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Seeding will give you a better final product but sod is easier.
Proper preparation is super important -- and sounds like the first thing you need to do is get rid of the construction waste!
The easiest thing to do would be to rake it and then sod it.
The hardest, but best result would be:
1. Rake and clean off all construction waste.
2. Roto till to 9" - 12" depth with a self-propelled tiller
3. Rake and clean out the waste tilling uncovers
4. Cover with 6" of pure mulch. In AZ, mulch is often mixed with sand; you want pure mulch. Add a stabilizer
5. Roto till the mulch into the soil
6. Dig trenches for irrigation and install irrigation system. Whatever number of zones you think you need, double that. You cannot go wrong by having too many zones, but if you have too few then you won't have enough pressure to adequately cover the lawn.
6.5 While you have the trenches in place, set in pipe and put a garden spigot in each corner of your lawn. Connect this directly to the water source for the irrigation system but isolate each line with its own valve. I did this and having those spigots in the corners of the yard is worth the extra $50 of pipe and spigots.
6.8 Add an extra trench or two and run electrical lines so you can have outdoor outlets at the corners of the yard. These are perfect for setting up a temporary cabana with a radio, outdoor lighting, or running an electric trimmer. If the yard is already torn up, put in these extras now when it is easy.
7. Seed with bermuda seeds
8. Rake in the seeds. Birds, especially doves, love grass seed and will clean you out if they are not raked in right away
9. Water profusely
The tilling and then tilling in the mulch will be worth all the effort when it is done. You can get day laborers to do this if you don't want to do it yourself, and get a self-propelled Ditch Witch to dig the trenches. The extra time and effort is well worth it.
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ChadKnowsLaw
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