Any tips & tricks when growing grass?

I grew grass in my front yard from seed. I'm out in the desert, so that wasn't the easiest thing to do. For me, I laid down about a 1/2" layer of mulch/potting soil, then seed, then a layer of manure. The trick for us out here is to not let the manure/seed mix dry out during the day. This can be difficult if you start too late into the hot season, where the sun is beating down on it all day long.

Actually, you might wanna try covering the manure/seed with cardboard until it starts to sprout and gain a little strength.