How to Plant Bermuda Seed

Bermuda grass is a perennial warm-season grass found in the southern United States. It forms a dense, thick turf when mowed at its recommended cutting height. Bermuda grass is generally drought tolerant but fares better when irrigated during periods of dry weather. Bermuda grass requires consistent soil temperatures above 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer for healthy growth. Planting Bermuda grass requires a properly prepared seedbed and sufficient watering to ensure adequate germination of the grass seed.

Rototiller
Rake
Broadcast push spreader
Manure, peat moss or soil topdressing
Hose with spray nozzle
Lawn sprinklers

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the seedbed. Remove rocks, sticks and other debris from the planting area. Till the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Roll the surface and rake it smooth.
- 2
  Spread the seed over your seedbed with a broadcast spreader. Adjust the setting on the spreader to apply seed at half the recommended rate (2 to 5 lbs. per 1,000 square feet). Push the spreader over the entire seedbed from two directions at right angles to each other. This ensures adequate seed coverage.
- 3
  Rake the seed into the top layer of soil and apply a 1/8-inch layer of pulverized manure, peat moss or fine soil as a topdressing.
- 4
  Spray the seedbed with a fine mist of water several times per day to keep it consistently moist. Do this for 10 to 14 days or until you notice germination of your Bermuda grass seed.
- 5
  Reduce the watering frequency while increasing the amount of water applied at each watering, switching to lawn sprinklers when it takes too long to water by hand. This encourages deep root growth of your Bermuda grass. Gradually do this over a period of several weeks until you are only applying water once a week at an amount of 1 inch over the entire area.

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