If you were to dig out and replace about an inch of soil, that would work.

However, we're now so late in the season that seeding is definitely not recommended. Survival over the summer will be extremely poor. I'd hold off until August when temperatures just start to drop off their heights and seed at that point--the appropriate time for a fall seeding, or far earlier than you're planning!

In this case, skip the July pre-emergent, or use a one-month maximum shield, or use one that won't stop grass seeds. Of the last, Tupersan and Tenacity are the only options.

Those round areas are usually caused by one fungal disease or another. How do you water it? How often and for how long?

Can you post a picture? The best pictures are taken on cloudy days to reduce the glare and contrast.

Last summer I rarely watered and we had a dry spell. Some areas "burnt". Now 95% of the lawn is fine. The circles (actually somewhat irregularly shaped areas) seem to be what never came back. The lawn is very well drained and generally "dry" . Is there an obvious sign of fungal disease? Do the grass plants have some telltale appearance? Thanks very much for your advice.