How do I get grass back?

Have you considered an underground sprinkler system?

Have you tried a grass seed more tolerant of drier, hotter conditions?

What has your county extension agent advised?

If you have no shrubs or trees to offer shade, you will need some method of irrigating the area, to supplant for evaporation. Suspending shade sails in trees has worked for smaller areas, as has using retractible awnings to cast shadows at certain times of the day.

Additionally, your soil may need some amendments to increase water holding capabilities (peat moss, vermiculite, etc.).

Do a total kill, wait a few months, break the soil with a. Hard take, seed or plant sod. Water daily until set. Install sprinkler system if can.

Hi Mike. I'm Cindy. If you have a local nursery, go there and have a conversation and ask what type of grass seed they recommend. They might have seed to sell you. Be sure to till the area first. Then put the seed down with a spreader. An extra suggestion I'm going to make for you is to put straw down on top of the seeds. The straw will give the seeds cover and it will make it difficult for birds to get to. The seeds are going to need regular watering. You can install an irrigation system or use sprinklers. Follow your neighborhood's rules about sprinkling. I hope this helps you. Good luck Mike and best wishes.

What zone are you in Mike? Find out here:

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

I am in zone 9 in southern California where it rarely rains and is an "event" when it does. Without a sprinkler system, my property would be nothing but a dusty dirty patch of nothing.

10,000 sq. ft. Is a lot to cover, you need some sort of irrigation system.

See if these help you out.

https://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/landscaping-and-hardscaping/how-to-reclaim-a-weedy-yard

https://www.familyhandyman.com/landscaping/restore-a-weedy-patchy-lawn/view-all/

http://yardcare.toro.com/restore/restoring-a-tired-lawn/eight-steps-to-restoring-your-lawn/

Hi Mike. If it is really hot with no rain it probably just went dormant. I would wait until fall and apply a winterizer fertilizer to your lawn. This will get it prepared for your spring treatment. Then in early spring you apply crab grass preventor and aerate the lawn if possible. In early summer apply weed and feed. The best way to a nice lawn is to feed it and get it healthy enough so weeds don't have a chance. In late spring I put grass seed in my spreader to try and thicken it up. I have also let the grass grow so it goes to seed and then cut it. The seeds will dry and replant them selves. Good Luck.