Never spread seed by hand. Use a hand-held or broadcast spreader for best results. Do not over fertilize, as it will burn out the new grass. Do not re-seed the area until you fix the problem that caused the grass to die. Research the different materials that you can use to cover the repaired area.
Straw is popular but can result in extra weeds.
To view a multimedia demonstration of this tutorial, click here . The demonstration requires Macromedia Flash 4 player. If you don't already have it, click here to get it. The best time to reseed your lawn is in the fall. Fall is the prime time because the seeds aren't competing with weeds for nutrients and it will be a long time until the hot summer sun reaches it.