Question
We have 2 labs who love to run around and wrestle w/ each other in our yard.  The problem is that over the last 6 months this has resulted in large areas of bare dirt where the grass has been ripped out of the ground.  When it rains we have a muddy mess.  This is a rental home and we will be living here another yr and a half.  I would like to be able to enjoy our yard while we are here.  Is there any type of grass w/ strong roots that withstands pet activity better?  Also we would be looking to do this as cheaply as possible since it is not our own home.  Thanks.

Answer
Fescue to the Rescue, my friend.  Tall Fescue in the back.  Fine Fescue in the front.

TALL FESCUE is the tough part of the Lawn you need for family size traffic and canine cavorting.  This is Grass with guts, building a superb Sod even in semi-shade, even greater in drought, greatest of all under stampeding horses and football cleats.  They race horses and play baseball and football on this stuff.

Louisville 's Ulmer Stadium, where the Cardinals play softball, won the National Fastpitch Coaches Assn Turface Award/Midwest with its rough, tough Tall Fescue outfield.

At Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, they planted a custom Bluegrass-Fescue blend called 'Tifway 419 II'.  They say it can 'stand up to the punishment that 300 lb players can dish out for 3 hours'.  And believe me, it does.

Tall Fescue grows a long, deep taproot about 4 feet in length.  That gives it access to moisture that's completely out of reach for wimpier Grass.  Tall Fescue is also thicker, its blades are stronger, and it does not need a lot of extra Nitrogen.  It won't do well in DEEP shade, but if you have a decent amount of Sun, you're in business.

FINE FESCUE is very different.  This is a soft, dainty, shy Turfgrass that does NOT do well under foot.  It can't take a beating or a heating, especially over 90 degrees.  But it will grow in dry Shade with no complaints, which is quite amazing.  And it doesn't need a lot of maintenance.

At the Cornell University Lawn Care website, you can read what the nation's elite Turfgrass analysts say about the situation:

http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/lawn/lawncare/index.html addresses

They post all their comments on Cornell's 'Coping With Shade' page, and warn:  Lawn Grasses need at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.  If they receive much traffic or wear and tear, they need a minimum of 6 hours.'

Since you love your dogs, of course you don't want them to come in contact with any Agent Orange or other Weed killer.  You want to build up your soil, so that when your Grass is planted, your lawns, front to back, can take whatever your family, you and Man's Best Friends can dish out.

You can pick up some excellent varieties at Seedland.com on the internet (www.seedland.com/).  But your first task is NOT going to be seeding your Grass.  Nope.  First thing you have to do is fix your compacted, muddy Soil.

Because without healthy Soil, you cannot grow healthy Fescue.

The front is easy.  The back is a problem.  Because I just know you are going to want to take those Labs out back and walk all over that muddy Gass before it's ready.  Because your Grass will be prettiest and healthiest if you're growing it in healthy Soil.

The 'muddy mess' you describe is areas that suffer from Lack Of Oxygen.  You need Oxygen in your Soil to support microbes and protect your Grass Roots, no matter how long they are.  You just know that when water starts pooling and turns into mud, breathing that stuff?  Neither would I.  How to fix it QUICKLY?

Adding Air, Organic matter and microbes would accomplish that.  Air is filled with Oxygen and Nitrogen.  Microbes need that to breathe and live.  Organic Matter has Sugars, Starches, Proteins, all of which spells G-O-U-R-M-E-T F-O-O-D to soil microbes.  So we really, really want to add Air to that mud.

You've heard of the Scotts 3 Step Program?  Ignore it.  For you, I have a speical program.  It's called Kim's 3 Step Program:

Step 1.  Go down to the Garden Center and pick up as much Humus and Peat Moss as you can get in the car.  No Sand.  See that, Kim?  NO SAND.  Also pick up a rake while you're down there -- or if you're friendly, borrow one from a neighbor.  And also get some basic Chicken Wire or a trolley chain to keep the Labs away from baby Grass while it becomes established in the Spring.

Step 2 -- Sprinkle the Humus and Peat Moss all over your Lawn and rake smooth.  You can do this right now.

Step 3 -- Set up your temporary dog confinement system to allow the dogs access to HALF your property.  The other half, put down your Seed and wait for Spring to spring.

NO fertilizer needed.  Your Humus and Manure will take care fo that all Summer long.

Come Spring, Nature's rains and cool weather will get that Seed to sprout fairly quickly.  Mow and relax.  A month and a half later, if it's still cool, put down the other half of the Lawn and adjust your Dog Control System, whether it's fencing or a clothes line/trolley leash.  Mow carefully and on schedule to keep your Fescues fabulous all Summer.  There it is -- Kim's 3 Step Plan.  Not too expensive, not too permanent, and still you have Grass with the Right Stuff.  Got any followups?  I'll be watching.  Rate me, please.  And thanks for your question.