Why not just roundup the whole thing, then water to grow more weeds, then roundup again etc. and start with a clean slate in the fall.

Why does he need it to be organic? Is he going to make fescue salad?

Grass type? City? It would help to know a little bit more about the neighbor's Organic requirements and why. WBG would be anathema to those who are true blue organic.

He is an oddball and his wife is a nutcase, she thinks using chemicals will hurt their children, who are 15 and 13.

Grass type is most likely a fescue blend, we are in Perrysburg, OH Zone 6A.

I've got him sold on alfalfa and soybean meal for fertilizer but don't know of anything organic to kill off the weeds. I'm sure he could get by using WBG, highly doubt roundup would be allowed by his wife.

How big is the yard in SQ ft?

Send his wife out into the yard to pull those weeds.

That's definitely organic.

I don't think people are necessarily nut jobs because they want to avoid use of harsh herbicides. More and more, science is confirming we are hurting our waterways and land with overuse of these things.

However, there is no easy solution to a poor lawn. You either have to use chemicals or lots of hard labour. People don't usually want to hear the latter. But if you want to avoid herbicides you either have to smother the weeds that are there with plastic, cardboard or mulch or you have to hand pull them or use other methods like vinegar, boiling water, etc to kills weeds.

If you have a large weed base and add fertilizer, it's pretty obvious you will just grow healthier weeds! LOL.

You can also spend some money to have the poor soil and weedy layer taken away, add better soil and lay fresh sod or seed.

Well i'm not saying that she is a nutjob because she doesn't want chemicals used, i'm saying she is a nutjob because her reason for not wanting to use them is fear of her teenage children being affected by them. As if they will go out and roll around on the grass right after they are applied. I avoid chemicals when I can, but i'm also realistic about it as you pointed out.

Lot is a 1/4 acre, neighbor is on the left, i'm on the right.

Aside from weeds overtaking the backyard, it is actually a decent lot. The front yard has huge issues as you can see. This image was probably taken in September of this past year.

If you are going to spray with a herbicide, fertilize first. Well fed weeds die better than stressed out weeds. Fertilize with the organics, give it 3 weeks to show results, and then spray.

Get him to mow higher. That will make a big difference in many ways. Maybe don't mow during those 3 weeks while the fertilizer is being processed to let the grass grow up taller.

He's probably not watering deeply and infrequently. Is he willing to try that?

If he has a fescue lawn, killing the weeds off might result in bare spots that grow more weeds this summer. If he can wait until August that would be a better time. And in the mean time, do the fertilizer, mowing high, and deep/infrequent watering.

Watering: Deep and infrequent is the mantra for watering. This is for all turf grass all over the place. Deep means 1 inch all at one time. Put some cat food or tuna cans around the yard, and time how long it takes your sprinkler(s) to fill all the cans. Memorize that time. That will be the time you water from now on. My hose, sprinkler and water pressure takes 8 full hours to fill the cans. Your time will likely be less. I like gentle watering. As for watering frequency, that depends on the temperature. With temps in the 90s, deep water once per week. With temps in the 80s, deep water once every 2 weeks. With temps in the 70s, deep water once every 3 weeks. With temps below 70, deep water once a month. Note that you have to keep up with quickly changing temps in the spring and fall. This deep and infrequent schedule works in Phoenix and in Vermont, so it should work for you. The reason for deep and infrequent is to grow deeper, more drought resistant roots and to allow the soil to dry completely at the surface for several days before watering again. If it rains, reset your calendar to account for the rainfall.

As for the weeds, they only have 2 choices. Get on their knees and pull them by hand or use chemicals. For fertilizer why don't you recommend Milorganite to them? It works and their kids could eat it and be fine, so it should be safe to play on.

It's wildly known roundup lasts days in the soil than its gone. Here's what I did to my lawn.. It was a DISASTER! Now I have people walking by complimenting my yard and neighbors wanting me to help them redo theirs!

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/3272842/help-my-lawn-is-terrible-need-advice

Oh here's my lawn as it looks today