I had a similar problem and after years of trying to fix it, late last summer I finally rented a rotor tiller and tore it all up. After i got all the dead grass and weeds up as much as I could I hit it big time with weed / Crab grass killer. I actually used some grass killer also LOL then I waited for three weeks and all I kept doing was turning it over and over so nothing could take root while the weed / Crab grass killer went to work.

So for the whole month of September (I am on Long Island) I basically did nothing but rake and turn the dirt over and over. Then the last week of Sept I over seeded the whole area and believe me with the dirt so air rated those seeds grew like wildfire.

I had to cut it once (URG the ground was so soft I hated walking on it the next spring I had to go fill in all the foot prints cause my feet were sinking so deep...Anyway after that cut I just treated it and let the roots develop over the fall and then early spring.

In the spring I did a first cut cause the lawn was fully in and the ground was now solid and packed down from the winter snow but I went and seeded it all over again anyway.

It is now June and I have the most incrediable lawn EVER. It's fantastic not one weed, not one sign of anything like crabgrass and it's as green as you can get.....I will say this since the soil was so loose when I first laid down the grass seed, the roots grew really deep and that is great but OMG I have to cut it twice a week cause the grass seems like it's on steroids LOL

Believe me the work was well worth it.

I'm with you Dominick. I've got a friend with a tiller. I can at least take out the existing beds and throw in a load of mulch. Thank you so much!

I have ADHD and it's really tough for me to not go off and just throw seeds down so I would plan it out on a calender, The deeper you can get the deeper the roots grow and then you won't have any problems as far as the lawn dying, or weeds over taking the lawn. Good luck I am sure it will look beautiful...you may also want to consider putting in a sprinkler system it's actually a easy to do project and since the whole thing will be tilled anyway

Shade? Dogs? Crab grass? Sounds like a perfect place for EasyTurf. Our synthetic turf is the most durable, most realistic looking and feeling turf on the market (you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference). No maintenance requirements, no time requirements - it's the perfect lawn for pets .... check us out at www.EasyTurf.com and/or let me know if you have any questions/concerns ...
Cheers!
George
http://www.houzz.com/projects/82915/Backyard-Installations

Dominick, I have ADD too, so your calendar idea is a winner!