When to Plant Bermuda Grass Seed in Arizona for a Green Lawn

Written by

William Golder

FACT-CHECKED BY

Dorian Goodwin

when to plant bermuda grass seed in arizona

Warm-season turfgrass is a terrific choice for spring and summer lawns in Arizona. Among different grass types grown in the state, Bermuda is popular because it doesn’t require reseeding after going dormant in winter.

It also handles heat and foot traffic well, provided you know when to plant Bermuda grass seed in Arizona and care for it.

If you plan to spruce up your lawn this year, remember that April to August is the best time to grow Bermuda grass.

Best Time to Plant Bermuda Grass Seed in Arizona

1. Plant in spring after the last frost

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The best time to plant Bermuda grass in AZ is after the last frost, preferably two months after it.

This period has consistently warm weather that allows seeds to germinate and undergo active development. It also enables grass roots to grow so that you can have a lush lawn in the summer. 

With that said, you can look up the frost dates where you live to determine your seeding calendar. In Phoenix, February 3 is the average final frost, so residents here can seed Bermuda grass in February or wait until April to start gardening.

Below are the frost dates for some places in Arizona.

Location Last frost First frost
Avondale January 18 December 16
Clarkdale April 6 November 4
Glendale February 2 December 8
New River January 23 December 15
Tucson February 2 December 9

You can also plant Bermuda grass indoors at almost any time of the year, so long as the temperatures are consistently around 70 to 80℉. What’s important is that it has at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day to ensure optimal growth.

2. Planting time for different areas

Before planting Bermuda grass, you can also take note of your hardiness region and the recommendations below. Arizona spans hardiness zone 4 to 10, to be clear.

  Final frost Planting time
Zone 4 May 1 – 31 May or July
Zone 5, 6, 7 March 30 – April 30 April, May, or June
Zone 8 February 22 – March 30 February to May
Zone 9 January 30 – February 28 January to April
Zone 10 January 30 or earlier January to March

3. How late is too late to plant Bermuda grass seed in Arizona?

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You can plant Bermuda grass as late as August. The seeds will take about a month to establish before turning brown and going dormant in November or so.

In any case, grass development will slow down in October, so if you want a lush lawn in the fall, consider overseeding summer grass with cool-season ryegrass.

Care and Maintenance Tips for Bermuda Grass Seed in Arizona

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  1. Help Bermuda seeds retain moisture and protect them from birds by covering them with a manure compost mix after planting, preferably a deodorized type if you don’t want to remove foreign objects from the mix before usage.
  2. Water the ground 4 to 5 times a day for the first three days to keep the top inch of the soil damp, then reduce the irrigation frequency to once every three days.
  3. Typically, germination time will be fourteen days and happens the quickest under 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Full sun is also essential for optimal growth, as is fertilizing the soil with 0.5 pound of nitrogen per 1000 feet every month up until October.
  4. In addition, remember to dethatch Bermuda grass in May and June and mow it every week so that the grass shoots reach two inches high at most but do not measure lower than ¾ inch. Cutting Bermuda grass shorter in the fall helps prepare it for dormancy in Arizona winter.
  5. As for watering, you can forgo irrigating non-overseeded Bermuda once it’s dormant, but if the weather is very dry, watering once a month will suffice.

Factors That Affect the Optimal Time to Plant Bermuda Grass Seed in Arizona

factors-that-affect-the-optimal-time-to-plant-bermuda-grass-seed-in-arizona

Bermuda thrives under warm weather, making spring or early summer the best seasons for planting it. This grass type also dies back in the fall, so we cannot sow it too close to winter or under frosty weather.

What’s also notable is that many people in Arizona overseed Bermuda grass with ryegrass during the cool season, and ryegrass will need to die in spring first before we can water Bermuda grass and help it regrow.

This is why you might need to wait until May to see your warm-season lawn flourishing again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for Bermuda grass to grow in Arizona?

Bermuda grass will establish itself within a month if given appropriate temperatures and sufficient moisture to grow (70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and an inch of water per week).

Can I just throw Bermuda grass seed down?

You can, but germination rates will be lower, and the lawn may look uneven without pre-seeding preparation like removing weeds and raking the soil.

Conclusion

Bermuda is an excellent choice if you want to plant summer grass or spring grass. It doesn’t require much water to thrive and is perfect for outdoor sports like baseball and lacrosse. For any further questions on when to plant Bermuda grass seed in Arizona, feel free to leave us a message.

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