[Diana in Wisconsin]

You’re Welcome.

HOWEVER - do NOT add sand to your lawn! Any time you add sand to soil, and it dries out the least little bit - you get CEMENT and you won’t be able to grow anything there at all.

Never add sand to garden soil, either - same awful results. You’d THINK it would aid in drainage and loosening the soil, but it doesn’t.

If you need better drainage, add Vermiculite or Perlite, but I’m not a fan of either for lawn maintenance. Stick with organic compounds - compost (your own, or bagged) and peat (bagged, unless you own a peat bog.) ;)

[Ellendra]

If you need better drainage, add Vermiculite or Perlite,

Or charcoal. The natural, untreated kind, not the briquette kind.

[JesusIsLord]

... you get CEMENT .......... Sand is definitely out.

I think I'll take these steps come Fall grass reseeding time:

1- Late Summer - apply weed killer over grass; 2- Early Fall, perform low grass-cut; 3- Extreme aeration; 4- When the applied weed killer allows, reseed; 5- Top-dress with compost; 6- Reseed again following compost; 7- Keep soil moist/watered until new grass is established.

The one thing I might add is laying down a layer of peat over the compost and final reseed. This should enhance holding moisture. Would this be redundant? I.e., the compost top-dressing may be enough to hold moisture.

Thanks to all for your suggestions!