Start reseeding as soon as the ground thaws.

Yes, but you’re on a timer. Spring seeding works best when you catch the narrow window between the last frost and when soil temps hit 55°F. For cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass, rye), that’s usually early to mid-spring. For warm-season grasses (Bermuda, St. Augustine), wait until soil is consistently 65°F or above.

The biggest mistake people make is seeding too late. If you seed when it’s already warm and dry, the tender seedlings will fry in summer heat. The second biggest mistake is not prepping the soil.

Here’s what to do:

• Rake the bare patch down to soil. Remove dead grass, loosen the top quarter-inch.
• Mix in a thin layer of compost or topsoil — just enough to give the seeds something to grab.
• Scatter seed, then lightly rake again so most seeds are barely covered (