If the soil in your area is slightly sandy, or there is plenty of shade from the neighbor's buildings or large trees in your garden, maintaining a lush green lawn is going to require some extra effort. Needless to say, grasses do grow in shady spots and sandy soils, but they are specially suited to those conditions. Growing regular grass and expecting it to flourish in such soils is asking too much. Plant quality seeds from a trusted retailer or your local nursery meant for sandy soils and shade.
Remove weeds, rocks and plant debris from the planting site. Loosen the site 4 to 6 inches deep with a shovel to aerate the soil and break large, compacted clods into smaller manageable pieces.
Add a 2-inch layer of organic compost over the planting site and rake it deep into the soil. It will help the sand in the soil retain nutrients and moisture needed by the roots to grow well.
Empty the seeds in a bag or bucket and use an empty coffee can or your hand to sprinkle them over the site. Work toward an even distribution of the seeds, but don't worry about too excessive accumulation of seeds in one spot.
Rake the planting site so the seeds are gently covered in soil yet maintain good seed-to-soil contact. This depth is sufficient because it prevents birds from eating them or heavy rain from washing them away without inhibiting the natural process of sprouting.
Water once every other day and just enough to ensure that the soil is evenly moist, and taper it down to once a week. Reduce watering as the grass grows.