Question
Kenneth,

We are in the Kansas City, Missouri area. With a yard that has been difficult since we bought our home.  We have highly dense clay, multiple weed issues that my husband thinks is crabgrass, but many in our subdivision complain it's some Nutgrass and that when pulled the nutgrass seeds fall off and cause more of a problem...the weed is carpeted but then has sprigs that come up. (I've researched online a little and can't find a photo of "nutgrass" to compare.)  Needless to say we put crabgrass preventer down in the Spring and now have more of this weed than grass really.  We don't know if it's best while now in September to pull all the weeds and then seed the bare spots or to weed-n-feed first, because won't the weed-n-feed keep the new grass from rooting?  We airated & seeded the lawn 2 yrs ago in attempt to get more grass and saw some improvement.  We wonder if Verti-cutting the lawn would be best to seed now in the fall due to the dense clay.  We need help and have seen neighbors bother with Lyme and other products to no avail.  We'd like a plan as what to do for Fall and then winterize if you suggest and how to prepare for Spring.  Thank you in advance for your answer.  P.S.  We purchased Zosia grass plugs 2 yrs ago and put those in the backyard, and seem to have done well, but are not spreading as we had hoped, hence the barespots.  

Answer
Hi Christie, I would love to help, but we probably should take this in steps:

First let us try to identify the weed:
http://images.google.com/images?q=nutgrass&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

(copy / paste the above link onto 1 (one) line in your browser bar WITHOUT any spaces between the letters. Sometimes the link "wraps" to two lines, but trust me, they must be put back together to ONE line in the browsers address bar)

E.g. images?q=nutgrass...

AND NOT

images? q=nutgrass..

Take a look if it is it. If not try this link (crabgrass)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=crabgrass

(same deal.. one line in the browser)

Once you have identified the weed, you can then go on to eradication:

Crabgrass and nutgrass can be handled similarily. Both are summer annuals in your area and most plants will die with frost. Seeds may still be set, but you can handle those by putting a fertilizer w/crabgrass preventer down next spring (early spring, say early april). This crabgrass preventer (such as Scott's Turfbuilder w/halts) will prevent grass seeds from germinating (sprouting) so apply only in spring when you do not expect to sow grass seeds.

You can instead dig up weeds now (use a garden hoe) and sow grass seeds. This is the easiest way. You can also spread fertilizer w/broadleaf weed control also called "weed-and-feed" (such as Scott's Turfbuilder Plus 2 weed control). This fertilizer w/weed control will NOT prevent grass seeds from germinating. This weed control product seldom work on grassy weeds (only broadleaf weeds like dandelion, clover, etc). This is why it is important to identify the weeds first.

If you plan to sow grass seeds commonly found in KY such as Kentucky Bluegras, Perennial Ryegrass, or fescue then sow grass seeds now. It is better to sow seeds in fall and then have an established lawn so you can put down fertilizer w/crabgrass preventer in spring. I would not mix these grass seeds with zoysia, however.

Unfortunately, zoysia is not a good lawn grass for KY. It is a warm season grass and it will not spreas as aggressively as warmer climates.