If you’re dealing with a stubborn part of your lawn that refuses to grow grass or look as nice as the rest of your lawn, there is a solution! Patching a lawn with grass seed can resolve those “bald spots,” and you don’t even have to call a professional!

Before patching your lawn with grass seed, consider the problem. Fungus, bugs, or other pests will have to be taken care of before you can start patching. Otherwise, the problem will just cause the seed to fail or kill the new grass you worked so hard to grow. If your issue is pet urine, use water to dilute the urine before you patch the area with grass seed.

Once those problems are resolved and the temperature has reached the low 50s, you can cut the dead grass with a shovel or spade and lift the dead turf from the area. This will remove several inches of material, which you will have to replace with topsoil. Make sure to rake the soil until it’s smooth without clumps.

Now it’s time to apply a thin layer of grass seed. Choose a native grass. You can bring a sample of turf into your garden center to match the grass. Spread the seeds onto the spot where you removed the turf and rake them into the soil. Cover the seed with straw to keep the area moist and prevent birds from making off with the grass seed you just added.

For some lawns with many bald spots or problem areas, patching won’t get the job done. Instead, you can try “overseeding.” This is a process in which you add seed to the lawn and then cover it with a thin layer, about half an inch, of topsoil or compost. Rake the seeds into the soil like you would when patching.

Water your grass seeds in the morning and evening until they germinate. You’ll see the grass sprouting from beneath the straw (in case of patching) or soil. You can switch to daily watering once your seeds germinate and apply a bit of fertilizer as temperatures increase through the summer.

Once you know how to patch your lawn with grass seed, you can repeat te process whenever necessary to ensure your lawn always looks its best.