Growing in your bare spots

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I just posted a question about planting grass seed under walnut trees. Would it work if I put some grass seed down and then covered with hay and then when the leaves fall, carefully take most of the leaves away and try not to disturb the hay? The walnut leaves are big leaves and seem to just plaster together when wet, not like the maple leaves that kind of each curl and are fluffier on the ground. Or maybe go ahead and put the seed down and some hay and put a tarp down and let the leaves fall on the tarp and pick it up.