How To Plant a Bermuda Grass Lawn

Remove the weeds and debris in the planting area. Plow the soil up with a rototiller to the depth of 6 inches. Only plant Bermuda grass in soil that drains properly. Poorly draining soil will drown the seeds. Check the temperature of the soil with a thermometer. Do not plant the grass seed if the soil temperature is below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideal temperatures for Bermuda grass seed germination is between 68 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spread 1 lb. of nitrogen fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of lawn over the soil. Rake the fertilizer into the top 1 to 2 inches of soil. Once the fertilizer is incorporated into the soil, rake the surface smooth and level.

Place the Bermuda grass seed in a seed spreader and broadcast the seeds over the soil. Use 1 lb. of seed for every 1,000 square feet of planting area. Use hulled Bermuda grass seeds, which germinates faster than unhulled seeds. Rake the seeds a 1/4 inch into the soil to give the seeds good contact with the soil.

Spread straw or hay over the top of the lawn after planting the Bermuda grass seeds. This mulch reduces soil erosion and water loss. Be sure that 50 percent of the ground can be seen through the straw so sunlight can reach the seeds. Use about 100 lbs. of straw for every 1,000 square feet of lawn.

Sprinkle the seeds with water until the top 1 to 2 inches are damp. Keep the soil moist for two weeks after planting. Bermuda grass seeds will germinate in about 10 days.