid Soil
Tolerance 		Thatching
Tendency		 Heat
Tolerance
Bahiagrass Low Medium
to High		 High Low Low Medium
to High		 High
Bermudagrass Medium High Low to
Medium		 Low to
Medium		 Medium Medium High
Blue Grama Low Low High High Low Low High
Buffalograss Low Low High High Low Low High
Carpetgrass Low Medium
to High		 Low Medium
to High		 Medium
to High		 High Low
Centipedegrass Low Low Medium
to High		 Medium
to High		 High Medium High
Seashore Paspalum Medium
to High		 Medium
to High		 Low Medium Low Medium
to High		 High
Zoysiagrass Low to
Medium		 Medium
to High		 Low to
Medium		 High Low to
Medium		 Medium
to High		 High

Grass Seed Calculator

To calculate the amount of seed you will need for your project, click one of the links below for the type of grass seed you are interested in. A dialog window will appear listing your selected coverage and providing options for calculating your seed.

If you already know the square feet, length/width or acreage of your yard or lot, you can use the 'Quick Calculator'. If you need to add multiple lots and/or subtract areas that will not require seed, you may use the 'Advanced Calculator.'

The dialog window can be moved by clicking and dragging the top 'title bar'. You may click different types of seed to recalculate without re-entering your data.

Cool Season Grasses:
Type of Grass:Name of Grass:Square Feet Covered
Bentgrass, Colonial Highland 500 to 1000
Bentgrass, Creeping Nu Penn or Penncross 500 to 1000
Bluegrass, Creeping True Putt 350 to 500
Bluegrass, Kentucky Midnight or World Cup 350 to 500
Bluegrass, Rough Maximum 350 to 500
EnvirolawnEnvirolawn 750
Fescue, Fine Hard, Creeping, Sheeps or Legacy 150 to 200
Fescue, Turf Type Tall Combat Extreme 100 to 125
Mixtures, Turf Type Fescue & Kentucky Bluegrass Combat Blue 175 to 200
Mixtures, Ryegrass & Fine Fescue Garland 125 to 175
Mixtures, Ryegrass, Bluegrass, & Fine Fescue Showtime 175 to 250
Mixtures, Rough Bluegrass & Supina Bluegrass Poa Supina 350 to 500
Ryegrass, Perennial Outsidepride Blend 100 to 140
Warm Season Grasses:
Type of Grass:Name of Grass:Square Feet Covered
Bahia Pensacola 175 to 200
Bermuda Laprima, Princess, or Riviera 350 to 500
Blue Grama Bad River 350 to 500
Buffalo Cody or Supreme 350 to 500
CarpetCarpet 200 to 250
Centipede Coated 1000 to 2000
Seashore PaspalumSeashore Paspalum 1000
Zoysia Companion or Zenith 500 to 1000

LazyManTMLiquid Gold

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