in the Pacific Northewest we too have to reseed early fall or early
spring. Seed will only rot if it doesn't have time to germinate and
establish itself.
Come early spring you can rent an aerator....(takes plugs out of the
lawn)....okay so it will look like FiFi did her business all over the
place for awhile. You can leave the plugs where they fall. Then dress
with topsoil & reseed.