Bless your heart Margs! We always have hot summers (lately hotter than normal) but it's so darn humid that I usually just worry about my garden stuff and don't worry about the grass too much... as do most people unless they've JUST put a new lawn in.
The granular stuff sounds right - that's what I used and it definitely helps. I even use a granular product for fleas, ticks, etc. all around my house and in my puppy's pen area (it's pretty large) just to help keep the critters down, even though they wear Frontline.
Good luck! It's great that you have a neighbor who seems to know what to do too!
