re: Completely Desolated/Restore Back Yard

What herbicide did you order? Assuming you have some desirable grass - St Aug, centipede, Bermudagrass or zoysia - mixed in with the weeds, I suggest using methsulfuron methyl (MSM Turf) or Celsius herbicides to spray the entire lawn because not only are they good broad spectrum weed killers they are safe to use on the 4 lawn grasses in this summer heat.

Other good lawn herbicides can potentially kill your good grass at temperatures exceeding high 80s-90s. Follow the label diections and use spreader/sticker (surfactant) in the herbicide solution.

You’ll need to spray again after a few weeks and be aware that younger weeds are more easily controlled than older weeds. Usually the herbicides are “rain fast” after several hours so yes you can water. Do as others suggest by cutting the grass/weeds often so they don’t develop seed heads but don’t scalp the good grass.

After you see some significant death of the weeds, I’d fertilize the good grass with lawn fertilizer, but not weed & feed, to stimulate growth of the lawn grass.

In fall (Sept/Oct), I’d apply a granular pre-emergent herbicide, for example, Dimension, and re-apply it in the spring (late Feb/March). Pre-emergent herbicides are a game changer in suppressing annual weeds in problem lawns.

Certain perennial weeds and grassy weeds may require special attention and spot spraying with certain herbicides depending on your lawn grass.

Be patient, but persistent, and you should be able to turn your lawn around.