Even if you had a top of the line digital camera, you probably aren't going to get a positive ID from an birds-eye-view photo. Pretty much all the grassy weeds look alike from a distance - especially when mowed. The distinguishing characteristics are in the fine leaf details, root structure and seed heads. Any, the generic answer is going to be pretty much the same.... you have a grassy weed and you probably won't find an herbicide to selective kill it in rye. You can try one of the products labeled "crabgrass killer" - just be sure to check that it is safe on rye - but I wouldn't get your hopes up. In general, most grass weeds are pretty tough to get our of a cool season turf. You will probably end up having to dig them out or roundup the spots at the end of the season and reseed.

There have been a number of good posts on "yard leveling". Best to use sharp sand, the type used by masons for mixing mortar. I don't recommend mixing anything into the sand, particularly not topsoil or compost. If you feel obligated to add something, you could add one shovel of dry peat moss for every 20 of sand. Mow the lawn short, distribute sand over an area as best you can with wheelbarrows or buckets without making large piles. Use a drag or push brooms and the back of garden rakes to evenly distribute the sand off the high spots into the lower spots and bring the grass blades up. Water well when finished. Alternatives include using a vertical slit seeder to help smooth out the lawn or plug aeration over a number of years. Good luck. Edit: I would strongly recommend that you start with a small area with bags of sand to get an idea of how it is done and the amount of material needed before you commit to a load of sand from a garden center or other supplier. Always visit to make sure of what you are getting before you order. This post was edited by yardtractor1 on Thu, May 29, 14 at 14:42

A couple of questions though. I'm using my agrifab pull behind aerator I got, and I'll try to get a pretty decent hole density on the round-up portion of the yard. I don't have a rotary spreader, I just have a drop spreader, is that acceptable to spread KBG with? According to a file on scott's webpage for their seed, here are there suggested settings: Scotts Drop Spreaders all models OVERSEEDING 10 NEW LAWN 15½ Also, I am considering dragging a piece of chain link fence over everything to break up the plugs, and cover up the seed a little bit. Would that be a good idea?

Grass and rock gardens do not mix. If it isn't the roots sneaking into the middle of a treasure the seeds surely will and the seedlings are hard to take out. And some rock plants are very slow to spread. If there is grass there - they can be smothered - which is a waste of money. It is vital in a rock garden to remove all the big and bossy plants first - grass included. If plants have made seeds in the area you're using then you will have to weed and mulch for several years. In a rock garden you can use rock chips/gravel and this can reduce the number of weeds you have to tackle. From the pictures you provide - I think that grass seeds will be the problem, more than runners underground. If you can remove them now you've reduced your work for next growing season. Hope your rock garden is a great success.