I have a spot in my yard where the grass simply won't grow. It is in the shade, and the dirt is actually like clay. I have spread some seeds, and placed down top soil, but it still won't grow.

How much topsoil did you add? Depending on the type of grass seed that you spread, you may need 6 to 8 inches of good soil, not clay, for the root system to develop.

Also, I hope that the type of seed that you spread was shade tolerant.

From Turfgrass in Shaded Areas (http://lancaster.unl.edu/factsheets/280.htm) It would be worth your time to check out the site.

Since shade is a poor environment for turfgrass, it is essential to develop a good management program in shady places. First, select shade tolerant grasses. The fine-leaf fescues are considered the most shade tolerant of the cool-season grasses. Creeping red fescue, Chewing's fescue, sheep fescue and hard fescue all have shown promise in heavily shaded areas. Some varieties of Kentucky bluegrass and fine-bladed turf-type tall fescue have performed well in moderate shade.

Sow seed in shaded areas in the fall. Fall seedings generally are more successful than spring seedings because they go into the first summer more mature with a better root system and more stored food reserves. Frequent, fall, leaf raking is essential to establishment of grasses in shaded areas. Leaves left on the lawn shade the young seedlings and slow their development.

I noticed you are in Florida. '' The fine-leaf fescues are considered the most shade tolerant of the cool-season grasses.'' Perhaps you need to check on something more suited to your climate. I haven't had that much luck with the fescues in the shade. I am trying some perennial rye this year, but I am not sure how it does in a warmer climate. Perhaps talk to a local lawn and garden store. Don't count on the advice from the big home centers.

You do need to soften up that clay. Try working some peat, gypsum, perlite, etc. into it. It is important to loosen the soil up before sowing the seed.