Growing a beautiful garden on sandy soil is a hard thing even for expert gardeners. However, by knowing what kind of grass seed is best for sandy soil, it is possible. I am Gretchen, a seasoned gardener who has worked as an accountant at a small Jacksonville real estate firm. I always had a thing for gardening, and some years ago, I quit my job and dedicated my time to growing plants and other gardening activities. Today, I want to share my knowledge about the best grass seed for sandy soil.
- Bermuda
- Zoysia
- Bahia
- Cool-season fescue
- Centipede grass
They all grow best in sandy soil because of their deep and developed root systems.
From my experience, I can say that growing anything on sandy soil is a daunting task. I found out that the best time to build your lawn grass is during the spring favorable conditions. Early autumn is also a perfect time because grass gets ample time to develop its root system in preparation for the winter season.
Now, let’s talk about the specifics of sandy soil and how soil pH tester can be of help for growing grass on it.
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Understanding Sandy Soil Structure
If you live in a sandy area, you know how difficult it is to plant anything there. Poor water retention of such soil makes it less capable of supplying grass with essential nutrients. However, with soil amendments, you can turn your sandy soil lawn into a beautiful place filled with thick grass.
The structure of sandy soil differs in terms of color, texture, and water retention ability. Though you can use a soil pH tester to determine the quality and content of the soil, it is easy to tell sandy soil, especially by feel. It comes with a gritty texture when you squeeze a handful through your hand. Sandy soil is made up of broken and eroded rocks. It consists of large particles, thus, it has large spaces between them.
This makes the water retention capacity of sandy soil extremely poor. Water and nutrients get washed away easily, so it is hard to grow plants on it. Moreover, it is challenging to build up the organic content of sandy soil.
However, this does not necessarily mean that all hope is lost. There are ways you can improve the soil amendments of sandy soil. For example, grass plays a crucial role in fertilizing the soil. What is more, there are many grass seed options, which thrive even through sandy soil conditions. Thus, I have prepared seven grass seed reviews to sow on sandy soil to grow a beautiful lawn.
My Top 8 Picks of Grass Seed for Sandy Soil
There are five grass types of grass seed, namely Bermuda, Zoysia, Bahia, cool-season fescue, and centipede grass that grow best in sandy soil because of their deep and developed root systems. Here are my top picks of best grass seed for sandy soil.
1. Bluegrass and Tall Fescue Grass Seed Mix for Sandy Soil
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The Fescue grass is known for its ability to adapt to different climates, being heat, cold, and shade-tolerant. This is the right grass seed to sow if you want to improve the density and resilience of your lawn. The peak growing season for the grass is in the spring and fall. The grass can thrive well in both sunlight and shade.
It can give your lawn a vibrant dark green color, and the low maintenance requirements make this grass seed a preferred choice. The grass can grow even in northern gardens due to its high tolerance to drought compared to other cold-season and warm-season grasses.
2. Zoysia Grass Seed – The Best Grass Seed for Sandy Soil
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A significant characteristic of the Zoysia grass is its ability to withstand drought, heat, and other harsh weather conditions. Thus, this type of grass is well-suited for porous sandy soils. It grows with deep roots, which reach into the ground. This Zenith Zoysia grass seed is one of my favorite options as it always thrives well on my lawn.
After the roots develop deep in the ground, they make the grass highly tolerant to drought. The roots also play a vital role in ensuring that the grass growth does not solely depend on the soil’s fertility. Even if you sow it in the sandy soil, Zoysia grass seed can grow into a beautiful and dense lawn.
I want to note that this grass develops a golden brown color during its dormancy. Though it requires full exposure to the sun for fast growth, this grass can even thrive in shadow. In the soil of 60˚F or higher, this Zenith grass seed can sprout in 2-3 weeks.
3. Centipede Grass – The Best Grass Seed for Sandy Dry Soil
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When it comes to low maintenance requirements for a grass type, the centipede grass leads the list. This grass seed needs less watering and attention for growing into a thick grass in your lawn.
It is widely known as a warm-season grass, and its peak growth occurs during the late spring and summer. However, this type is highly sensitive to cold compared to other grasses.
Centipede grass has an outstanding tolerance towards high drought and heat. It has a relatively shallow root system, compared to other warm-season grasses. Therefore, the only time you will have to spend watering this grass is during the low rainfall season.
4. Bermuda Grass – The Best Grass Seed for Sandy Soil and Shade
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This warm-season grass needs well-drained soils, which have less water content. Thus, this grass seed is best suited for growing in sandy soil.
