Rake, seed, keep moist. Don't overcomplicate it.

Rake the dead spots, scatter seed, press it in, and water daily for two weeks. That’s the whole trick.

Winter kills grass in patches — snow mold, ice, salt, or just cold. Early spring is the best time to fix it because the soil is warming up but weeds haven’t taken over yet. You don’t need some fancy “lawn repair mix.” Regular grass seed that matches what you already have works fine.

The biggest mistake people make is skipping the rake. You need to break up that crust so the seed touches dirt, not dead thatch. After broadcasting seed, walk on it or use a roller if you have one — seed-to-soil contact is everything. Then keep it damp. Not soaked, not dry. Like a wrung-out sponge. If it dries out for even a day, germination tanks.

One thing: don’t throw down fertilizer yet. Wait until you’ve mowed the new grass a couple times. Fertilizer now just feeds the weeds that are waking up