Long Island Lawn Killed by Dog: Soil Test, Spring Restart

Sea Cliff, NY. Beautiful perennial rye/fescue/KBG lawn until September. Dog runs "like a horse" → divots, junkyard. Too late to seed?

Yes. Too late. Try spring.

Two non-negotiables for next year:

1. Soil test: Cornell Cooperative Extension. Stronger grass = better traffic tolerance.
2. Dog off grass: Period. Dogs + lawns = incompatible. Exercise elsewhere. Mulch dog paths.

Soil test → Cornell → amend (peat, compost, humus, manure, coffee grounds). Stables = free manure. Sand + organics = not cement.

Dog person here. First purchase: dog. Second: lawn. They don't mix. Manage the dog, not the grass.