http://static.zooomr.com/images/9900010_8f3ffc1af8.jpg

Does anyone know what kind of grass this is?

Looks like some type of Fescue. Where do you live? Fescue is primarily a cool weather grass.

I live in northern CA in the bay area maybe 45 Minutes. East of San Francisco. I just purchased the house in a short sale. It had been vacant for about a year with no one taking care of the yard. The back yard held up OK and is thickening up, but the front yard has almost nothing but weeds except for 3 large patches of the type of grass in the picture. If it helps it seems that the areas where the grass in the front yard is doing its best are areas that get a lot of shade.

I live in northern CA in the bay area maybe 45 Minutes. East of San Francisco. I just purchased the house in a short sale. It had been vacant for about a year with no one taking care of the yard. The back yard held up OK and is thickening up, but the front yard has almost nothing but weeds except for 3 large patches of the type of grass in the picture. If it helps it seems that the areas where the grass in the front yard is doing its best are areas that get a lot of shade.

That's a cool weather area compared to Atlanta where I live. I'm sure its Fescue now that you explain things. Fescue is the only grass that groes under low light conditions. Rebel is one type, K-31 is another. Scratch the surface well, put down some fertilizer and possibly lime and spread the seed. Dig it in slightly, over cover with wheat straw and keep wet. It will germinate in 7-10 days. Good luck, Brian

Thanks Brian I will give it a try hopeful I will have a good looking lawn by the end of summer

Her in Illinois we can that broad leaf grass crab grass that's why it's growing in patches it's trying to take over your lawn and kill other species, basically smothering them out.