Following steps can be taken to maintain healthy grass in the lawn or yard - 1. Remove old grass and existing weeds from your lawn 2. Remove thatch and wait for recovery 3. Aerate the lawn if roots don't extend deeper than 2 inches 4. Choose your grass and apply grass seed to bare spots 5. Water the seed 6. Stay off the new lawn 7. Mow grass to 2-1/2 to 3 inches tall 8. Maintain the lawn by apply fertilizer periodically