"Dave" wrote in message
om...
I have a section of lawn in a shady area that seems to have become too
miserable to keep grass growing thickly. The grass is sparse. Applying
fertilizer and grass seed does not seem to have much effect. It is
clay soil and well packed. I don't know if I need to apply something
or simply give up and rototill in a load of horse manure? Any
semi-expert opinions? Thanks.

Shady area need less fertilization not more. That might be part of your
problem.

I've had great success w/ Creeping Red Fescue in southern Ontario, Canada
for shady areas. It never fills in like Bluegrass, but seems to take in very
tough situations.

Peter H