How to Get Grass to Grow in a Muddy Yard

Push a core aerator across the lawn. Core aerators are machines that remove plugs of soil 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in diameter and 1 to 6 inches deep. By creating these holes, gardeners promote soil drainage and proper airflow for grass growth. Rake up the plugs of dirt after aerating.

Spread a starter fertilizer across the lawn for overseeding. Starter fertilizers are high in phosphorous, which helps grass seeds develop strong roots systems. Use a starter fertilizer that has a nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium, or NPK, amount of 5-20-10 at a rate of 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Work the fertilizer into the soil with a tiller to incorporate the nutrients into the first 2 inches of top soil.

Pour grass seed into a drop spreader. Use the recommended amount of grass seed for your grass type. For example, creeping red fescue grass seed must be spread at a rate of 3 1/2 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Push the drop spreader back and forth across the lawn.

Cover the grass seed with 1/8 inch of compost. Compost imparts nutrients into the soil, which promotes seed germination and helps with soil drainage. Keep the grass seed moist to stimulate germination.

Prune back overhanging branches to increase the amount of sunlight to the lawn. Lawns that do not receive adequate sunlight cannot dry out. To prune back branches, make 45-degree downward cuts next to the branch collar. The branch collar is the swelling that attaches the branch to the rest of the tree.