Grass Seed Good for Sandy Soil

A lush green lawn grown from seed depends largely on the compatibility of the grass seed varietal with the natural surroundings. Growing grass seed that is not suited for the soil invites sub par performance, disease and high maintenance to compensate for less-than-ideal conditions. Sandy soil is fast-draining so water and nutrients move quickly through the soil, thus drought-tolerant grass seed performs best in sandy conditions and is the preferred seed type to look for.

Cool season grass varietals grow best in regions with cold winters and warm to hot summers that receive regular dousings of rain throughout the summer months. Cool season grasses that are drought-tolerant and adapt to sandy soil conditions most readily come from the fescue family. Fescues are ideal because their seed germinates quickly even in poor soil, and they are drought-tolerant. Among the best cool season seed varietals for sandy soils are: tall fescue, creeping red fescue and hard fescue. While each of these grass seed varietals is drought-tolerant when mature and established, you must water them all at least daily during the germination and root establishment phase.

Warm season grasses thrive where winters are mild and summers are very hot and also sometimes humid. Warm season grass seed appropriate for sandy and drought-prone soil are: Zoysia grass and Bermuda grass.

Evergreen grasses grow more vigorously in the fall and spring but do remain green nearly year round. Evergreen grass seed varietals that will grow in consistently warm climates with sandy soil and even drought conditions include: Zoysia, Bermuda and Bahia grass. Often evergreen grass seed comes in blends of two or more varietals to enhance its year-round performance and appearance. You can plant Zoysia, Bermuda and Bahia grasses as seed, plugs or sod, depending on your requirements and budget. When grown from seed, these grasses should be sown in early spring or fall and kept uniformly moist with multiple daily waterings until their roots are well established. Once roots are established, you can commence a maintenance regimen of twice weekly deep waterings.