I have a similar issue (UK garden) where my cats have trodden a desire path into my lawn over years, plus some over-shaded areas from an evil combo of a fig and a buddleia.
I’m tempted to sow some clover, but equally I’m sure some lawn-gurus here might be able to advise on what would be best to keep some plant cover?
If you don’t address the underlying reasons the grass is dying/being replaced by weeds then anything you add to the top of the lawn won’t work.
It looks to be a common deep shade issue. Even the weeds are stressing out.
Test the soil pH. Underneath large trees the soil often acidifies and adding in some lime will help.
The main solution is to pick the correct species that will work in the location. Skip the bluegrass, ryegrass, tall fescue, hard fescue or sheep fescueetc and look for festuca rebrum and it’s subspecies (creeping red fescue, chewing fescue, etc).
You’ll also want to overseed this fall at a rate of 7-10lbs of seed to/1000 sq feet. Not that piddly little bit that you did there. It’s not enough seed to do shit.
I’m pretty sure it’s because I left leaves on it all fall and winter
That’s almost good, because leaf litter is habitat for bugs like fireflies (they lay their eggs in it).
The problem is you’ve apparently removed it before they could hatch.
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