The first question that must be answered is will you be "starting from scratch"?  A decision must be made to either plant within an existing lawn or to till up your lawn area so that no weeds or grasses are left living in the area to be planted.  The ideal situation is to have tilled soil for the area where you wish to establish a grass from seed. 

Why Ideal?  Because existing plants that are directly next to (6 inches or closer) of where you are trying to establish other grass plants from seed, provide competition to your seeds by consuming sunlight & plant nutrients.  This competition by existing plants means some plants simply won't survive the additional stress imposed by these adult plants.  This is not to say you can't establish a lawn within other plants, just that it is much more difficult to do so.

Some of this can be achieved through cultural maintenance practices, but in cases where the grass is very thin, you may need to re-seed (overseed) those sparse areas.  Bahia normally thins out in plant density over time, and the only way to correct this normal occurrence is to re-seed with small amounts of seed each spring.

First: Decide if you will till the soil (kill the existing plants by plowing up your site!) or just plant within the existing grass. Also decide on the variety of Bahia to plant. 

I will TILL my site and start Fresh! I will NOT TILL my site - I want to overseed my existing lawn.

NOTE:  COMMERCIAL CONTRACTORS
OFTEN USE A METHOD CALLED
HYDRO SEEDING

Note: Bahiagrass does thin out over time, so overseeding helps to thicken the turf to achieve higher plant density.

(1) Mow the area low in spring or fall, remove the excess plant material - Then Sow (broadcast) your Bahiagrass seeds on the area to be planted generally in the spring for best results. However you may also seed in the fall at the same time you use a cover crop such as ryegrass.   The Bahia seed will start germinating the following spring.

(2) Rake the area sowed with a hand rake so that scratch marks in the soil between plants allow some seeds to fall into these valleys and become covered by soil over time (from your rake action and later from rains).  Bahiagrass seeds must have a thin soil covering to germinate (1/4 inch ideal) - They DO NOT germinate when thrown on top of the ground. Use the correct rate of seed for Bahiagrass lawns.

(3) Follow your normal water, fertilizing and mowing practices for the area you have planted on a regular basis.  That's all!  Eventually - (After several months of growing season time has gone bye)-  you should have an improved, more lush and thick Bahiagrass lawn. - Note: freshly seeded lawns require more frequent watering, usually once to twice daily.

Visit our www.lawngrasses.com for more about seeding rates and lawn choices for grasses.  For pasture seeding the rate is different.   Keep in mind that the seeding rate is purposely higher for lawns so that the higher plant density needed for lush lawns is achieved.

(1) Till the area to be planted.  This can be done with either a garden tiller or a tractor harrow/tiller (Or even a shovel if you have a good back!).  Once the area is returned to soil, level the ground by raking or dragging something over the surface until it is smooth and level.  Now is the time to remove hills and depressions so that you have a nice smooth lawn.

(2) Plant the seeds.  You can use a commercial turfgrass planter or sow the seeds by hand, or just as easy and much preferred, buy a broadcast seeder  (hand held models are available for $8-30) like the one above.  Once your seeds are sowed, rake or drag the seeded area, so that as many of the seeds as possible are lightly covered (1/4 inch is ideal covering). Be sure and use the correct rate for seeding Bahia.

(3) Water the area you have planted as needed.  Apply fertilizer in intervals through the growing season, and practice a regular mowing schedule.  Mowing the weeds that will grow in your new lawn area faster than the grass, allows the grass to compete better for scarce nutrients and sunlight. - Mow regular and at the correct height. - Note: freshly seeded lawns require more frequent watering, usually once to twice daily.

Visit our www.lawngrasses.com for more about seeding rates and lawn choices for grasses.  For pasture seeding the rate is different.   Keep in mind that the seeding rate is purposely higher for lawns so that the higher plant density needed for lush lawns is achieved.

Your lawn will grow to be beautiful over time! 
If you can't wait..... consider SODDING

Quite regularly I get emails from individuals saying the following: 
"I just planted my Bahiagrass two weeks ago and I don't see any grass."

--- First of all, Bahiagrass takes 30 days to germinate under ideal situations (adequate warm-moist soil conditions).  Some seeds germinate faster and some take months longer.  It all depends on the soil and climate for the period after you plant. Bahiagrass loves hot wet weather.  That is when it will germinate the fastest.

--- Secondly, keep in mind that these plants are much like a child.  When a child is conceived it generally takes 9 months to emerge.  Same with Bahiagrass, except it only takes 4-6 weeks if conditions are right. Then it starts the long process of maturing into an adult Bahia plant (if conditions aren't right it wont even start!).  Once it has germinated and emerged, it is only a baby in the plant world.  It will be a very tiny needle looking plant, hiding under and around all the other weeds & plants that may be present in the neighborhood.

Centipede and Bermuda grass can be planted using the same basic seeding techniques as for Bahiagrass.