How to fix bare patches step by step

The single most important step in fixing a bare patch is the one most homeowners skip: figuring out why the patch is bare. Reseeding without addressing the cause produces the same patch two growing seasons later. See the bare spots diagnosis guide for the full list of causes -- this article assumes.

The single most important step in fixing a bare patch is the one most homeowners skip: figuring out why the patch is bare. Reseeding without addressing the cause produces the same patch two growing seasons later. See the bare spots diagnosis guide for the full list of causes — this article assumes you have identified the cause and are ready to repair.

Before you seed: prerequisites

Per Penn State Extension, all of these should be addressed before seeding:

• Cause identified and corrected (shade, traffic, grubs, spill, disease)
• Soil test completed if the bare spot is large or recurring
• Timing is right (late August through mid-September for cool-season grasses; June—July for warm-season grasses after soil temperature reaches 65°F)
• No pre-emergent herbicide applied within 8—12 weeks (pre-emergents inhibit seed germination)
• No drought stress — the patch needs consistent moisture during establishment