I noticed that this Bermuda grass grows much faster compared to other warm-season grasses. It is the perfect choice when looking for grass that can withstand both heat and drought. This grass seed can thrive in both drought and flood conditions.
However, it can’t grow when deprived of shade or sunlight. It is essential to sow Bermuda grass seed in areas with enough exposure to sunlight.
This grass has a dark green shade, and it is thick. During dormancy, Bermuda grass changes its color.
5. Pensacola Bahia Grass – Great for Large Lawns
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You can also opt for the Turf Builder Bahia grass by Scotts company that is very resistant to heat and drought. It is the perfect choice if the soil in your area is extremely sandy.
This Pensacola Bahia grass seed develops a deep root system, which makes it highly resistant to drought. However, this seed grows in the grass of dull color and doesn’t result in a dense lawn, making it a less attractive option. But I recommend purchasing this Bahia grass seed if you have a large lawn to cover with grass. This seed requires less maintenance and thrives well in sandy soil.
6. Bahia Grass Seed
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The Hancocks Argentine grass seed tends to grow into a lush, low-maintenance, thick grass. Additionally, it has low watering requirements. I like this Bahia seed because it can grow in sandy soil really fast compared to other grasses.
Some of the characteristics associated with this Argentine Bahia grass is its inclusiveness of deep-rooted, drought-tolerant, and disease-resistant roots. This Bahia grass can produce up to 12-feet dense root structure. This caters to the low water requirements.
It is also known as a pasture grass that grows during the warm season and in warm climates. Therefore, the Bahia grass seed makes up for a highly dense and attractive lawn that can withstand all the harsh weather conditions.
7. Zoysia Plug Tray
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These plug trays can grow into a magnificent low-maintenance lawn. The plugs are easy to get in the ground and take care of. The best part about using the plug trays is that there is reduced transplant shock, and you plant the grass with its root system covered with the initial soil. This allows the plugs to grow and spread faster compared to if you just sow seed on the sandy soil.
Zoysia grass has low nitrogen requirements, which makes it a suitable option to grow in sandy soil. What I also like about plug trays with Zoysia grass is that the mature plugs end up producing the runners. It is also can grow in drought-stricken areas. What is more, grass seed can grow both in sunshine and shadow.
If you purchase Zoysia grass during the winter season, you will notice that it comes in a brown color. However, once the summer period starts, the grass greens up.
How to Grow Grass on Sandy Soil?
Here are my tips on how to grow grass on sandy soil. First, you need to remove debris, weeds, and all big rocks. The idea is to help the soil to maintain moisture for growing grass. Sandy soil has a fast absorption rate, and this can be reversed by using a mixture of compost or developing your loam soil. Therefore, you need to dig about six inches deep while using a rake. Ensure that the organic material has been spread equally on the soil.
A good alternative is investing in fertilizers. The rate of plant growth can be improved with the use of fertilizers. Coat the entire planting area with fertilizers and cover it to ensure that the fertilizers and nutrients will not be easily blown off.
Once you have made all these preparations, you can finally sow the selected grass seed in the prepared soil. All the five types of grass seed that I have mentioned above can thrive through the sandy soil, but it can develop quicker and thicker if you help the soil to absorb and retain moisture.
Spread seeds evenly and water the soil lightly. It can be quite challenging to determine the appropriate amount of water needed for your grass. Too much water can lead to washing away grass seed, leaving behind bald spots. Once you have spread seeds and watered the area, make another round with sowing a handful of seeds in the soil. These will cover the bald spots left after the watering process.
Getting a beautiful lawn requires patience. You need to check on it frequently by clipping and removing weeds that grow faster than grass. I recommend cutting the growing grass only when it reaches at least three inches.
Final Thoughts on the Best Grass Seed for Sandy Soil
If you have sandy soil in your area, it can be challenging to grow a thick lawn. However, with the grass seed mentioned above, you can quickly grow a dense and thick grass. Though the main problem with sandy soil is that it has a reduced water retention capability, the grass types I have mentioned are suitable for growing even on sandy soil.
What is the best grass seed for sandy soil among the reviewed? All of the grass types are highly tolerant to heat, drought, and harsh weather conditions. However, I can name the Zoysia grass as my preferred option for the best grass for sandy soil because it needs a little attention and consumes less water. Also, Zoysia grass seed can thrive in both sunlight and shade conditions.
Do you have any additional tips on growing grass on sandy soil? Have you sown one of the mentioned grass types? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
