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Pensacola Bahia Grass Seed

Pensacola Bahia Grass Seed is ideal for lawn, pasture, and erosion control in tropical climates like QLD, NT, and WA. It excels in horse pastures, boundary areas, and as a companion for Bermuda Couch on sporting ovals, aiding in quick establishment and seed protection. Known for its high tolerance to acidic, well-drained soils, it thrives where other grasses struggle, particularly in sandy conditions.

Pensacola Bahia is extremely drought resistant due to its extensive root system, tolerating both hot and cold temperatures. While frost may damage leaf growth, it recovers quickly. With a medium to fine blade and medium green color, it grows vigorously from early spring to mid-summer, showing shade tolerance and prolific seed head development.

Sowing Rate

Apply at 2.5 to 4.5kg per 100m² of lawn or 10-40kg per acre.

Please note: Seeds may be coated to encourage rapid germination. Seed lots may vary.

For more information see below tabs ‘Description’ and ‘Features’ to see if this grass suits you!

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Clear

Blade

Coarse

Colour

Light Green

Growth

Spreading

Growth Rate

Moderate

Detailed Description

Pensacola Bahia is a perennial grass native to South and North America, known for its flexibility as a ground cover. It has a low-growing, prostrate growth habit and a strong root system that spreads slowly by stolons.

Ideal for lawns, pastures, sporting grounds, and erosion control, it is grown and planted on more acres than any other Bahia variety. Pensacola Bahia grass is suited to low maintenance areas.

It features long, narrow leaves with an extensive root system that can reach depths of 7-10 feet. Pensacola Bahia thrives in tropical conditions, handling long dry spells and deeply soaked soils typical of tropical wet seasons. It is also shade tolerant, making it suitable for areas with trees, shrubs, or other structures.

During winter, Bahia enters dormancy and turns brownish-tan but stays green longer than Bermudagrass and greens up earlier in spring. In colder areas, Pensacola produces more early and late-season forage growth than other Bahia varieties and has greater cold-tolerance.

Pensacola Bahia is a competitive and aggressive grower, effectively overpowering weeds or unwanted growth. It provides a fine, bright green blade that enhances any area, whether a farm paddock or a residential yard.

Optimal pH

Test your soil before planting Bahiagrass. It thrives in poor, sandy soils with limited nutrients and a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. In soils with pH above 7.0, Bahia suffers iron deficiencies, resulting in a pale yellow color.

Sowing Tips

Pensacola Bahia grows best on fertile, light sandy, and acidic soils but will also grow on less fertile and clay soils. It is not well-adapted to alkaline soils. To ensure the best coverage and avoid seed wastage, mix with topsoil/sandy loam and use an appropriate seed spreader.

Optimal Planting Time

Sow early in spring for rapid growth acceleration, though germination can occur in climates with mild autumn and winter temperatures.

Germination

The average germination period is 28 days. During hotter summer months with plentiful rainfall, germination can occur in as quickly as 10-14 days. Higher soil temperatures coupled with moist conditions enhance germination.

Water

Pennington Pensacola Bahiagrass is well-suited to large, less-maintained areas with limited irrigation and is tolerant of moderate salinity.

Fertilising

Established Bahia lawns require limited fertilisers and irrigation. Feed according to soil test recommendations. For grazing use, regular fertilising is necessary. Consider McKays Slow Release Fertiliser and Granular Soil Wetter.

Grazing

Suitable for permanent pasture for intensive grazing, turf, and hay production, especially in higher rainfall areas. Combines well with legumes for added nutritional value. It withstands heavy herd trampling and recovers well if overgrazed.

Mowing Frequency

As a fast grower, mow at the recommended height of 2 to 3 inches to improve stress tolerance and encourage deep roots.

Disadvantages of Pensacola Bahia

  • Develops more seed heads than other Bahia varieties.
  • Requires regular mowing if used for lawn due to rapid growth.
  • Aggressive nature may lead to unwanted spreading; consider physical borders to contain growth.
  • Stays green only during active growth; extended drought causes dormancy and color change.

Seed & Package Details

100% Pensacola Bahia Seed. Independently tested with 85% Min Germination, 98% purity. A seed testing certificate is available upon request.

Ideal Usage

Pastures, sporting ovals, residential lawns, erosion control.

Pasture Seed and Animal Health

When purchasing seeds through McKays Grass Seeds, the buyer acknowledges that McKays Grass Seeds is not liable for any animal health issues that may arise from our pasture seeds. It is the buyer’s responsibility to contact a certified agronomist to ensure they are purchasing the correct seeds, in the correct quantities for their property and animals.

View Key Features

Have any questions? Feel free to contact us and we’ll help you out.

 

Locations

Map Grass Image

Season

  • Warm
  • Cool

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

Free Metro Shipping On All Orders Over $75

We provide free standard delivery shipping for all orders to "metro" zones, where the total cart value exceeds $75.00.
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).

Express Post

In a hurry? Express shipping is available at checkout for both Metro and Non-Metro Zones. Priced according to shipment weight.

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

Pick-up Not Available

Sorry, we are not able to offer local pick-up.

International

Unfortunately we are not able to ship internationally.

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
75%
(3)
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25%
(1)
M
Matthew V.
Still waiting to see parcel

The Freight Company (Couriers Please ? ) says its been delivered, but I have not seen the parcel, or been advised of its whereabouts yet - its probably been left somewhere in town and signed off as being delivered ( the freight delivery agent is lazy out here ). I will search for it tomorrow, if I cannot find it I will lodge a claim for no receipt of goods.

G
Goran D.
Pensacola Bahia grass

Planted it 23 days ago after preparing the soil, have not seen anything in the way of germination so far, even after three bouts of rain.

A
Adam S.

A wealth of information

R
Robin
Grass

Planted some and it is growing well.

Pensacola Bahia Grass Seed
$198.40$324.40 incl. GST
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