Best Bermuda Grass Seed of 2023 - Comparing Top Products

Best Bermuda Grass Seed

Bermuda grass is a resilient, durable grass seed that flourishes in warm, dry conditions. It thrives in the southern states of the US, where it can endure periods with very minimal rain and very high heat. However, it’s resilience doesn’t mean it always grows perfectly on every lawn. This guide will explain how you can buy the right seeds to top up your Bermuda grass lawn.

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Our #1
Pick

Scotts Turf
Builder Grass Seed Bermudagrass

 4/5

Best
Patch Repair

Scotts EZ Seed
Patch and Repair Bermudagrass

 4/5

Runner-Up

Pennington One Step Complete Bare Spot Repair Grass Seed Mix

 3.5/5

Topic Description

Bermuda grass seeds usually come in large bags, pre-mixed with all the nutrients and protection they need. All you need to do is sprinkle the seeds on your lawn and let nature do the rest (some may need additional watering at the outset). They’re designed to grow in conditions where some Bermuda grass may struggle, such as in direct sun or shade. We also reviewed a seed mat, which makes life even easier since it provides its own nutrients.

Methodology

In order to build our list, we reviewed many of the different Bermuda grasses on the market, selecting only the ones that fulfilled the following criteria: Best coverage, best value, best brand reputation, most effective, easiest to use, and hardiest.

From these, we were able to pick four Bermuda grass solutions, including our top pick, and the best patch repair option. At the bottom of this list is our Bermuda Grass Buyers’ Guide, which will help you make the right decision on what solution is best for you and your lawn to grow as healthy as possible.

Our #1 Pick

Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed Bermudagrass

Description:

Scotts has built a great reputation in the grass seed industry for producing extremely high-quality products, and the Turf Builder Bermuda Grass is no exception. This got our nod as top pick due to its effectiveness at creating an extremely thick and full lawn. As a Bermuda grass seed, it is also designed with warmer climates in mind and can handle little water and high sun with relative ease.

Although this is at the pricier end of the spectrum, it’s well worth the investment – especially compared to less effective rivals on the market.

What We Like:

The drought tolerance of this grass is extremely useful - not only does it make it that much hardier, but means it also requires less maintenance in order to get to grow.
On top of that, it is designed to spread aggressively, meaning it will fill in patches in your lawn and catch everything up to the required standard.
It, therefore, has a great mix of effectiveness and durability.

PROs

CONs

Best Patch Repair

Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Bermudagrass

Description:

For something as simple as grass, there can be a great deal of management and science involved in growing a perfect lawn. Nowhere is this more true that when your lawn grows in patches. For the amateur gardener, this can be a confusing problem, as the soil is ostensibly the same – as is the climate.

Unless you want to start taking samples of nutrients, your first course of action should be the Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair (tailored for Bermuda grass). It’s designed to be a simple solution to patchy grass and it’s extremely effective. This one got our nod as the best patch repair because of the way it deals with extreme heat and sun. For those in the southern parts of the US, this is key in growing a thriving lawn.

What We Like:

We like that this is designed with southern climes in mind. Built to grow in the scorching heat and in the full sun, it helps grow grass that is hardy and robust.
It also means it’s perfect for use in traditionally patchy areas, such as high traffic areas or slopes.
This is the perfect ‘rescue’ grass - it’ll turn your lawn from veritable scrubland to a rich, verdant lawn with very little actual work.
It’ll also help your lawn stay resistant to the same problems in the future.

PROs

CONs

Runner-Up

Pennington One Step Complete Bare Spot Repair Grass Seed Mix For Bermudagrass Areas

Description:

The Pennington seed nearly made the list as our top pick, narrowly kept out by the Scotts offering. However, this is an extremely high-quality seed and is the closest we found to an industrial-level grass seed (of the sort used by professional landscapers and greenskeepers). It’s particularly good at repairing bare spots on the grass. As with the patch repair, that means it’s designed to thrive in fairly inhospitable conditions, such as full sun and heat.

