...cut grass low ... rent a power rake from home depot (4 hours, 40 bucks) ... run power rake east to west and or north to south ... run lawnmower to bag grass ... overseed ... lay down straight fertilizer (no weed killer) ... water, water, water ... in two weeks or so you shold be rocking ... when i use to power rake i tore the sheep out of the lawn (looked like heck) but it got all the bad stuff up and out and it ariated (spelling) the lawn at the same time ... do it earlier next year though (april or early may) ... good luck ~! ... tom