Yes there is First hand rake all old sod and rocks make sure yard is clear. Then go over yard with bedsprings to level and losen up top layer. Spead seed ALOT of seed depending how big the area is you need 2 or 3 hundred pounds per acre. Finally cover yard with straw you should not be able to see dirt when you are done putting straw down. Final step water three to four times a day for about ten min. in two weeks water 3 times a day for 20 min. Then when grass is 3 inches tall cut to 2 inches and water more. Just put in a yard myself and it is 3 to 4 weeks old and I'am having to mow about every 4th day.

Thank you for your response. My next question....bedsprings? I hate to sound dense, but is that a literal term, and where would I find bedsprings to use in my yard?

Yes that is a literal term.... Bedsprings work great for level off your yard and to work up rocks and fill in low spots.. Get a small chain and drag with the springs down behind a lawn tractor or ATV Works great. Were to find !!! If you have an old bed laying around or go to the nearest Rent to own store they may have an old one you could buy for 10 or 20 dollars rip it apart down to the springs and you are in business. The most important thing to remember is put alot of seed down after you are done seeding you should be able to see seed everywhere without looking hard. I just did my yard about 1.5 acres and put about 400 pounds of seed down. there is about 45,000 square feet in an acre. also straw not to much but not to little enough to cover the ground so you can't see the dirt. and water very little often 10 min. at a time about 3 to 5 times a day 5am 9am 1pm 3pm and dusk just for the first two weeks then increase to about 20 min three times a day 5am 1pm dusk after two weeks twice a day for 30 min 5am and dusk after two weeks once a day 30 min 5am after 4 or 5 cuttings water 1 time every 3 days for 30 to 45 min. hope this helps. water times and amounts may vary after the fist couple weeks depending on how hot it is out and what type of soil you have. GOOG LUCK

I just planted about a 1/2 acre of grass---most of it under trees. When the leaves have fallen, should I rake and remove the leaves and straw?

My husband just put out almost 8 yards of new top soil over our existing lawn after removing tons of rock. Now we are ready to seed. Should we pack down the new top soil or leave it? Next we'll use some starter fertilzer. Then do we have to pack down the new grass seed or just cover it with some of the dirt using a rake? Then cover it with hay and water it - right? We have no luck planting a new lawn - HELP?

Is it OK to use hay as a seed cover? or is it necessary to use straw. Hay has a lot of grass seeds in it. Will this "infect" the lawn with grasses we don't want?

Is it feasable to plant a new lawn over an existing lawn
by covering it with top soil and planting seed?