Question
Gardener laid bermuda in April, said it was brown because dormant and "mother nature" would water it for me.  I did not water until two weeks ago and it is still brown now (May).  No roots underneath.  Is it dead and I wasted $500?  Can I put seeds over dead sod?  Can I make him take it back?

Answer
Bermuda Sod is a little different from the Sod we use up North.

It's possible -- in fact, it's very likely -- that your Bermuda sod was delivered Brown for perfectly natural reasons.

It is my understanding that Bermudagrass often seems to disintegrate into a brown pile of stems after being cut and transplanted, even if it was green when delivered.  It is critical to re-plant Sod QUICKLY, however, and delay does not exactly improve your chances of a successful take after the sod is rolled out.

As for the advice about watering to rely on Mother Nature to do that, maybe the Gardener was expecting April Showers.  How was the weather after the sod went down?  Was he right?  Did it rain every day?  Did Mother Nature take care of it for you?

That sinking feeling in my stomach says, No.  That feeling says, the dormant grass did not recover.

But don't ask me.  Let's ask a major Bermuda sod provider down South and see what they say at the Cimarron Valley Sod Farm, which posts an instruction sheet on its website 'Caring for your Sod' (http://www.cimarron-sod.com/caring.html):

'Watering should be done on a daily basis for several weeks after planning.'

OK.  Let's go to Super Sod, 'Do It Yourself' (http://www.superiorsod.com/diy.aspx):

'Water is the lifeblood to turfgrass. Adequate watering coverage is essential to any lawn installation....This critical step will be your insurance of a lasting, good looking lawn and is a vital component of our one-year guarantee.'

In fact, Superior warns its customers to water asap: 'Water thoroughly within 30 minutes of the first piece installed with at least 1 inch of water.'

Kelly Seed Farm more or less agrees with its competitors: 'After installation you should keep the sod moist with irrigation daily for 2 weeks, but not standing in water.'  (http://www.kellysodfarm.com/tips.html)

Hmmm.  Apparently these big companies don't know Mother Nature as well as your Gardener.  It sounds like your Southern sod is very much like our Northern sod.

If this was your Gardener, what else was s/he doing while this Sod was drying up?

Seems to me you should get on the phone and give him a piece of your mind, Sandra.

You can give him a piece of mind, too.

That's Piece of Mind.  NOT Peace of Mind.

Demand some answers.  Get some service.  MAKE HIM TAKE IT BACK.

You should not pay someone else $500 for the privilege of seeding over dead sod, Sandra.  This is perfect for Judge Judy.

Unless of course we all don't know what he knows.  Maybe there's a little green here, a little green there, and your Sod is rising from the dead.  Maybe it really is just dormant.

In which case, I would love to hear about it.  Please let me know.

Thanks for writing.

(Remember, that's 'Piece of Mind', Sandra.  'Piece of Mind'.)