Grass Establishment Calendar for Warm Season Grasses
David M. Kopec, Extension Turfgrass Specialist
Establishing grass from seed, sod, sprigs or stolons is based on the kind of grass selected for the lawn (warm or cold season grasses) and the season of the year which allows for the greatest establishment.
WARM SEASON GRASSES:
Warm season lawn grasses include grasses that thrive in the warm summer temperatures. These grasses generally require high air temperatures and high light intensities for maximum food production and growth. Examples include Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and Buffalograss. Because of their need for warm temperatures, they are best established early in the summer season. However, because of difference in growth rates, some slow growing grasses have a limited time span for establishment, while others establish relatively quickly.
BERMUDAGRASS SEED*
|
Early |
Optimum |
Late |
Yuma-Parker |
April 15 |
May 15 - July 15 |
August 15 |
Phoenix Valley |
May 1 |
May 25 - July 15 |
August 10 |
Tucson Valley |
May 15 |
June 1 - Aug 15 |
August 1 |
Sierra Vista/Kingman/Globe |
June 1 |
June 15 - Aug 10 |
August 20 |
* Do not overseed with ryegrass during the establishment year.
BERMUDAGRASS SOD *
|
Early |
Optimum |
Late |
Yuma-Parker |
April 1 |
May 1 - Sept 25 |
October 10 |
Phoenix Valley |
May 1 |
May 15 - Aug 30 |
September 15 |
Tucson Valley |
May 15 |
June 1 - Aug 15 |
September 1 |
Sierra Vista/Kingman/Globe |
May 25 |
June 5 - Aug 1 |
August 15 |
* Best if not overseeded year of establishment. Do not overseed sod installed in the last 1/4 of the normal growing season.
RYEGRASS OVERSEED (BERMUDA) SOD*
Location(s) |
Early |
Optimum |
Late |
Yuma-Parker |
October 25 |
Nov 1- Mar 15 |
--- |
Phoenix Valley |
October 10 |
Oct 25 - Mar 31 |
--- |
Tucson Valley |
September 25 |
Oct 10 - Mar 15 |
--- |
Sierra Vista/Kingman/Globe |
September 10 |
Oct 1 - Mar 15 |
--- |
* Bermuda base sod, already overseeded with ryegrass. Late spring season not recommended B better off sodding Bermudagrass only.
BERMUDAGRASS STOLONS OR PLUGS*
Location(s ) |
Early |
Optimum |
Late |
Yuma-Parker |
May 10 |
May 25 - Aug 30 |
September 1 |
Phoenix Valley |
May 15 |
June 1- Aug 15 |
August 25 |
Tucson Valley |
June 1 |
June 5 - July 25 |
August 10 |
Sierra Vista/Kingman/Globe |
June 10 |
June 15 - July 20 |
August 5 |
* Bermudagrass stolons at the rate of 10 bushels/1000 ft 2 . Plugs=2.5" x 2.5", placed on 18" centers. Do not overseed the first year. Late plugging or stolons may not provide 100% cover by season = s end.
ZOYSIAGRASS SEED/ST AUGUSTINE SEED*
Location(s) |
Early |
Optimum |
Late |
Yuma-Parker |
--- |
May 15 - Aug 10 |
--- |
Phoenix Valley |
--- |
May 25 - Aug 5 |
--- |
Tucson Valley |
--- |
June 1 - July 31 |
--- |
Sierra Vista/Kingman/Globe |
--- |
June 15 - July 31 |
--- |
* Early and/or late seeding is not recommended due to slow growth of Zoysiagrass and St. Augustine.
ZOYSIAGRASS SOD/ST. AUGUSTINE SOD*
Location(s) |
Early |
Optimum |
Late |
Yuma-Parker |
April 15 |
May 15 - Sept 5 |
October 30 |
Phoenix Valley |
May 15 |
June 1 - Aug 15 |
October 30 |
Tucson Valley |
May 25 |
June 5- Aug 15 |
September 15 |
Sierra Vista/Kingman/Globe |
June 1 |
June 10 - Aug 1 |
September 1 |
* Optimum time is best, since these grasses grow slower than bermudagrass.
* Do not overseed Zoysia or St. Augustine grass. Allow to go dormant in winter months.
ZOYSIAGRASS PLUGS/ST. AUGUSTINE PLUGS*
Location(ss) |
Early |
Optimum |
Late |
Yuma-Parker |
May 10 |
May 25 - Aug 30 |
--- |
Phoenix Valley |
May 15 |
June 1 - Aug 15 |
--- |
Tucson Valley |
June 1 |
June 5 - July 25 |
--- |
Sierra Vista/Kingman/Globe |
June 10 |
June 15 - July 20 |
--- |
* Optimum time is best, since these grasses grow slower than bermudagrass. Stolonizing not recommended for either grasses due to slow-take and slow establishment. Do not overseed ever St. Augustine or Zoysiagrass. Allow to go dormant in winter months.
BUFFALOGRASS SOD*
Location(s) |
Early |
Optimum |
Late |
Yuma-Parker |
NR |
NR |
NR |
Phoenix Valley (marginal) |
May 15 |
June 1 - Aug 30 |
August 15 |
Tucson Valley |
May 25 |
June 1 - Aug 15 |
August 10 |
Sierra Vista |
June 1 |
June 10 - July 25 |
August 5 |
Kingman/Globe |
May 30 |
June 10 - July 25 |
August 5 |
* Not recommended for Yuma Valley or areas under 2000 feet elevation. Never overseed buffalograss.
BUFFALOGRASS SEED*
Location(s) |
Early |
Optimum |
Late |
Yuma-Parker |
NR |
NR |
NR |
Phoenix Valley |
May 10 |
May 25 - July 25 |
August 5 |
Tucson Valley |
May 25 |
June 1 - July 20 |
August 1 |
Sierra Vista/Kingman/Globe |
June 1 |
June 15 - July 15 |
July 25 |
* Not recommended for Yuma Valley or areas under 2000 feet elevation. Never overseed buffalograss.
BUFFALOGRASS PLUGS*
Location(ss) |
Early |
Optimum |
Late |
Yuma-Parker |
NR |
NR |
NR |
Phoenix Valley |
May 10 |
May 25 - July 15 |
NR |
Tucson Valley |
May 25 |
June 1 - July 10 |
NR |
Sierra Vista/Kingman/Globe |
June 1 |
June 15 - July 10 |
NR |
* Not recommended. Buffalograss plugs planted as 2.5" x 2.5 plugs on 12" cneters. Establishment rate is much slower than bermudagrass. Never overseed buffalograss with winter ryegrass.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities.