Need Help Getting my Lawn Back to Life!!!!!

[rasparkman]

Can anyone tell me if I need to put weed and feed down first or would it be better to to turf builder down.Was wanting to do this this weekend.But I am
a weed tard when it comes to Lawn Maintenance.I don't even know what kind of grass I have. I live in Tennessee.Need any suggestion to get my lawn back.
I have dirt spot from where I killed black ants with gas.

[rasparkman]

Here are some more pics from my yard don't know the name of this weed. and best way to get rid of them

[betmr]

I'm sorry to say that that is in desperate need of some professional attention, Especially your weed problem, you got a lot going on there.

If I were you, I would get some estimates, that is a lot to try and fix, using an advice forum. for one thing, where you poured the gas, you're gonna have to dig that out and replace the soil, as that dirt is now sterile.

[rasparkman]

How far down would you recommendI dig? Can you tell what kind of grass I have from the pics.Besides weed. I was wanting to aerate the yard and seed tall fescue after I fix the spots and weed. I got a lot of time on my hands so I would rather tackle the job my self.I was going to replace the soil with scotts seeding soil. What do you think

[rasparkman]

What I think the weeds in my yard are.Please correct me if I am wrong

From 1st Weed pic to Last:weightlifter:

1. Prickly Lettuce
2.Smooth Brome
3.White Clover and little purple tip thing I don have a clue
4.Broadleaf Plantain
5.Crabgrass
6.Yarrow

[Smallaxe]

You will have to hand weed the garden along the edge, and any perennial grasses,... no mystery there. Unless you want to waste just as much time spraying the weeds without spraying and killing the plantings.

Spot spraying the broadleaf weeds is probably the simplest way to go.

Overseed with your fescue and cover the seed with compost for your best shot of good germination.
Avoid the use of straw for cover and definately stay away from those bags of lawn starters.
They are typically shredded cardboard that dries quickly and becomes hydrophobic the way spagnum moss does. Compost is your best medium for growing seeds of any kind.

[Smallaxe]

Oh, that was topsoil. My bust. Buy compost instead of topsoil.

[BostonBull]

I second the compost suggestion. Your lawn will love you for it! Its the first step of turning your dirt into soil, that is living breathing and multiplying.

[All Season Bill]

Number 5 is not crabgrass. Thats just clump tall fescue...its not a weed.

[Smallaxe]

Number 5 is not crabgrass. Thats just clump tall fescue...its not a weed.

Fescue has round leaf blades and grows as individuals. - Ths is my understanding... Am I wrong??? There are many 'clump' grasses with flat blades.

Could it be one of those...?

[All Season Bill]

It could be -but that's still not cragrass. (what other grass clumps?)