While trees and other kinds of plants can grow well in sandy soil, grass has a tough time. This is because sandy soil has a lot of loose particles that leave air pockets. Water draws out of the soil quickly, and it has a hard time retaining nutrients. The loose soil also has trouble providing a solid base for the roots to take hold. We will cover the best grass seed for sandy soil and talk about how you can grow a thick, green, lush yard in sandy soil.
5 Best Grass Seeds for Sandy Soil
- Zoysia Grass
- Tall Fescue
- Bermuda Grass
- Centipede Grass
- Bahia Grass
1. Zoysia Grass
The best grass for sandy soil is Zoysia grass, because it has a long, strong root structure and handles high heat and drought well. Once Zoysia grass takes root, it will stick around and quickly spread to form a lush, dense turf with a high resistance to foot traffic. Zoysia grass is a warm-season grass, flourishing well when planted in the late spring and early summer. It goes dormant during the winter and turns golden brown before springing back to life in the hot months. Zoysia grass grows best when exposed to frequent sunlight, but some variants also grow well in the shade.
Zoysia grass also grows well in poor solid conditions. The long root system ensures that it can sap every available nutrient and grow. The hardest part of growing Zoysia grass is making sure it establishes. Once it does, it grows quickly and lasts a long time.
2. Tall Fescue
Tall fescue is a perennial cool-season grass that is the best choice for sandy yards in the Northern parts of the US. Tall fescue is a highly adaptable grass and can grow in a wide range of soil. This grass grows slowly and is relatively low maintenance. Tall fescue grows well in sunlight and shade and has its prime growing season during the spring and fall.
Tall fescue also has a deep root structure so it is resistant to drought and can retain water. Red and hard fescue are the best types of fescue grass for sandy soil and can quickly fill an empty or patchy lawn. Most fescue grass requires a pH between 5.5-8.0, so it will grow in a wide variety of soil conditions.
3. Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass is another warm-season grass that is a very good choice for sandy soil. Bermuda grass requires well-drained soil with less water content so it is uniquely suited for growing in sandy soil. Compared to many other warm-season kinds of grass, Bermuda grass grows very quickly. It takes a bit to establish but quickly spreads to form a dense turf.
However, Bermuda grass requires a lot of sunlight to grow. It will suffer if placed in shady areas that do not get a lot of direct sunlight. It is drought-resistant and will go dormant during the winter before springing back to life in the spring and summer. Two popular varieties of Bermuda grass are Riviera Bermuda and Yukon Bermuda. Both of these varieties have great drought and cold resistance, so they do well in transition zones.
Aside from sandy soil, Bermuda grass also grows well in other types of soil like clay soil. It has a deep rhizome root system that allows it to absorb nutrients readily. The one downside is that it needs constant sunlight or else it will not grow well.
4. Centipede Grass
Centipede grass is very low maintenance and does not need much watering. These properties make it ideal for sandy soil. It is a warm-season grass and has its peak growing season during the spring and summer. Centipede grass also has excellent heat resistance, making it great for warmer parts of the country like Florida, which is known for having sandy soil in the central and northern parts of the state.
One thing to keep in mind is that centipede grass has a relatively shallow root system compared to other warm-season grasses.
5. Bahia Grass
Bahia grass is a perennial warm-season grass that can grow well in sandy soil. It has a deep root system, giving it high heat and drought tolerance, making it well-adapted to grow in almost any type of soil conditions. Bahia grass is also low maintenance and doesn't require much water so it's a very good choice for sandy soil. One drawback of bahia grass is that it won't give you the densest lawn.
Tips to Grow Grass in Sandy Soil
Many species of grass will not grow well on sandy soil. One of the main problems with sand soil is that it is loose, so many grass species have trouble establishing and putting down roots. Sandy soil also drains quickly and will not hold nutrients as well as other types of soil. Grasses that need a lot of moisture and nutrients can have trouble growing. Thus, if you want to grow grass in sandy soil, it is recommended that you increase the soil's nutrient quality first through fertilizer and supplement treatments.
How Do I Treat My Lawn in Sandy Soil?
One of the main problems with sandy soil is that it does not retain nutrients as well as other types of soil, so growing a healthy lawn takes extra effort. Sandy soil has large particles that let water drain, and loose composition makes it hard for roots to take hold.
One way to treat sandy soil is to add a compost layer, which will help grass form a dense thatch layer that will keep it anchored to the ground. You can also add fertilizers that are high in nitrogen and potassium, two nutrients that grass and plants need to grow healthily.
One thing to watch out for with sandy soil is salt levels. Salt can stay in the soil, and the sodium content can damage plants and grass. Plant-based composts such as peat are a good way to amend the soil composition while minimizing salt levels.
Best Grass Seed For Sandy Soil Bottom Line
Growing grass in sandy soil is not that difficult as long as you choose the right type of grass seed. You'll need to consider various factors related to your locate climate to choose the best grass seed for sandy soil, but as long as you choose the right type of grass, you can have a healthy, green lawn. Also, the more grass you grow, the better quality the soil will become. Older grass layers contribute to thatch, which in turn helps the soil retain moisture and nutrients. So typically, sandy soil works better when you are reseeding a lawn rather than making one purely from scratch.