Question
I live in Charlotte, North Carolina. I put down Scott's Crabgrass preventer today on my lawn. I noticed many brown spots on my lawn as I was doing this. I decided to come online and look up what was going on with my lawn and from what I found I think it is dead. I wish I came on here first because according to many of the responses you gave other people, I can not do any seeding at this point.  What can I do now? What should I have done and in what order/timing? I also have not cut my lawn yet this year. I think I did things all wrong. Please help!

Answer
Michelle:

Yes, the pre-emergent will, probably, inhibit new grass seedlings from performing well or stop them entirely.  It should rain this weekend, making the pre-emergent active.  I would wait a week or so and overseed at that point.  If that does not take, try again in a month or so.  Mow before overseeding.

Preventing crabgrass is very important and will help the stand of grass.  If you choose that strategy for next spring, overseed in the fall.

I assume that you are using fescue.  It will take about two weeks to germinate.  You should look for results two weeks after seeding to judge your success.

Best wishes.