How-to
Fix bare spots the right way
August 20, 2026 · 5 min read
Late summer into early fall is the only window where new grass seed really wins in Northeast Ohio. Here is the step-by-step we use on thin, bald and dog-damaged lawns.
Seed between mid-August and late September
Cool nights, warm soil and fall rain are exactly what cool-season grass needs. Seed thrown down in June is competing with crabgrass and heat, and most of it dies.
Find out why the spot is bare first
Compaction, deep shade, dog urine and buried construction debris all look the same from the driveway. If you seed without fixing the cause, you get the same bare spot next spring.
Loosen compacted areas with a rake or core aeration, and flush dog spots well with water before seeding.
Get seed-to-soil contact
Scratch the surface until you see soil, spread the seed, then press it in with a light rake or a foot pass. Seed sitting on thatch or on top of old mulch will not germinate.
A quarter inch of compost or seed starter mulch over the top is plenty — burying seed deeper than that kills it.
Keep it damp, not soaked
New seed needs light water once or twice a day for the first two to three weeks. This is the one time daily watering is correct, because there are no roots yet.
Once the new grass has been mowed twice, switch back to deep watering once or twice a week.
Mow it, do not skip it
Keep mowing the rest of the lawn at a normal height while the new seed fills in. Let the new grass reach about four inches, then take the tips off with a sharp blade.