Paul James, host of HGTV's Gardening by the Yard, explains how to make simple lawn repairs. To fix bare spots in the lawn, first remove the dead grass. Then lightly scrape the soil to loosen it (figure A). What you do from this point depends on the type of grass you have. If it's a spreading variety such as Bermuda, zoysia or buffalo grass, don't do anything: the grass will grow into and quickly fill small areas. If the surrounding lawn is a clump-forming grass such as fescue or rye, seed the area. Scatter a handful of seeds on the ground, press them firmly into the soil, and keep the area moist until the seeds germinate, usually within a week.
Removing a tree can leave behind large roots, which can create problems. First, dig up the rotten roots to create a hole. Fill the hole with compost or store-bought topsoil instead. If necessary, sow grass seed as described above. Soil that has been compacted by the addition of a new driveway and sidewalks needs to be amended. Depending on the amount of sun the area gets, you'll want to plant a shade-tolerant or sun-loving grass. The first step is to remove as many weeds as possible, while being careful to leave what little grass is growing. Unfortunately rototilling isn't practical because there are a lot of roots beneath the soil. Instead, add a 2" to 3" layer of sifted compost or topsoil directly on top of the soil to amend it. Loosen the subsoil with a pitchfork, rake the area smooth, and begin replacing the grass in the form of sod or plugs.
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