Grass?!

[L.M.]

I know this may be a futile battle, but I am determined to have grass....maybe not beautiful grass, but grass at the very least.  After the heat of last summer and the snow this year, my yard has turned into a mud pit......Of course, my digging pups don't help.  When we bought our house 4 years ago, the previous owner spent zero time on the backyard....so we have inherited the task of getting rid of crabgrass and growing new grass.  We had it going well last year, even with a big doodle, but then the summer heat killed all of our new grass, leaving us with mud pits now.  I live in New Jersey......any suggestions on hardy, somewhat doodle-proof grass?  I'm not expecting perfection, but I would love grass instead of mud.  My plan to stop the digging is to try a sand box......get them to dig in a controlled spot....I think it may work.  But, my grass issues now, are really not the fault of my dogs.... And please don't tell me that grass with 2 dogs is impossible because I'm not accepting that as an answer lol  Are any grass types hardier, faster growing, and more "dog sturdy" than other types?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You could try fescue.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

I think fescue would work for you.  I have done a fescue and micro-clover seed mix that seems to be holding up to my pack.  The clover spreads and helps add nitrogen to the ground which in-turn fertilizes the fescue.

[L.M.]

I just looked this type of grass up and it looks like a winner.......the challenge will be keeping the pups out of the backyard for a while.....but I'm willing to do that for a month or 2 if it means I get grass!  Thanks so much for the suggestions!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

The type of grass depends on where you live.  My daughter in Northern California put grass in and her gardener had never heard of the ones we recommended because we live in So. California and have different types of grass.  It is all related to the weather and temperatures.  You need to find out what works for your neighbors or ask at a nursery.  One thought..if you have cats in your neighborhood you might want to rethink the sand box idea.  Cats LOVE sand and you Doodles will most likely find it to be a nice feeding place!!!!!

[L.M.]

Oh yea!  We have definitely thought about the cat issue.....my husband will be building a sandbox with a tight cover  =)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I live in NJ. Last summer/fall I spoke with the turf folks at Rutgers who recommended a fescue mix. I can tell you the specific one. It is expensive and the second time I went to order it was sold out but you should be able to get some for spring. I'll try to look for the details and let you know. I have used the tall fescues for some years now and they are pretty good overall in terms of being tough, drought resistant etc.

[L.M.]

We looked online and it does seem pricey, but at this point, I'm desperate to get anything growing to get rid of the mud.  If you can get the specific name of the mix that would be great!  I told my husband to order the seed early because we were concerned about not being able to find it as well.  Thanks so much!!  After last summer's heat I think a lot of us are in the same situation....everyone's grass in my neighborhood was gone by last July!

Thanks again!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I had sod installed- just fescue- and it was great. I know that sod is much more expensive than seed, but it "takes" really fast, and you have only a week of watering daily VS a month. Unfortunately, after all that expense, it turned out that fescue is one of JD's worst allergens, so I had to tear it all out the following year. :(

[L.M.]

I would LOVE to get sod installed........The price is what is holding us back.  My hubby is currently unemployed....searching for a new teaching job in Jersey now is the pits.....We, however, agreed that if he gets a job we'll get the sod.  =)  If not, fescue seed it is and we'll have to keep our pups out of the yard for a while....dear god....LOL

[F, Calla & Luca]

The Rutgers Turf person recommended Faith Tall Fescue. Here are two good sources for seed in general Seedland.com

http://www.seedland.com/

and

Seed Superstore  https://www.seedsuperstore.com/Default.asp.

This site has good comparison charts:

https://www.seedsuperstore.com/ordering/Tall_Fescue_Quality.htm and https://www.seedsuperstore.com/ordering/Tall_Fescue_Performance_Cha....

I think I got some of the Faith but then after that I ordered a tall fescue mixture, since mixtures are always good in case one grass performs better than another in your yard or parts of it.

I can't really get to the leftovers right now but til spring I won't really know how well some I seeded late in the fall did anyway. I always think even expensive grass seed is easy enough to throw on the bare spots, even if I don't scratch up the soil or water regularly etc., in case it may decide to grow : )

[L.M.]

Thank you so much for your help!!! Hopefully my next post here in the garden group will be a picture of my beautiful backyard this spring!  lol  ;)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I look forward to see the results.