The first thing to take into consideration is the safety of your family, including your animals.

Dogs and lawns don’t mix well, but I’ll get you up to speed.

The quickest, simplest bang for your buck is to heavily apply pelletized limestone to your lawn. Home Depot or Lowes have it in stock. Use 2 bags per 1000sq. ft. This adjusts the pH in the soil like Tums attacks heartburn. You need this because if the soil is not balanced, your fertilizer won’t work properly.

That’s the “simplest” inexpensive way to a decent lawn with little effort.

As far as weeding, use an Ortho or Bayer “weed b gon product that goes on your hose end. Feeding, in addition to the lime: minimum three x per year. One in early spring, one in september, one in November. To simplify things, go to HD and by Lesco 18-24-12. It’s a starter fert, but very well balanced.