Bermuda Couch Grass Seed Blend
McKays Bermuda Couch Blend is a combination of Bermuda Couch (also known as Sahara Couch grass), Annual Ryegrass and McKays Slow Release Fertiliser.
The purpose of the Annual Ryegrass in this blend is to provide a safety bed which protects and nurtures the growth of the Bermuda Couch grass for the first year of growth (approximately). The Annual Ryegrass will die off after this time (usually in the warmer weather) and will not return, allowing the Bermuda Couch’s aggressive runners to take over and fill out any bare or thin areas. This is particularly useful if seeding large areas or in the temperate climates of Australia.
If you are living in parts of Australia where the temperature regularly exceeds 25 degrees, we recommend going with the Bermuda Couch Grass Seed as the Annual Rye in this Bermuda Couch Grass Seed Blend will not survive long in these temperatures.
Seeding rates:
Please note: Seeding rate for the Bermuda Couch Grass Seed Blend is higher than that of the Bermuda Couch Grass Seed
- New Lawns: 30 grams per square meter. (3 kg/100m2)
- Over-seeding: 15 grams per square meter. (3kg/200m2)
Please note: There are currently quarantine restrictions for seeds being sent to TAS and WA.
Tasmanian customers: When placing an online order, please document ‘ATT: TAS Biosecurity’ in the ‘Company’ section above the address line to enable faster processing of your seed through quarantine.
WA customers: Quarantine fees apply for seed inspection. Please contact McKays Seeds through the Contact Us link or via phone to discuss your options.
For more information see below for Description and Features to see if this grass suits you!
Blade
Fine
Colour
Medium
Growth
Runner
Growth Rate
Medium-Fast
Description
The Annual Ryegrass in this blend can assist in weed control while you wait for the Bermuda Couch grass to fully establish. It is fast growing and protective of the Couch, while also offering the benefit of erosion control.
Optimal pH: Bermuda Couch performs best in soils with moderate acidity (pH 5.8-7.0), but tolerates more alkaline conditions.
Sowing Tips: Sow into soft top soil or sandy loam.Broadcast the seed at, or very near, the soil surface and incorporate lightly with raking. To ensure best coverage and avoid seed wastage we recommend using an appropriate seed spreader for the size of your area. Soil must remain damp throughout the germination period of both seeds and must be maintained for at least 1-2 weeks after sowing, through irrigation or natural rainfall.
Optimal Planting Time: Autumn and Spring sowing is recommended for this seed. For best results, plant in a climate that ranges between 18-25 degrees Celsius.
Germination: Annual Ryegrass will germinate in 7-10 days with sufficient water. The Bermuda Couch grass should germinate within 21 days, however this is climate dependent.
Water: The Bermuda Couch Grass Seed Blend has an increased water requirement in the first year due to the large component of Annual Ryegrass in this blend. See Annual Ryegrass Seed for more details. Once the Annual Ryegrass has died off, watering requirements will decrease, see Bermuda Couch Grass Seed for further information of ongoing water management.
Fertilising: Fertilise several times a year with McKay’s Slow Release Fertiliser. Couch grass requires generous Nitrogen applications for optimum performance during the growing season. Fertiliser application recommended approximately 6 weeks after sowing during active growth phase.
First Mowing: When Annual Ryegrass is approximately 5-7cm tall. This demonstrates that the roots are strong enough to withstand the wheels of the mower and should not be pulled out during mowing. Extra care will need to be taken of the Bermuda Couch grass that is underneath the Ryegrass as it is likely that this will not be fully established at that time.
Mowing Frequency: Set the mower to cut at approximately 5cm above ground level and repeat the mowing when the grass grows about 2.5cm above the set level. Once the Couch is fully established, Bermuda Couch performs best at mowing heights of 13-38mm.
Mowing Tips:
- Remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf per mow
- The lower you mow it, the more often you need to mow
- In shady areas increase the mowing height of the grass
- Mowing is the best form of weed control
Disadvantages of Bermuda Couch Grass Seed Blend:
- The Annual Ryegrass will not tolerate prolonged temperatures above 30 degrees and requires a larger amount of water than the pure Bermuda Couch Grass Seed.
- The seeding rate for the Bermuda Couch Grass Seed Blend is 3 x higher than that of the pure Bermuda Couch Grass Seed.
- Will take longer to establish a pure Bermuda Couch lawn than using the Bermuda Couch Grass Seed due to the difference in percentage of Couch sown in these two grasses.
Seed and Package Details: 70% Annual Ryegrass, 20% Bermuda (Sahara) Couch grass, 10% Fertiliser (by weight).
Independently Tested: 85% Min Germination, 98% purity. A seed testing certificate is available upon request.
Ideal Usage: Lawns, Commercial Landscapes, Parks, Playgrounds, Acreages.
Where can I sow this grass in Australia? Areas 6, 7, 8, 9
Shade Tolerance: Good
Daily Sunlight Required: 6+ hours
Drought Tolerance: Excellent
Frost Resistance: Moderate
Traffic Tolerance: Excellent
Locations
Season
Warm season grasses thrive during the warmer months in Spring and Summer and may go dormant in cooler climates through winter.
Cool season grasses thrive during the cooler months in Winter
Seed information
Shade tolerance (Weather)
- Full Sun
- Part Shade
- Heavy Shade
- Full Shade
Drought tolerance (Weather)
- Moderate
- Good
- Excellent
Traffic tolerance (Weather)
- Moderate
- Good
- Excellent
Frost tolerance
- Poor
- Moderate
- Good
- Excellent
Average days to germination
- 2-3 Weeks
- 2-4 Weeks
- 3-4 Weeks
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Otherwise, to metro zones it's a flat rate of $9 (for orders under $75).
Non-Metro Zones
Standard Delivery
Australia Wide (except Western Australia), at cost from Australia Post.
Orders are dispatched within 24 hours via regular Australia Post (3-5 business days).
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WA Customers
Due to quarantine restrictions, we have a different product range available for Western Australia.
If you are shopping for delivery to WA, please view our WA site here
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