Bermuda Lawns in Houston (Austin, Buffalo: foreclosed, homes, purchase)

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Now would be a great time to plan on getting a Bermuda lawn if your lawn is completely dead and dried up! If your homeowner's association allows you that is. I think they look better than St Agustine. It is softer on your feet, kids like to play and lay on it, and it is more drought resistant than St Agustine. It is a fine, green lawn that looks like carpet when kept up. You don't need to do anything different other than keep it lower than St Agustine.

But then I'm biased... I come from W. Texas where Bermuda lawns are the norm... El Toro, or TIFF 419. A Bermuda lawn just looks more manicured, neat and adds something, I don't know, something along the lines of class as curb appeal.

You don't have to sod the entire lawn, you could purchase sprigs and rake them into our dead lawn... ad water, and wait for it to grow.

[westres1]

I dont think it does well here typically...people usaually seed there laws with it in fall for a winter green but after that it dies.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by westres1

I dont think it does well here typically...people usaually seed there laws with it in fall for a winter green but after that it dies.

What you see in winter is Rye grass, it is seasonal, cooler weather of course.

[Cookiekaikai]

I do hate St. Augustine...they are thick and look nasty

[testmo]

bermuda does not typically do well in Houston I thought. family in Austin have a hard time keeping it alive in the summer (its dead there now just like my backyard). i cant remember if it does well in the shade and dies quick in full sun or vice versa.

[icrnk]

Some info from about.com:

Bermuda grass loves full sun and has excellent traffic tolerance. It responds quickly to watering after drought and requires frequent mowing. Bermuda grass tends to go dormant during the winter and is often overseeded with ryegrass in the winter to maintain green color. Common Bermuda, Celebration, GN1, Grimes EXP, TexTurf, TifSport, and Tifway 419 are all considered drought tolerant cultivars.

St. Augustine grass is a medium green, coarse leaf grass that prefers dappled shade and is acceptable for moderate traffic. It remains green for the winter months of dormancy but is susceptible to diseases if excessively watered during the winter. Floratam is considered the best drought resistant cultivar.


Zoysia grass tolerates sun and shade but is slow growing compared to Bermuda and St. Augustine. Once Zoysia is established, it provides a lush, green carpet of turf. Zoysia tolerates foot traffic well and different cultivars have varying tolerance to drought. El Toro, Empire, Jamur, and Palisdaes are considered drought resistant cultivars of Zoysia grass.

Buffalo grass is native to the midwest, requires full sun and does not tolerate much traffic. It requires little, if any, water once it is established. It needs to be established from plugs and must be mowed high (over 5" or not at all). All varieties of Buffalo grass are considered drought tolerant but some newer cultivars like Legacy are favored over others.


Centipede grass is "apple-green" or "lime-green" in color and although slow growing, makes an attractive, low maintenance lawn once established. It prefers full sun or partial shade and tolerates acidic soil so it is commonly found growing in the dappled shade under pine trees.

[HoustonBornNRaised]

I hear this grows really well here:

SYNLawn® artificial grass products for lawn and landscape applications

[piyf]

grows?

[HoustonBornNRaised]

Originally Posted by danieloneil01

grows?

Okay, so maybe it doesn't. If I had the nerve, and wasn't worried about resale, I'd 'plant' my entire backyard with it.

[JL]

I saw a show once where foreclosed homes were having their yards spray painted. It was pretty awesome!