Welcome to TLF @Badnewlawn87. I'm moving this to the cool season subforum for better visibility.

 

Do you have an irrigation system?

You could always rough rake the areas of concern and throw down some ryegrass to get you through summer and plan a better approach or reseeding leading into the fall.

 

I was in the same situation. I would glypho everything and start from the beginning once fall comes. It's going to be too hot too soon to risk seeding now, especially with such a large area.

Around late August/early September, I brought in a huge truckload on topsoil and tilled everything up with a SunJoe tiller from Amazon. Then I broadcast quality seed everywhere and tried to lighty cover everything or at least make seed to soil contact.

My builder left me with hard clay, rocks everywhere, junk seed, all topped with hay. I wish I would have just glypho it from the beginning, or had I known what I know now, and done it all myself.

I'm almost 3 years since initially moving in and 2.5 years since I redid everything, and my grass is extremely thick and easily the best in the neighborhood IMHO. However, it took until at least last year to really start looking good, and a LOT (almost obsession) of overseeding, fertilizier, weed control/preemergent. The builder really started me off with AWFUL yard conditions.

I would also water and glypho all the weeds that pop up throughout the summer.

Just my two cents and what worked for me.

 

I second the idea of just throwing down rye to get you through summer. You have enough going on with the new house. Better success planting in the fall. Plus in my experience there is value to sitting back longer to envision what you really want. And observe any drainage issues. Then in the fall, nuke it with roundup, bring in some good soil, level it, seed, fert and lots of water.

 

Thank you for all the help! There is no irritation system in place. I do like the idea of getting to fall because I will be in a much better financial situation so I can do what I need to do to have the best lawn I can have. Down payment, closing costs, and moving has depleted my savings and I really didn't want to finance anything if I didn't have to. I have kids and a big 3/4 acre area I would like to give the family a nice place to relax and have fun with. Do you suggest tilling it before I put down the rye seed down? Do I still cover it with straw? Should I only do the bare areas?

 

Just throw it down on the bare areas. Let Mother Nature do the rest and hope for a few moist days. Keep some extra seed if there's any washout spots. I don't think you will have much washout besides around the downspouts.

You can try to germinate the downspout areas by moving a sprinkler around to each one for 20min twice a day for like 5 days. That would prevent washouts if there's no rain forecasted.

Just buy whatever ryegrass seed is cheap in the area and don't worry about the weeds that come up.

 

You're basically describing our situation in 2019. Moved in in January, the "yard" the builders provided was a roughly graded patch of seed and hay cover (that I specifically asked them not to put down). I knew I could do better, so I joined TLF and did it all myself. Install the irrigation system first, if you can. I managed my way through spring and summer of '19, had irrigation installed in June, and then nuked the ever loving s*** out of the lawn and started fresh. However, I did not add topsoil or regrade/level, which is probably my only, and quite large, regret. Yard looks great now, but a little more lumpy that I"d like. Which means, of course, it's time to get a reel mower with front roller.

 

looks like a pretty big area, do you have access to a small tractor or similar piece of equipment? You could rent a herley rake and try to loosen it up, which could also help level to a degree and prepare the area for seed.

spreading the seed and all that will be easy enough for you to tackle yourself.

if I were strapped for time, the only thing I would probably hire out is either equipment to quickly help loosen and level, or hire a professional to come in and do that.

the positive is you dont have anything right now so you get a fresh canvas to start. I would recommend doing it right the first time and make it the only time. Too many times people cut corners early on and then later wish they did it right once. That doesnt mean spending a ton of money, it just means do the right stuff so you are redoing things later.

 

Just my 2 cents here, but I would personally just do everything once. I would recommend getting a sprinkler system installed when time/finances allow and, if you can, wait a month or more before doing a final grade with topsoil. This will give your sprinkler trenches time to settle and give you a much better chance at avoiding dips developing in your yard in the months/years to come. No need to till anything. Just be sure you spray out all of the existing weeds, bring in probably 15-20 yards of topsoil, spread it out and level with a landscape rake, whip your seed out there (then lightly rake again with landscape rake) and cover with a thin layer of peat and you are in business! I would also not be concerned about seeding during the summer months. It's not ideal, but not that big of a deal, really. I have seeded my lawn plenty of times in the spring and summer (when you are NOT supposed to with cool season grass) and had amazing results.

 

I was going over the idea of renting a skid steer with Harley rake but I'm going to need a riding lawn mower anyways so I'll just buy one now. I really wanted to buy a compact tractor with front scoop bucket, mid mower and grader/leveler or soil conditioner attachment. I priced out what I needed and it would be around $15,000 but my wife wasn't having that. My question is there a zero turn that would have a hitch so I could use a box scraper or is my best bet going with a traditional rider? Whatever I get I will finance and pay off monthly. I could get a new rider for $1600 with box scraper and some sort of a trailer to help me spread out the soil. After hearing all this I think I will get a truck load of top soil and grade around the house so I'm not nervous about water in the basement. Then I'll use the box scraper to go over any uneven areas and use rye seed on bare areas. It will get me to fall where I can till everything up and start fresh. Hopefully by adding top soil now it won't need too much in the fall and I can just till, add irrigation of some sort, and plant the seed. From what the "experts" I got my quotes from have said I need to have a good mixture. Does anyone know where I can find info on what grows best in my area?

 

I would bring in top soil and work getting it leveled throughout the Summer and fine tune the level in Fall, maybe plant an annual if you don't want to look at dirt all year.

Also a riding mower won't be able to handle a box blade.

 

Your best bet with a riding mower is a drag of sorts