re: What steps do I need to take to get my back yard lawn perfect?

If you have grassy weeds, i.e. Crabgrass then a product with "dimension" is what you need. You should apply it when your soil reaches a certain temp in the spring. In the dallas tx area it would be around April 1.

For dandelion and clover you should use something with "gallery". For our area it is recommended around September 1, although I just put it down this weekend.