Follow the cool season guide that is stickied above.

pictures of your lawn will help if you post them. I wouldn’t aerate unless you know you have a compaction problem. Your lawn has probably greened up now with the recent heat we’ve had. If you have an active weed problem in the lawn then you could apply the Scott’s product. It’s weed killer and fertilizer but not preventative. Follow the label instructions.

regular cutting to a good height (2.5” is a good target for most), weed and feed, preemergent in the fall and spring. Follow that and you’ll be miles ahead very quickly.

 

Thanks for your response! So, my landscapers would always aerate this time each spring. I attached a few pics and I'm pretty sure I need to aerate. You will see some bald spots, and when it rains it sits on top of the grass so I think soil is compacted.

 

If they have aerated every year then you probably don’t need to aerate.

How long does it sit on top of the soil? How much rain? What type of soil do you have? Short of 100% clay you shouldn’t need an annual aeration.

 

@casts_by_fly is right. I also doubt you need to aerate. But we cannot determine that by pictures. What you have is lots of weeds. It looks like your landscaper was not that knowledgeable.

Cool Season Lawn Guide https://www.thelawnforum.com/threads/cool-season-lawn-guide.1595/

 

https://www.thelawnforum.com/threads/herbicide-guide.6334/

 

I'm ready to work the lawn now, but I'm still very confused on the first step as I read a lot of conflicting info.

Which is preferably done first? Mow, or weed whack, or spread weed killer???

I read weed killer first so it gets down to the root and wait a couple days before mowing.
Others suggest mowing and/or whack first then apply weed killer.

 

Either: Mow then 2 days later weed kill. or weed kill then mow 2 days later.

Weed killer does not need to get to the root. It need to be sprayed onto the green leaves. If using a weed and feed, the weed and feed need to stick to the leaves, (it must be wet). I would spray.

 

Any up dates
I will say this
Learn when and how to water
Raise mower deck to 3”
Read the cool season guide.