Get the Right Seed Type

bermudagrass

For starters installing a good quality hybrid Bermuda sod or grass seed is most important. Common Bermuda Grass is drought resistant, grows on many soils, and makes a good turf if fertilized and mowed right, making a beautifully landscaped yard. Bermuda Grass prefers full sun, is drought resistant, and can withstand heavy traffic.

Getting Ready for Watering

If you install an automatic sprinkler system for your landscaping, which is highly recommended, you’ll want to make sure you backfill the trenches and water compact them so that the trenches don’t sink down after the sod is installed leaving “ruts” in your yard . After the sprinklers are installed and sprinkler trenches backfilled, prep the ground with “sod mix” which is mixture of screened topsoil, mulch and sand. It is also important to create a nice level lawn area so mowing is easier. “Rolling” the prepared sod bed prior to laying the sod and after the sod is installed is also important. It’s all about the proper preparation. Taking time at this step will insure that you have a perfectly landscaped yard that will be the envy of the neighborhood. Water in the new sod three times a day with light watering about 5 minutes per station.

On Going Maintenance

Once the lawn is established, to keep the lawn green I recommend proper watering which is early morning and about 2-3 times per week at this point in the season. Most people over water by watering everyday Also use a well balanced lawn fertilizer with slow release nitrogen and micro-nutrients including iron-just make sure to clean off the surrounding sidewalks, patio etc. since the iron can stain the “hardscape”. Also don’t mow the lawn too short or “scalp” it since it will take it a long time to recover. I would recommend applying the fertilizer at half the recommended rate so the lawn doesn’t grow too fast and cause more mowing and work for you. You can always fertilize a second time in a couple of weeks if the results weren’t what you expected.