# Bare spots in the lawn: how to fill them

Updated: 2026-10-24 · https://pros411.com/en/guides/landscaping/bare-spots-in-lawn

## Short answer

Rake out the dead grass and loosen the top inch of soil. Mix in a thin layer of compost. Then seed it if you have Bermuda or fescue, or use plugs or sod for St. Augustine and zoysia. Press it into the soil, water lightly once or twice a day until it sprouts or roots, and keep people and pets off for a few weeks. First fix whatever wore the spot out.

## How to fill bare spots in the lawn

![Cartoon lawn with a bare dirt spot where the dog always lies](https://pros411.com/img/guias/bare-spots-in-lawn.webp)

1. **A bare spot that will not fill in.** Foot traffic, a dog’s favorite nap spot, grubs or shade wore the grass away. Fix the cause first, or the patch will fail again.
2. **Rake and loosen the soil.** Rake out dead grass and stones. Loosen the top inch of soil with the rake or a hand cultivator so new roots can grow.
3. **Add a thin layer of compost.** Spread about a quarter inch of compost or topsoil and mix it in. Keep the patch level with the lawn around it.
4. **Seed, plugs or sod.** Use seed for Bermuda or fescue. St. Augustine does not grow from seed: use plugs or a piece of sod. Press it firmly into the soil.
5. **Keep it moist and stay off.** Water lightly once or twice a day until it sprouts or roots, then less often but deeper. Mark the spot so nobody walks on it.

## When to patch

Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, St. Augustine and zoysia, common in Texas, Florida and Arizona, fill in best from late spring to early summer, when nights stay warm. Cool-season grasses like tall fescue, found in parts of California and New Mexico, do best in early fall. If your city limits watering, ask about exceptions for new seed or sod.

## What not to do

- Do not spread seed on hard, bare dirt. Most of it washes away or feeds the birds.
- Do not use a pre-emergent on the patch. It stops grass seed from sprouting.
- Do not bury the seed deep. Most grass seed needs to sit just under the surface.
- Do not mow the new grass until it is about a third taller than your usual mowing height.

## When to call a landscaper

- Large areas are bare, or the lawn is more weeds than grass.
- The soil is so packed that water runs off.
- Spots die again soon after you patch them.
- The shade is too heavy for grass and you want other options.

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## Frequently asked questions

### How do I fix bare spots in my lawn?

Rake and loosen the soil, add a thin layer of compost, then seed, plug or sod depending on your grass. Keep it moist until it roots and stay off it.

### Can I just throw grass seed on bare spots?

You can, but little of it will grow. Seed needs loose soil and good contact. Rake first, press the seed in and keep it moist.

### How long does it take grass seed to grow in bare spots?

Usually one to three weeks to sprout, depending on the grass and the weather. It takes a couple of months to blend in with the rest of the lawn.

### Can St. Augustine grass grow from seed?

No. St. Augustine is sold as sod or plugs. Plant plugs about 6 to 12 inches apart, or cut a piece of sod to fit the spot.

### How often should I water new grass seed?

Lightly once or twice a day so the top stays moist, until it sprouts. Then water less often but longer, so the roots grow down.