The best grass seeds for south Mississippi are warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, and St. Augustinegrass. Here, warm-season grasses are your best bet because summers get super hot and humid and winters are on the mild side.
These grasses are heat- and drought-tolerant and survive best in the south’s coastal winds and sandy soil. This article will help you understand and decide the right grass for your south Mississippi landscape.
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Bermudagrass: Excellent all-round grass
This warm-season grass checks all the boxes for an attractive, durable lawn in southern Mississippi. Like the other grasses on this list, it’s well-adapted to Mississippi’s climate, but unlike the others, it thrives in a variety of soil types, creating a dense, beautiful turf.
Bermudagrass grows aggressively and wears well because it recovers from damage really quickly..
Spreads by: Stolons (above-ground stems) and rhizomes (below-ground stems)
Shade tolerance: Low
Salt tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: High
Recommended mowing height: 1 – 2 inches
Potential for disease: Good resistance to disease
Best time to plant: February to April
Maintenance: High
Bermudagrass is not for you if …
- your lawn has poor drainage
- you can’t keep up with regular maintenance
- your lawn is shaded
Grass Seed Options:
– Scotts Turf Builder Bermudagrass (10-lb. bag)
– Hancock Seed Co. Bermudagrass (50-lb. bag)
Zoysiagrass: Best for heavily used lawns
Zoysia is your landscape (and your) best friend if you have pets, kids, or your lawn stays busy. It withstands heavy foot traffic without losing its charm. This warm-season grass sprouts early in spring and stays green into the fall.
Zoysia tolerates heat and drought, prefers full sun, and even tolerates cold very well. Zoysiagrass also develops deep root systems that help it hold up well against heavy foot traffic, weeds, and tough weather conditions.
The downside? Zoysia is a slow-growing turf grass that needs to be cut with sharp mower blades. But it develops a thick, dense, green turf that makes all the work worthwhile.
Spreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
Shade tolerance: Moderate
Salt tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: High
Recommended mowing height: 1 – 2.5 inches
Potential for disease: Good disease tolerance overall
Best time to plant: March to May
Maintenance: Low to moderate
Zoysiagrass is not for you if …
- you want a year-round green hue because Zoysia loses color when dormant
- your lawn is shaded
- you are not up for regular maintenance
Grass Plug and Seed Options:
– EZPlug Zoysia Plugs (50 Large Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (50 Full & Lush Grass Plugs)
– Zoysia Plugs (100 Plugs)
– Zenith Zenith Grass Seeds (1/8 lb. of seeds)
Centipedegrass: Best for low-maintenance lawns
Want good-quality turf with little to no maintenance? Here’s centipedegrass for you. When fully established, this slow-growing grass develops into a beautiful lime-green turf with a somewhat coarse texture.
Due to its slow growth rate, centipedegrass is also slow to recover from injury and has a poor wear tolerance overall despite its dense growth habit. With all its quirks, centipedegrass is still a Mississippi favorite for its heat resistance and hassle-free keeping.
Spreads by: Stolons
Shade tolerance: Moderate
Salt tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: Low to moderate
Foot traffic tolerance: Low
Recommended mowing height: 1.5 – 2 inches
Potential for disease: Good resistance to disease and insects
Best time to plant: March to May
Maintenance: Low
Centipedegrass is not for you if …
- your lawn gets a lot of use
- you have drainage issues
Grass Seed Options:
– Gulf Kist Coated Centipedegrass Seeds (1 lb.)
– Scotts EZ Seed Patch and Repair Centipedegrass (3.75 lbs.)
– TifBlair Centipedegrass (5-lb. bag)
St. Augustinegrass: Best for shady lawns
Known for its ability to tolerate humidity, heat, and shade, St. Augustine is a popular choice for lawns in the South. It forms a thick, carpet-like lawn that crowds out weeds in the yard while the rich green adds beauty to your Mississippi landscape.
St. Augustine has a fast growth rate and develops a wide- and coarse-bladed lawn. The only drawback is that St. Augustine gives a green, lush lawn for a limited time even in Mississippi (a warm-season grass zone) due to its low cold tolerance. But no worries, south Mississippi only gets mild winters.
Spreads by: Stolons
Shade tolerance: Highest amongst any warm-season grasses
Salt tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Foot traffic tolerance: Moderate
Recommended mowing height: 2.5 – 4 inches
Potential for disease: Moderate to high; vulnerable to chinch bugs and fungal diseases
Best time to plant: April and May
Maintenance: Moderate
St. Augustine is not for you if …
- your lawn tends to get waterlogged
- your lawn gets a lot of use
Frequently asked questions about South Mississippi grasses
Why are warm-season grasses better in south Mississippi?
Warm-season grasses tolerate humidity and high temperatures in the South. They also handle drought better.
Can I grow cool-season grass in Biloxi?
Biloxi is super hot and humid most of the year. Growing cool-season grass here is a challenge, but not an impossibility. If you’re determined, reach out to a Biloxi pro to help you with the right planting time and care.
What is the best time to plant warm-season grass seeds in south Mississippi?
The most favorable window to plant warm-season grass seeds is late spring to early summer when the soil temperatures are consistently above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Need help?
Knowing that warm-season grasses work best for your south Mississippi lawn is just the first step. You need to pick the right one according to your usage needs… which is another tedious process.
Let a lawn expert help you with their years of experience handling Mississippi lawns and get the best out of your landscape.
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Main Image Credit: Larry Ehl | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY 2.0
