Bermuda Grass Seed For Pastures & Hay Production

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Bermuda grass pasture seed produces the most commonly used pasture grass for livestock grazing and hay production throughout the southern and central USA. Improved bermuda pasture grass seed varieties produce excellent quality hay for all grazing animals and have a high production yield. These improved seeded forage varieties also exhibit more frost resistance than hybrid or sprigged varieties

Pasture: Bermuda grass is a perennial, tropical and sub-tropical forage (warm season grass) and should not be grown in the cooler areas because of winter kill although there have been newer forage bermuda grass varieties such as Mohawk. Wrangler and Cheyenne II that are developed for use further north in the upper transition zone.

Newer forage varieties such as Wrangler Bermuda Grass, Mohawk & Cheyenne II Bermuda Grass have more cold tolerance for use in cooler climate areas.

Bermuda grass is a warm season, perennial grass that has been found growing in many native forms all over the world. Bermuda grass is a drought tolerant, fast growing, full sun grass and can grow on soils of low fertility as long as they are well draining. This is a tenacious grass and in one form or another is found growing in approximately one third of the USA at this time (warmer areas).

VISIT FARMSEEDS.COM FOR MORE INFO ON PASTURE GRASSES
ALSO SEE OUR PAGE ON SEEDING BERMUDA GRASS PASTURES for planting info.

Bermuda Grass Growth Areas & Characteristics

Once established bermuda grass dominates the pasture providing growth in medium fertility and drought areas. If fertilized and irrigated it grows prolifically and needs to be harvested approximately every five weeks for the maximum forage benefit.

The growth area for bermuda is shown in the map to the right and above here.

New pastures can be overseeded with other grasses while the Bermuda is establishing a stand. It grows best in well-drained grounds and high heat and actually needs a lot of sunlight and is not a shade loving grass.

Fertilization usage rates is around 80 LB/A in the beginning of the growth period and increase according to usage  -- depending on how many hay cuttings. For haying purposes fertilization should be added after each cutting. Keep in mind that higher fertilization also can increase insect problems. Particular interest should be paid to low lying areas where Bermuda is grown because over fertilizing will result in runoff into water sources and fertilizers should be used conservatively in these areas.

Read about how to plant and care for bermuda grass pastures in this PDF document here on our site (will open in a new window).

Additional Information About Seeded Bermuda Grass Pasture Varieties

These varieties can be planted economically from seed! There are a number of great choices in Bermuda pasture grass seed . A much less expensive alternative to expensive sprigging of pasture grass

• Ranchero Frio - A Blend of Forage Bermudas. - Contains Giant & Cheyenne!
  Read more about Ranchero Frio Bermuda Grass.
  Our BEST Pasture Blend !!!
• CHEYENNE II - An improved Bermuda grass with excellent cold tolerance. Read more about Cheyenne II Bermuda Grass .
  
• Bermuda Giant -- Giant Bermuda Grass - One step up from Common Bermuda for pasture forage. Now sold primarily in bermuda grass seed blends due to it's 1st year establishment rate and complimentary nature
  BUY GIANT Bermuda Grass in seed blends such as Pasto Rica or Ranchero Frio from Seedland. Read more about Giant Bermuda.
• Sahara Bermuda is an excellent economical choice in Bermuda grasses for a seeded pasture. Sahara Bermuda Grass can produce more in forage / hay production over the Arizona common bermuda grass variety; in addition it has more leaves in lower part of the plant resulting in a higher quality hay that often brings a premium over common bermuda grass. Costing only slightly more than common bermuda grass seed, Sahara can pay in returns on hay production for the higher price in the first year alone.
• Common Bermuda - Common Bermuda Grass is used for forage pastures, lawns and erosion control. Planted on millions of acres.
• Mohawk Bermuda Grass - Is a high yielding bermuda grass that is more cold tolerant than other varieties and thus adapted to upper areas of the transition zone in the USA. It is excellent for grazing and hay production.
• Wrangler Bermuda Grass - This bermuda forage grass out performs other bermuda grasses in the 'tough to grow in' United States transition zone.

Common Bermuda Grass

Common Bermuda grass, the 'original bermuda grass', was originally grown for pasturage and imported for that use. Common Bermuda grass stands have higher nutritional value than the other warmer season grasses grown in the U.S. and with proper fertilization and soil additives are still maintaining their hold on the forage scene. The improvement and hybridization of the Bermuda grasses over the years has led to increases in forage potential and outstanding qualities for each new variety with extensive use for hay production in particular.

