Question
Hi,
I have two stafforshire terriers mixes (one's 80 lbs and the other is 55 lbs).  They love to run around my yard and do laps tearing up the grass as they go.  I've never had great luck with my lawn because I've always had a big dog and now I have two.  Parts of my lawn get sun and most is just in shade.  I plant grass seed in Spring and my lawn looks great until about July but now of course, the dogs just run, run and run and when it rains it's one big mud yard.  I read somewhere about Humus and Peat Moss called Kim's 3-step program.
Can you tell me what type of seed would be best?  I live in Central New Jersey near the ocean.
Thanks!


Answer
Hi Sharon,

You've unfortunately touched on a subject I hear a lot about. Let me rephrase this in another context.

If I went to a doctor and told him I was planning to go live in a 125 degree desert with no water, food, clothing, or shelter for 2 months, and I wanted him to advise me on what sort of vitamins to take before I left so that my body would be best able to survive it, what would he say? If he was doing his job, he would simply tell me that I cannot survive such circumstances no matter how many vitamins I take. My body is not able to withstand such brutal conditions for more than a few hours, much less a few months.

Your dogs are the brutal conditions, and your lawn is simply not able to withstand it, no matter what. I'd advise that you either a) figure out a way to reduce the dog traffic considerably or b) cover the yard with a thick layer of bark mulch, so you don't have to deal with the mud as much.

The "Kim's 3-Step" sounds like a decent approach under normal circumstances, but I don't think it would be nearly enough for what you've described.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

-C.J. Brown
www.TheLawnCoach.com