Question
My husband and I recently purchased a foreclosure home, and the lawn has not been cared for in a very long time. It was originally sodded, and has some grassy spots left, but a large amount of weeds and a few bare spots. Being a foreclosure we do have some work to do to the house, so we are looking for the most economical and effective method to improve the lawn without sodding at this point. What process/products would you recommend for doing this?

Answer
Step 1 is to get some good grass seed into the lawn. I'd go to a local home & garden shop and ask for the best recommended variety for your area.

Next, mow the weeds nice and short.

Next, rent a core aerator and run over the lawn several times to create holes all over the place.

Next, spread the grass seed throughout the lawn area.

Next, water daily!

Once the new stuff grows in and turns the lawn from weeds to a mix of grass and weeds, you can purchase some "weed & feed" fertilizers to kill off the weeds while feeding the grass. These can be very effective if used properly, so make sure to do a little research on how this is done.

That should do it for you! Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,
C.J. Brown