the reason no one has responded is because there isn't a really a good seed that will work. I suggest that you go to a box store and get a few pieces of sod and forget the seed.

thanks

If I were you I would try Bahia or Bermuda grass seed. I would stay away from the Kentucky Bluegrass, Fescue, and Rye grasses because they do not tolerate heat.

Bahia is so slow to get started that the weeds take over. I've tried it before...never again! According to Fl extension it is best to sow bahia in spring or summer.

Thanks for the suggestions!

I would just like to mention I have heard some people on these forums lament sowing Bermuda. Supposedly it can be quite and aggressive thug of a grass that will invade any planted beds. I have no personal experience with it nor South Florida conditions myself though.

IMHO, Bermuda grass came out of Pandora's box or was sent straight up from hell. Unless nothing else will grow, you definitely don't want it in your yard -- although you'll probably get some sometime anyway.

sigh. never knew it would be so hard to grow grass lol! ive read st. Augustine is on of the only types that survive in S. fla but can't find any seed on amazon. dirtygardener - sunshine mimosa looks like mimosa pudica. is it the same? if so I have some growing in a pot outside. I love playing with the leaves that close up upon touch

St. Augustine does not grow from seed. You have to get it as sod from a dealer. Big Box stores carry it. You can either have the entire area sodded, or cut the sod pieces into plugs and plant those. Turfing is instant lawn. Plugging is cheaper and slower.

Sunshine Mimosa is Mimosa strigillosa. It makes a nice groundcover and I love it for where I have it planted. But for areas where you want to walk, it doesn't work so well as the higher runners can catch on flip-flops or sandals. Dogs aren't super keen on walking in it either. Also, once you plant it, it can be hard to remove. Not as hard as some things, but it's not easy to pull. Some think it could be a nitrogen fixer and I can't argue against that. It grows thickly in my Tropical bed and yet it doesn't seem to negatively affect anything else in the bed.

Funny thing about that Mimosa-my folks had lived in Fort Myers for twenty years when, upon visiting them, I pointed out this neat, puffy-looking flower growing in the turf on some hell-strip by a mall. They had never seen it! I saw it my first day down there! I guess it's safe to say, the world is composed of two types of people, those who notice plants and those who don't. To wit, if you'll allow me to take this slightly further OT- a botany professor who writes a good blog was writing about his first-day students. He would show them a photo of some scene in a forest somewhere, tropical or otherwise, and ask them to write down what they saw in the picture. Almost to a student, if there was some kind of animal in the picture, it got written down. Nobody....not one student....took note of all the plant life in the photo! And this was a botany class. Sheesh..........I don't hold out a lot of hope for our future.

In any case, sunshine mimosa is one of those subtropical plants that, when I'm down in FL I like to look at and conjure up the dream of using it in the north here as an annual. Not saying that would work, or that I'm going to be doing it, but just that it always makes me think about doing so.

+oM

I am not sure how subtropical, M. strigillosa is. Maybe warm temperate? I remember messing with this plant while growing up in Sumter, SC an I also saw it in AL. That was more than 20 yrs ago.

good info Michael. wisconsitom wow I love plants and animals so I prob would have put both for the assignment. The most interesting plant ive seen since I moved to FL are these tiny little flowers that grow in the grass here and there . I call them " micro flowers " they are about 1/3 the size of a dime " but so detailed. (pic below) If you're into plants and flowers I guess s. fla is the place to be. we didnt have any of this cool stuff in NY. it was mainly dandelions and boring stuff :p ... when I hear Mimosa I picture this. Its a pain to grow but I have some in a pot outside - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0LFBM3hOLs

well I found out what works great for grass in Miami. WHEAT GRASS! Yes the stuff you grow for your cats and grow to juice for yourself. It grows long, thick beautiful resilient blades :) Not too expensive as long as you don't get organic ( pointless if you're not juicing it ) I know for juicing you soak and drain it then let it germinate in the dark but I just planted it outside like you would anything else and used some quality soil mixed with coir and it came up great. No soaking, just watered once a day. I had great blades in about 4 days

would love to see pics!

now when you say stuff you grow for cats, does that mean cats will be clamoring to get into the yard?

That's my thought too, SMC. Mia is going to wake up one morning to two dozen cats rolling on the front lawn causing a mini-earthquake by their resonating purring. One cat purring is harmless, but you get enough of them going... whoa momma. A bit like how a marching band marching in-step can cause a bridge to collapse.

Thanks for the correction on Mimosa strigillosa, Michael. Did not know it ranged that far north. And while I'm nothing if not ever willing to pull threads OT, I also remember that day I referenced above like it was yesterday, even though it's now a few years ago. Right there, in a S. Fort Myers parking lot hellstrip, was the Florida state tree, the Sabal palm, with its boots fully colonized by resurrection ferns and some other fern types. The day, even though in December, was warm and muggy, and I thought to myself, this is cool-everything down here that is growing has something else growing on it! My fascination with Florida plant life had begun.

+om

The most interesting plant ive seen since I moved to FL are these tiny little flowers that grow in the grass here and there . I call them " micro flowers " they are about 1/3 the size of a dime "

Phyla nodiflora, aka Matchweed

I agree with the others that you should add some st augustine if you want to do anything. I'd want to know why the problems, though. Do you have chinch bugs, mole crickets, just wear, too little sun, etc?

There is only one type of grass that will grow no matter where you live and that is Zoysia . Its a low growing grass that requires almost no taking care of.

Sharon, I don't know where you live, but Zoysia does not grow well in S. Florida at all. It's either St. Augustine or Bahia. Nobody grows zoysia down there -- too hot.