planting bermuda sod over winter rye

mbhodges – posted 01 February 2009 17:52

We had a fence and retaining wall built last year and the lawn leveled out with sandy loam. We now think it is more sandy than loam. In June, we seeded (with lots of bermuda seed) and watered a few times a day. This really didn’t work very well so we put down more seed and watered more. In late summer, we had the lawn lightly tilled and planted more seed and watered several times a day for a few minutes each time. Bottom line is our back yard never really looked good and the seed never thickened enough to have a nice looking yard.

We decided to plant winter rye so we at least had grass until next summer (which looks great) and sod in June with bermuda. I need some advise to get lawn thick and beautiful with bermuda by summer’s end. (By the way, there is lots of full sun in the yard.)

Please advise.

tommy – posted 03 February 2009 22:24

I would try seeding bermuda again. Wait till June and cut the rye at your second to lowest cutting height.(remove clippings) Seed the bermuda and then mow over the seed at the lowest cutting height. Leave the clippings which will mix with the seed and improve germination. You may have to run a leaf rake over the area to further integrate the seed and clippings into the exsisting turf canopy. Fertilize with ‘Scotts starter fertilizer’ and keep moist.

mbhodges – posted 07 February 2009 13:44

Tommy, thank you for your reply.