Question
QUESTION: I told my landscaper to please spread some Bermuda grass seed (which I bought) on the naked areas (which there are a lot).  After work (I'm in the military so hours vary) I went over to inspect after they finished spreading the seed (as well as other stuff I needed them to do).  When I arrived to the house, I noticed that they just threw the seed out with no mulch and failed to water them.  In a semi-panicked state (it was not cheap) I went to Wal-Mart and got a couple of bags of Lawn Starter mulch, spread it out on top of the seed, took a rake and kinda mixed it, and then watered it.  What else can I do to save my money?  Did I mess up or was this a start?

ANSWER: Hey, Jennifer.

The answer would depend on how large the naked areas were rather than how many there were.

If the naked areas are on the small side, then your landscaper did right. Bermuda grass seed doesn't like to be covered with too much soil. Usually just spreading it by hand and then raking it covers the seed sufficiently.

If you're trying to plant a very large area, which it sounds like you weren't, then appropriate soil preparation for a Bermuda grass lawn would be in order. I'm presuming at this point that you already have a Bermuda grass lawn but it has some naked areas.

Hope that helps. Feel free to clarify for me if I've made the wrong presumptions.

Russel

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: There are pretty large areas...actually its one big large area that encompasses the entire side yard, a good portion of the backyard by the deck as well as the front...  

Answer
Hey, Jennifer.

If you have a large area, it's best to break up the soil and prepare it well for becoming a lawn. It might need fertilizer, or lime, or organic material, etc. A good landscaper should be able to make the decision for you about what it needs. Once the soil is prepared, then you can spread the seed and then lightly rake it in to the soil. Again, though, Bermuda grass seed doesn't like to be covered with too much soil. An eighth of an inch is good, but certainly no more than half an inch.

Hope that helps.

Russel