How to Seed Dead Areas in a Yard

Perform a soil test before you try to reseed the lawn. This will determine if you have improper pH, too much of a nutrient or too little. Consult with your county extension office if you need help determining the results. They can also tell you how to amend the soil.

Remove thatch build-up. You can use a thatch rake or a hard rake. Rake well in two directions to pull out the excess thatch that may be preventing new sprouts from breaking through.

Use a rake to rough up the soil at least 1 inch down. This will allow the seed a bed to germinate in and also increase drainage. In hard soils it is recommended that you use a pitchfork to puncture holes 1 inch apart to help drainage.

Mix 1 part seed to 3 parts of soil in a bucket. This will allow the seed to spread evenly across the dead patch. Manually scatter the mixture over the sod hole. Seeding rate is 15 to 20 seeds per square inch. Lightly rake to incorporate with the existing soil.

Compress the area so the seed has good soil contact and will not blow away. Spread a thin layer of straw across the reseeded area. This will help hold in moisture. Water to moisten the top 1 or 2 inches of soil. Moisten the seeds daily until they germinate and then taper off by half. Allow the area to dry out before watering when 60 percent is covered by grass.

Fertilize when the grass is two or three weeks old. Nitrogen is an important nutrient for green leafy growth. Apply it at a rate of 1 lb. per 1,000 square feet. Water the grass deeply after fertilizing to prevent root burn. Mow the grass the first time when the new grass is 2 to 3 inches high.