Q: I laid 500 sq. ft. of bermuda sod on July 1 in a very sunny area. I watered deep twice a week all summer. The grass is very thin; how do I get it plush and full?

A: I think you overwatered after the first two weeks. In my experience, it takes about fourteen days for bermudagrass to start rooting firmly. After that you have to start weaning the irrigation back to one inch of water per week, applied in one session. This allows the soil to dry out between waterings, which is vital for turfgrass. Constantly moist soil causes grass to thin out and die. Stop watering now and let the lawn go dormant. Apply a weed preventer if you haven’t already. If you water and fertilize correctly next year it will recover.