07/21/2026
Best Types of Grass for Home Lawns in Alabama By LaShonda Tucker | Updated: November 21, 2024
Grass types best suited for Alabama lawns will thrive in the hot, humid summer and mild fall and spring. It will also have to adapt to the state’s winter weather, which can vary by several degrees depending on whether you’re in North, Central, or South Alabama. This article discusses the best types of grass in Alabama for home lawns and covers the best grass types for every part of the state.
Best warm-season grasses for Alabama
Warm-season grasses thrive in humid, hot climates and grow primarily in the summer. They flourish when air temperatures are between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit and go dormant and turn brown when temperatures go below freezing.
Because these grass varieties prefer hot summers and mild winters, they are typically found in the southern regions of the United States. They are also found in the transition zone. Transition zone areas have climates that are conducive for growing both warm-season and cool-season grasses.
Warm-season grasses can grow anywhere in Alabama, and they’re the only good option anywhere south of Birmingham. The following five grass types are the best warm-season grasses for Alabama lawns.
Bermudagrass at a glance:
Classification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Stolons and rhizomes
Shade tolerance: Low; thrives in full sun
Drought tolerance: High
Foot traffic tolerance: High
Maintenance needs: Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate; develops thatch easily; needs regular fertilization
Mowing height: Set the mowing height between 0.5 and 1.5 inches for hybrid Bermudagrass cultivars. Mow common Bermudagrass at 1.5 to 2.5 inches.
Potential for disease: Good resistance to disease, although diseases are common; low resistance to pest insects
Soil pH: 6-6.5
Soil type: Tolerates most soil types
Other notes: Do not mow too often, or you’ll expose the grass to increased w**ds and pests. Mow 1 to 2 times a week for healthy roots.
Bahiagrass requires minimal watering and fertilizer to grow and maintain its light green color. If you have sandy soil, you’ll be happy to know this grass type grows better in sandy soil than other grasses. To establish a lawn quickly, plant Bahiagrass from sod. This warm-season grass type has excellent heat and humidity tolerance.
Bahiagrass has low shade tolerance, but more than Bermuda. If your property does not get much sunlight and has low-fertility soil, Bahiagrass is a good choice. However, it needs to be cut frequently to remove the seed heads.
The durable cultivar ‘Pensacola’ is one of the best for hot Alabama summers. It is the most commonly planted variety across the state and throughout the United States.
‘Pensacola’ is also one of the best Bahiagrass cultivars for the winter. It withstands frost better than common Bahia. ‘Pensacola’ can tolerate temperatures close to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter temperatures in Northern Alabama have gotten as cold as 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
‘Pensacola’ is also disease and pest-tolerant. Here are some other Bahiagrass varieties good for Alabama lawns:
Tifton 9
Argentine
UF Riata
TifQuik
Bahiagrass at a glance:
Classification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Stolons
Shade tolerance: Low, but more shade-tolerant than Bermudagrass.
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Foot traffic tolerance: Low
Maintenance needs: Low fertility requirements. Expect frequent mowing (every one to two weeks) to remove seed heads.
Mowing height: Ideal grass height is 3 to 4 inches.
Potential for disease: Good resistance to disease and insect infestations
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Soil type: Performs well in sandy loam soils, but tolerates a wide range of soils, including soils with low fertility.
Other notes: Bahia does not have significant insect problems, but it is vulnerable to mole crickets. ‘Pensacola’ Bahia performs better in poor drainage conditions than other cultivars.
Grass Seed Options
Pensacola Bahiagrass:
– Scotts Turf Builder Pensacola Bahiagrass (5 lb. bag)
– SeedRanch Pensacola Bahiagrass Seed (10 lb. bag)
– Hancock’s Pensacola Bahia Grass Seed – Coated – 5 lbs.
Argentine Bahiagrass:
– Scotts Turf Builder Argentine Bahiagrass (10 lb. bag)
Centipedegrass is a great option for those wanting a healthy lawn without much work. It is slow-growing and grows close to the ground, so you won’t have to mow it often. Centipedegrass requires soil with a low pH to grow best, but it’s easy-going in other ways.
It adapts to full sun or part shade, is drought-tolerant, and needs less lime or fertilizer than most other lawn grasses. Proper lawn care will result in minimal thatch development. Although centipedegrass produces seed heads, they can be mitigated with regular mowing.
This grass is attractive to Alabama homeowners because it is low-maintenance and maintains its beautiful light color year-round. It is also a top choice because it takes fewer grass seeds to create a lush, dense lawn.
Centipedegrass at a glance:
Classification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Stolons
Shade tolerance: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Foot traffic tolerance: Low
Maintenance needs: Low (compared to other turfgrasses)
Mowing height: Set the mowing height between 1 and 2 inches.
Potential for disease: Good resistance to diseases and insects
Soil pH: 5-6
Soil type: Acidic, infertile, at least moderately good drainage (very dense, clay soils produce poor results)
Other notes: Too much nitrogen fertilization and overwatering can cause disease. Make sure you fertilize and water your lawn properly.
If your property is located in South Alabama and has a lot of shade, you’ll appreciate this grass type. St. Augustinegrass is the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass. Some cultivars grow well in either full sun or shade, like ‘Raleigh’ and ‘Palmetto.’ St. Augustine is one of the best grass seeds for establishing a new lawn quickly, as it grows fast. It’s also salt-tolerant, so it will hold up well in Gulf Coast lawns.
St. Augustine does not do well in cooler temperatures and recovers slowly when exposed to cold conditions. But it welcomes the heat, so it embraces hot Alabama summers.
This grass is only for homeowners who don’t mind yard work, as St. Augustine’s fast growth rate means it requires frequent mowing. It also needs frequent fertilizer applications and develops thatch easily, so regular dethatching is a must.
St. Augustinegrass at a glance:
Classification: Warm-season grass
Spreads by: Stolons
Shade tolerance: Moderate. It is the most shade-tolerant warm-season grass.
Drought tolerance: Moderate to High
Foot traffic tolerance: Low
Maintenance needs: Needs frequent mowing due to fast growth rate; develops thatch easily; needs regular fertilization.
Mowing height: Set the mowing height between 3.5 and 4 inches.
Potential for disease: Moderate to high
Soil pH: 6-7.5
Soil type: Tolerates many soil types; prefers moderately fertile and moist (not waterlogged) soils; doesn’t tolerate soil compaction
Other notes: Can have problems with grassy w**ds. St. Augustine needs to be treated for its worst pest, chinch bugs, or they can cause significant damage.
Grass Plug Options:
– Seed Ranch St Augustine Seville Grass Plugs (2 Trays)
– Seed Ranch St Augustine Floratam Grass Plugs (2 Trays)