Although drought tolerant it responds well to irrigation --- remember that  better fertilization is needed for haying purposes. For small well managed horse pastures the newer Bermudas will provide the high rate of forage that a horse needs daily and covers the ground thick enough to keep down the weeds and ingested dirt horses so often consume when grazing pastures too close. As with all forages the best practice will be in establishing rotational grazing areas to cut down on overgrazing and better sod formation for the constant traffic of grazing animals. In many areas of the south, bermuda grass can remain green year round. Bermuda can readily take over a stand of other grasses or legumes and pure stands need to be watched for invasion of another neighboring variety.

Bermuda Grass - Additional Pasture Maintenance

Adapted to the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world and in the U.S. in the mid to lower south and from the East Coast into Texas. Bermuda grows best in soils of 5.6 to 6.2 and with soils that are of low to medium fertility. These grasses can withstand drought and colder conditions by going into dormancy and returning with the climate changes.

Seeding can be done with common Bermuda grass. it germinates at high temperatures as soon as the soil reaches about 65-70 degrees or 80° daytime air temperatures. Seeded at the rate of 5-10 lb. per acre for the hulled seed and at 10-15 lb. per acre for the un-hulled. Planting can be done April 15 though May the 30^th. Some seeders can broadcast, seed and pack at one time saving time and keeping the soil from loosing too much moisture. Improved coated seeds are generally planted at 10 lbs. acre rates. For more information see our Seeding Bermuda Grass Pastures page in this site

Establishment of Bermuda grass can be through seeding of common and improved Bermuda with sprigging  the best method for the establishment of hybrid vegetative pastures. The vegetative sprigs are cut through haying and thrown out ahead of disking and lightly cut into the soil and culti-packed immediately or the sprigs are removed by cuttings from the source with roots attached and are then planted by a sprigging machine in rows or broadcast and disked into the soil (lightly) with the tips above the soil line. Row sprigging will result in using far less of the vegetation and still result in a full even distribution and compact growth.

Maintenance requirements are fairly low for Bermuda grass with the emphasis being of soil testing and additions of fertilizer, lime and trace minerals that might be needed. Cuttings for hay and silage will of course have to be done according to schedule with fertilization following. Although Bermuda grasses are drought tolerant irrigation will go a long way in the dryer seasons toward full productivity. Occasionally old stands will need new growth added because of disease or weather factors. Also see our Bermuda Grass maintenance page for more practices.

Pests that can invade Bermuda grasses are chinch bugs, mole crickets, spider mites and army worms.

Diseases that may injure Bermuda grass are rust disease, spring dead spot disease

Weeds are generally not a problem except in the seedling stage, but a well prepared seed bed should take care of that issue. Bermuda grasses are so aggressive and thick growing weeds rarely have a chance to invade their space. The taller varieties shade out most of the weed's sunlight. If there is a problem early mowing in the spring should help alleviate the weeds from seeding and spreading for the next year. Bahiagrass is considered a weed in a Bermuda hay field. Bermuda grass will overtake and run out Bahia grass in time.

Watering Bermuda grass if it is available can only add to the production. Even though Bermuda is drought tolerant in years of good seasonal rains and good fertilization it will increase the productivity especially when the purpose is for hay and silage production.

Bermuda Pasture Grass Varieties

Many improved Bermuda grass Forage varieties have come from the turf grass industry.  This is due to more R&D being conducted in that industry due to consumer demand. We have listed below the Bermuda Pasture Grass Seed varieties available from Seedland.com.

• Pasto Rica - Blend of Giant and Common Bermuda Grass
• Ranchero Frio - A Bermuda Grass Pasture Blend consisting of Mohawk, Cheyenne II and Giant
• Cheyenne II - Originating from plants selected for their cold tolerance and vigorous growth habit
• Mohawk - An improved variety that will survive winter conditions better than most bermuda grass
• Wrangler - Out performs other bermuda grasses in the tough to grow in transition zone. Where other bermuda grasses fail Wrangler excels in tough to grow in states from Kansas east to Virginia
• Sahara Bermuda Grass - An improvement over Common Bermuda Grass used to establish economical pasture grass. Denser and lower growing than Common bermudagrass, Sahara exhibits improved summer color.
• Common - The original Bermuda grass is native to all the tropical and sub-tropical locals of the world.