Question
We are removing a dog run, and the grass is dead. The run has been there for about 5 years. I was wondering what would be the best way to repair the soil and have nice grass again? We are located in Alberta Canada east facing side of house with part shade.   Thanks

Answer
Two Words: Soil Test.

Some things never change.  This is the time of year to tackle these things.  Step one in any Lawn renovation or maintenance program is always to find out what, if anything, your Soil needs.  A Soil test will tell you exactly what your Grass is growing in -- and what it doesn't have.  Starting with the pH, which actually sets the rate of absorption for nutrients.  So it's important to get your Soil tested.  Besides, odds are you are like most people and have never done that.  Start now, in 2008.  It's a great investment.

Since you had a Dog run, I would guess that you progressive Canadians were careful not to use pesticides on your property.  Dogs and pesticides don't mix.

The most popular insecticides on the market are Organophosphates.  They kill insects by scrambling their nervous system and jamming up a key enzyme called Cholinesterase.

Cholinesterase is found no only in the brains of bugs, but in Humans, too.  Pesticides containing it are absorbed into the Human Body through the skin, in the lungs, or in the stomach.  We've learned that the brains of Alzheimer's and Parkinsons patients have faulty production of Cholinesterase.

On the flip side, Science Daily reports that they've discovered that one of the medicines they give Alzheimer's patients -- called 'galantamine' -- also works on people exposed to toxic levels of pesticides and nerve gas:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060809082659.htm

'In the study, those animals treated with galantamine and later exposed to lethal doses of soman or sarin survived and showed no signs of the most common symptoms of exposure to nerve agents, such as convulsions, respiratory distress and loss of coordinated movement....'

It works by fixing the Cholinesterase, among other things.

So it's VERY good if you do not have ANY of this stuff on your Soil.  Keep a good thing going.

Still with me?

Get your Soil tested at one of the agricultural schools in your province.  I regret to say I am not that familiar with Canadian resources, but I know enough to expect it to be first rate.  Especially since laws up there are more strict about protecting the environment and the health of its citizens than down here in the USA.

While you are waiting for your Soil Test, you can run out and pick up some organic Compost or Humus to rake out over the non-growing mud -- and I recommend you do that for the rest of your Lawn, just to make sure you have a nice rich base for microbial activity come Summer.  No Nitrogen Fertilizer, please.  That will rattle the microbes and upset your Earthworms.  Stay Green.

Canada of course is Cool Season Grass country.  Your 'part Shade' assessment offers you two options.  You can spend a ton of money on the glamorous, gorgeous Grass for Shade, 'Supernova', a Kentucky Bluegrass hybrid that is in short supply.  Or you can select a thrifty and respectable Fine Fescue.

Poa supina 'Supernova' is not sold everywhere, but you can order it on the internet from Seedland.com:

http://www.seedland.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=BG-SUPINA

Seedland describes 'Supranova Supina' Bluegrass as 'the most shade tolerant, wear resistant, cool season turfgrass on the market in the US and Canada.'

Fine Fescue has been around for hundreds of years, and you can probably pick up a practically perfect variety at the Garden Center in a store near you.  No fuss, no muss.

Check the Seedland.com website to compare the looks of these two Shade-lovers.  They are as different as night and day.

Then check the mowing height of the one you select.  Mowing height is a major step toward repelling Weeds from your Lawn.  If you would like me to extend my answer on this topic let me know and I will talk the rest of the afternoon. You need to know this.  But you don't need to know today.

OK, now I'll stop.  Perhaps you have a followup question.

L.I.G.