Question
I just bought a house last summer and the people did not take care of their back yard very well.  It is 1/2 grass  and 1/2 dirt it had grass some what. But with my 2 dogs and I have a very large apple tree right above that area the grass is , or i should say what grass there is none now.  What can do I really want grass please help.  I also have 3 kids that played on it.  

Answer
Sounds like paradise back there, Mindy, beginning with your very large Apple Tree.

Don't underestimate the significance of that Apple Tree.  

It may be more work than you are initially willing to put up with, with sprayings and special treatments, not to mention the apples that don't fall far from the tree right onto the dwindling lawn.  There's nothing more American than an apple tree in the yard.  And right now, few people have one.

Now, Mindy, you didn't mention anything about sun.  How much sun are you getting back there?

Because without LOTS of sun, NO grass is going to be thick, lush, or child/dog-proof.

See if you can get your Apple Tree pruned and thinned to allow more light down below.

Now, you haven't given me a location to advise you on.  If you're in the Southern part of the country, Bermudagrass is usually an excellent choice for a high traffic lawn - but not if it's shaded.

A Northern home would grow Tall Fescue, which  does not mind a little friendly foot traffic.  Children can play tag on it, the dogs can play frisbee, you can set up a badminton net and have a BBQ and Tall Fescue will go with the flow.

You can't say that about Kentucky Bluegrass.  Or Fine Fescue.  Or Ryegrass.

You might be able to say that for Zoysia... but Zoysia carries its own problems.

Another thing people like about Tall Fescue is that it really sticks up for itself when faced with weed seeds.  This is one very tough grass.

It's lower maintenance than other, more refined grasses and it takes more drought, more heat, more aggravation.  Some people like Tall Fescue because it really stands up for itself when faced with weed seeds.  This is one very tough grass.

Let's talk about sunlight.  

Areas that get less than 6 hours a day, would be better off with a nice groundcover.  Hostas take a lot of space up and do very well on their own, with minimal attention, with the competitive roots of a tree.  Pachysandra is a frequent choice here on Long Island.  It's a matter of taste - just make sure it doesn't need water or light and you're in business.  The only problem is, kids can't go running through a patch of Hostas like they can across a lawn.  You might keep a thick mulch of bark over some of those areas to allow a place for the pitter patter of little feet.

Now, about your dog: Canine urine is highly acidic and damage is going to occur no matter what you grow there. If you must let your dog out back, consider following him around with a hose and diluting the spot right after the dog has pee'd with a few seconds of water from the hose.

In theory at least, this would convert the waste into high Nitrogen fertilizer that's good for the grass.

Here's one homeowner's way of dealing with it:

1. Pour water where they have urinated
2. Sprinkle plain sugar where the urine spot is. The sugar will add
back to the grass what the urine has taken out.
3. Try to contain the dogs to a limited area to eliminate in.

Some products on the market claim to neutralize dog urine from the inside out.  There are conflicting opinions as to how effective they are.  Try the YellowGrass.com (www.yellowgrass.com) website and Sitstay.com.

For the rest of the lawn, assuming there is LOTS of bright sun, you'll be happiest with Bermuda or Tall Fescue.  These are Blue Chip turf choices for high-traffic areas like parks and golf courses, sports fields and playgrounds.

Bermuda will mature into a smooth, resilient playing surface down South.  It's a favorite texture and color. It takes heat, which makes it popular for Southern homeowners. Add good drought tolerance, and it's easy to further understand its appeal. Bermuda grass forms a nice, dense turf in sunny areas, but requires frequent mowing during spring and summer, if you want to maintain that lush appearance.

Before you sow anything, get a soil sample off to one of the local Extension services for a good list of what your soil has and is missing.  There's nothing like an accurate reading to give you the ultimate choice.  They will deliver a list of do's and donts for your soil.  It's everything you need to know to fortify that soil for your new grass.  This is a balancing act; it's important to take those steps very seriously, because if you do, you will have a lawn with optimal growth.

And by the way, where's there's trees, there's birds.  Your Apple Tree is just what you need to get those birds down on the front lawn for breakfast.  They eat thousands of bugs a year, each one of them, and they do it with gusto  No pesticide can compete with Mother Nature when it comes to bug control.  Keep the apple tree.  Worth its weight in gold.