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Bahia grass is not difficult to grow, but you might need patience for this slow-growing grass. Whereas some grass species, like Bermuda grass, can take 1 to 2 weeks to germinate, Bahia grass can take two or three times as long, making it seem like it won’t grow. But again, once your Bahia grass is established, it requires little maintenance. Its deep root system makes it a very durable grass that can bounce back after freezes and droughts. 

If your lawn hasn't been aerated in over a year, or the soil is incredibly compacted, do two passes with the aerator. The first pass should follow your mowing pattern and the second one should form a perpendicular angle relative to the first. Stick to 20 to 40 holes per square foot as a rule of thumb.

Break up hard dirt in your yard with popular methods such as core aeration or manual aeration with a spade, mini excavator, or pitchfork. You can also alter your soil to keep it from compacting in the future. Adding compost, groundcover plants, or aeration granules—preferably made of organic materials—can also soften your ground and encourage water saturation.

Hydroseeding over an existing lawn is possible, but certain adjustments are necessary since the process is for bare soil. Hydroseed mix is ​​usually very thick, which helps protect the seeds during germination. If you have existing grass on your site and still want to hydroseed, it's better to use a finer mulch mixture when spraying. A finer mulch mix means the seeds can root into existing soil without suffocating the existing grass.