re: It is fall, bootlegger, What should a good lawn owner be doing to their lawn

Make sure to get a turf rye, it stays shirt and doesn't hold as much moisture. Once the rye has germinated and you can see it growing, it is usually safe to apply pre-emergent (read the label of the one you're using to be sure). Rye grass is an annual, cool-season grass. Not suitable for your summer lawn. I suggest Centipede- "the lazy man's grass".