The soil in the Columbus, Ohio area is clay. The first step in caring for a lawn, or garden, is to have a good reliable soil test done. Your Ohio State University stopped doing soil testing in 1998, but the University of Connecticut, and I think maybe the University of Kentucky, will do soil testing for out of state people, otherwise you will need to contact a commercial soil testing lab. You need to know soil pH and the major nutrient levels, Phosphorus, Potash, Calcium, Magnesium, and the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of your soil, as well as the level of organic matter in that soil (not all labs test OM).

http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/floriculture/images/CULT-Soil_Testing_for_Garden_Plants.pdf

In addition these simple soil tests may be of some help.

1) Soil test for organic
material. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in
a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and
replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24
hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight.
For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the
bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above
that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

2) Drainage. Dig a hole
1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains
away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain
away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains’ too quickly and needs
more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the
soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

3) Tilth. Take a handful
of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is
released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a
finger that clump should fall apart.

4) Smell. What does your
soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant
odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria
will be and the nicer your soil will smell, to a point. Too much organic matter
can be bad as well.

5) Life. How many
earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5,
according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that
is not healthy.

Once you have some knowledge of the current soil conditions then plans can be laid to improve the soil so it can grow a good healthy turf.

kimmq is kimmsr

Thanks kimmq, any suggestions on grass seed(where to buy) and starter fertilizer?

The common grass seed mix in the Columbus area is Kentucky Blue Grass, Perennial Rye, and one of the Fescues and that is available at most any garden center, hardware store, or, in season (usually spring), many shopping centers.

What you find from the soil tests will determine what, if any, "fertilizer " may be needed.

kimmq is kimmsr