Seeding Bare Dirt - Help a Novice

Rye is a great call just to get you through the winter. I'd spread pretty heavily, rake it into the dirt a bit so it doesn't all blow/wash away or get eaten by animals, then water the shite out of it for a couple weeks. Can also do annual rye, might be cheaper, but looks different. Either way keep some extra so you can fill in bare spots once you start to see growth. Don't mow for a while. You can put some seed starter fertilizer down, but in my experience with Rye (annual is what I get), that shite doesn't need any help. It literally grows on my driveway


Then plan what to do for permanent grass this winter.

This is assuming you're in Louisiana and need a warm climate grass. Perennial Rye will die out in the heat.

ETA:

Definitely level first, harder once you have grass, but I'm no expert there. I usually do sand and dirt mixed and drag the backside of a metal rake over it to make sure it's flat.

Yes, limit dogs back there as you're trying to grow grass on plain dirt. You can throw straw down lightly to protect the seed a bit too, but some people don't like that.

As mentioned rye is your best bet for the winter. You can seed and then throw that extra dirt on top in a thin layer. To level I'd buy a lawn leveling rake off of Amazon. Around $80 and they work wonders.

If it is full sun I'd sod hybrid bermuda in the spring. Not because I like it but because it is going to stand up best to the dogs.

Perennial Rye is darker green and a better quality grass.

Annual Rye is lime green and stays heavy and wet unless you start cutting it low and frequently after 3-4 weeks.

For the spring, I recommend sprigging Bermuda. It seems to be more effective than seeding.