Rescuing a Lawn

[Kryptoroxx]

The house I bought last year sat vacant for a few years. I've got some spots to fill in dirt and a laundry list of things to do besides the lawn. I've always been handy with a wrench but I'm afraid I could easily kill a cactus. Obviously I'd like my lawn to look amazing with a snap of my fingers but I'm about learning how....not just shoveling cash out the door.

I've got great patches of grass but I've got some areas, especially under trees, that are thin. My first thoughts were to aerate, drop seed, and see where that gets me. Some are pine trees and I know that's kind of a tough battle but many are maple trees so grass shouldn't have the same challenge there.

Would a shade mix be the grass I need?

I'm thinking about letting my grass grow longer this year in between cuts to allow more growth and maybe fill in. Not sure if that actually works though.

Considering getting an aerator and seeding trailer to assist (or at least renting one) this fall to sow the seeds.....but I'm not even sure if fall is a good time to plant grass.

Any tips or sources would be awesome. I got flooded with ads and information off of the great google is contradicting too. I live in Southern Michigan if that helps any.

I attached a picture of what I've managed so far. If ya squint it's mint! Also not sure what's going on with the photo upload. It keeps turning my pictures.

[Ozcub]

A shade tolerant grass is what you need for under the trees cannot recommend any as I am the other side of the world and what we have is probably not available to you
Oz

[jcubtroy]

dethach alot. use of Gysyum is advantagous. high nitro fert.