Although it takes slightly longer to grow than other seeds on the market, it will absolutely fill in the gaps for you. This is one of the best quality grass seeds available for the casual gardener.

What We Like:

We like the way this is designed to handle the elements. It can stand up with relative ease to full sun and full heat - effectively everything that regular grass struggles with.
As mentioned above, it also contains several professional-grade components, such as high-quality fertilizer and mulch, both of which give it the conditions it needs to germinate effectively.

PROs

CONs

Best Seed Mat Option

Grotrax Biodegradable Grass Seed Mat, Bermuda Rye

Description:

Although most of the items on our list are seed bags, that’s not the only solution to a poorly-growing lawn. The Grotrax Seed Mat is an extremely effective option if you have a defined piece of lawn that won’t grow. You unroll the mat and water it on your lawn. It sticks to the soil, with the matting providing a good environment in which the grass grows. Over time, the mat will biodegrade, further nurturing the soil and the growing grass seeds.

This is a relatively new approach to grass that struggles in certain conditions and one that is becoming increasingly popular because of its effectiveness and interventionist approach. All in all, if traditional seeds have failed, this is a great option.

What We Like:

Despite the extra work involved, we like that this contains an ‘all in one’ solution to grass growing. The fabric of the matting contains the seed, the fertilizer, and the mulch, meaning all you have to do is unroll it.
It also is tailored specifically for Bermuda grass, with technology from growers in Oregon who deal exclusively with warm climate grasses.

PROs

CONs

BERMUDA GRASS SEED BUYER’S GUIDE

If you’ve read our guide above, and have decided that your Bermuda grass is in need of repair, or re-seeding, then you should already be well informed. However, not all the above picks work in all types of situations, so you’ll need our Buyers’ Guide. It will explain some key questions you need to ask yourself before you buy any grass seeds, and what you should be looking for when you do take the plunge and buy.

How do I know if I have Bermuda grass?

There are two main ways to identify what type of grass you have:

Bermuda grass is most commonly found in warm, dry climates. In the United States, this means that you likely have Bermuda grass if you live in the southern band of states from California to Florida (including Texas). If your summers are very warm and very dry, there’s a strong chance you have Bermuda grass.

You can also identify it by looking at its roots. Bermuda grass has above-ground roots called stolons; it also has small ‘hairs’ where the blade of the leaf meets the sheath. However, the most obvious feature of Bermuda grass is the head of the plant, which spreads out like a bird’s foot.

How much coverage do you need with grass seed?

The most obvious way to determine this is to measure the patches of lawn you want to be filled in (or the total area of your lawn). A drawn diagram may help in this respect. Add the total area together and double it (since you’ll likely need a couple of goes at seeding). You then need to compare this with the coverage offered by the seed bag (or mat). As a general rule, buy more seed than you need, so you can ensure you get thick coverage of any patchy areas.

What is the problem with the patchy area of grass?

This is where you need to get diagnostic. In order for the replacement seed to fill in the gaps, it needs to make up for the problems of the rest of the seed. If you buy the same seed, you’ll get the same results. Instead, work out why the grass is not growing in a given area. This is usually down to one or more of the following:

The easiest way to diagnose is to compare the area where the grass doesn’t grow with areas where it does. What’s different between those two areas? Once you’ve diagnosed this, you can use it as the main feature to look for when buying new Bermuda grass seeds.

What if I can’t diagnose the problem with patchy grass?

If there is no clear difference between some of your grass and others in terms of conditions, the problem is most likely disease. In this instance, you need to look for seeds that come with a protectant, which is designed to make the seedlings resistant to disease. Try this on part of your lawn and see what happens.

Bermuda grass is an extremely resilient and durable grass. That doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to grow easily, however. If your lawn needs a top-up to create an even, lush surface, then the grass seeds on our list will be best-placed to give you a helping hand.