Rake up leaves and debris (but wait until the ground is dry to avoid making it uneven).

If you live in the western half of the US with alkaline soil, increase absorption and percolation by treating your soil with exiGrow to liberate the hardened mineral salts and open the soil to better absorb water, air, and nutrients. If you have acidic soil, consider traditional core aeration, Humic Organic Pellets, and lime to raise pH.

Prevent weeds by applying a pre-emergent herbicide (you’ll want to reapply in about 3 months). If the weeds have already popped, quickly spot treat them with Zero Bull WeedKiller - glyphosate-free and 100X more powerful than common acid-based desiccants.

Apply slow-release fertilizers every 6-8 weeks beginning in late spring when the soil temperature is above 55°. Consider 20-5-10 (20% nitrogen, 5% phosphate, 10% potassium). Get a simple, inexpensive soil test to determine exactly what your soil needs.

Check with your local garden center for the best seed to fill in those bare areas. Hard rake the area to loosen the soil, evenly spread the seed, cover with hay to prevent wind or creatures disturbing the seeds and new sprouts, and water daily for at least a week.

Give your lawn a trim — but only the top 1/3. But first, be sure to clean your mower and sharpen the blade.

Go easy on the early watering. This will make the roots reach deeper for water--a deeper root system is better especially during hot, dry periods in the summer.