Question
QUESTION: Just moved into a home on Long Island and apparently the landscaping has not been taken care of in at least 2 years.  last season I understand that the previous people living there put sod all over the front and back of the house although never checked the soil to see if it was any good and then, never watered/kept their landscaping in check.  SO...I'm left with muddy patches, sod that comes up with a rake and something that I am embarrassed to have in front and the back.  The house drags in the mud, my boy's can't play in their yards - it's just brutal.  Today it's raining and I left for work looking at this pathetic front yard filled with mud and puddles.  
I've only been in the house since November and was told that there isn't much I can do until the spring...but there has to be something I can do to make it better.  A few weeks ago I had someone come and tell me that I have to aerate the land and change the acidity of the land - so we threw down some lime.  What else can I do to get this up and running so that when the spring comes I can go out and play with the kids on grass, be able to have a BBQ and not a Mud a Q.  Can you help out?  Give suggestions?  Refer me to someone who can make me a comfortable pretty green lawn?  I have no problem doing the upkeep; I just need some sort of jump start and direction.  
Thank you...
Miserable Muddy Lawn Person

ANSWER: David (Miserable Muddy Lawn Person):

The success of such a project will depend on winter weather.  You may be able to establish a temporary cover of grass with winter rye for spring enjoyment.  If the damage is as extensive as I imagine, the sod did not take or was hurt by the lack of maintenance you described.

You may take two approaches to seeding.  One is to sow annual ryegrass for a quick cover.  Fertilize normally for quick growth.  Aeration never hurts.  Annual ryegrass will die when temperatures reach 85 deg. F or higher in summer.

Second, you may sow bluegrass and/or fescue to repair the sod.  This seed will take longer to establish, but will furnish a permanent cover.

Buy whatever seed variety is recommended by your local garden center  They will have it when you reseed again in the fall.

Do one or the other, not both.  Annual rye will compete with bluegrass and/or fescue in spring.

If you limed, did you apply anough as per a soil test to actually change th pH?  If not, test and make up the difference.

I would recommend that you topdress with a high quality compost after seeding.  Shop for this at a local professional landscape supplier who has been in the business of selling compost for a while.   I am sure that there are several such suppliers near New York.  That market is mature and educated on compost.  3/8 inch is sufficient, or one cubic yard per thousand square feet of lawn.  If this is too much, apply recommended rate of conventional fertilizer when overseeding.

Best wishes.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your response...I don't think that repairing the sod is an option I want to go through.  

So, if I choose to take your first approach, "sow annual ryegrass for a quick cover (not sure what that means).  Fertilize normally for quick growth, aeration etc.  what happens when it does get above?  

Can you give me a step by step process (for the layman) so that I have a better understanding of what I can do and when?

Answer
David:

Annual rye will germinate in a few days to a week.  Bluegrass and fescue will take two weeks to a month for germination. But rye will die in summer heat, potentially leaving bare ground by end of summer, or weeds.

As far as instructions for overseeding, that is a research question for you to do.  There are many books on the subject, some TV shows, I am sure, in your area, and the local ag agent may have some goood pamphlets also.

When weather dries out and gets above 50 degrees in daytime, rent an aerator, aerate, sow with seed of choice, and cover with 3/8 inch of compost, or fertilize with conventional fertilizer.  Beyond these, you will have to ask a garden center operator or a rental center manager how to do these things in detail.

I trust that this is clear enough, though lacking in detail if you have no experience.  Just try until the result satisfies you.

Best wishes.