How do I correct bare spots in my lawn?

I live in West Virginia and renovated my lawn during the fall. It came up very nice but I have a few bald spots. Is it too late to put down some lawn soil and grass seed in these bald spots? Will it grow/germinate over the winter?

It may be too late in the season for grass seed to germinate in your area. The earlier you sow in the window, the better results you will achieve. This is because the roots have a better chance to grow and establish before they get hit with frost. To determine the best times to sow seed in your area, see the Yard Doctor calendar and click on your region of the country.

Some grass seeds germinate quickly, while others take up to 15 days or more to sprout. Frost will kill the seeds or stunt their growth if they've already germinated. For best results, you may want to hold off filling in the bare patches until spring. In you area, this may be as early as March.

Keep in mind that grasses do better when sown when the daytime tempuratures have warmed up the soil and the nights are cool. That's why spring and fall are the best times in your area to plant seeds. In spring, when the soil has warmed up, gently scratch the bare spots and toss in the grass seeds to cover the area. Then lightly mulch and water well. Keep well watered until the new grass is well established. Be sure to use the same type of grass seed for the rest of your lawn.

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