New homeowner needs help with restoring his lawn

[OR transplant]

I recently moved into a new house in the Portland, OR metro area, where the previous homeowner didn't really take care of the lawn for the past 9 months or so. The lawn was overgrown and I've spent the past few weeks mowing shorter and shorter and it's finally about at the right height. The grass that is here is mostly green and healthy looking, but after thatching and getting rid of all the dead grass and leaves (raking in March is just wrong) the lawn is looking a little thin and has a few bare spots.

My plan was just to aerate and overseed, focusing on the bare spots, and put down some extra seeding soil where necessary, then fertilize and wait for the results. But I've been told I need to add lime first, due to the acidity in the rain, even if the lawn doesn't look like it's been affected.

The other issue is the strip of grass between the sidewalk and street. Unlike the grass in the front and back yards, which is pretty green throughout, this strip has a lot of brown in it. No patches, just all over. Will overseeding and fertilizer solve this, or is this maybe an example of where I need to adjust the pH?

[tombo82685]

I recently moved into a new house in the Portland, OR metro area, where the previous homeowner didn't really take care of the lawn for the past 9 months or so. The lawn was overgrown and I've spent the past few weeks mowing shorter and shorter and it's finally about at the right height. The grass that is here is mostly green and healthy looking, but after thatching and getting rid of all the dead grass and leaves (raking in March is just wrong) the lawn is looking a little thin and has a few bare spots.

My plan was just to aerate and overseed, focusing on the bare spots, and put down some extra seeding soil where necessary, then fertilize and wait for the results. But I've been told I need to add lime first, due to the acidity in the rain, even if the lawn doesn't look like it's been affected.

The other issue is the strip of grass between the sidewalk and street. Unlike the grass in the front and back yards, which is pretty green throughout, this strip has a lot of brown in it. No patches, just all over. Will overseeding and fertilizer solve this, or is this maybe an example of where I need to adjust the pH?

I would do a ph test to see if you do need to lime or not, either way. The reason why your soil pH is low out their is do to the amount of rain you get. Sure the rain may be acidic but the main reason is the pacific northweat like the east gets a lot of rain. This rain then depletes the soil of minerals that help netralize soil acidity. Also, pine trees will acidify your soil and if you have clay soils. Clay soils are high in iron and aluminum oxides both being acids. When it rains the minerals that help netralize these components are dissolved, which then leave these oxides. Thats why clay soils are orangish-yellow color do to iron and aluminum present.
The brown grass intertwined within the green grass sounds like winter kill from dessiccation. Rake it out, seed and then hit it with some fertilizer but not a lot maybe .25-.5 lb per 1000. Do this when appropriate in your area when the grass is growing.