The percolation test is quite simple -- Dig a hole about 1 foot deep. Pour it full of water and wait... Observe whether it soaks in... Then, once it has soaked in -- fill it up full of water again and let it soak in again.. If it all soaks in within a few minutes -- you may be draining too fast and the grass dries out too fast... If it doesn't drain within a day... you have other problems.... Sometimes clay soils will soak in great on the 1st round, then will become impermeable after the 2nd or 3rd round -- as the clay saturates... It can also help point out problems in the subsoil like pure coarse sand, big rocks and hard-pans... (Gosh, my lawn drains fine here, but doesn't drain at all over there... I wonder why?) The 2nd test is outlined on here somewhere -- but it is to determine your soil makeup.. You take a mason jar about 1/3 full of dirt (No rocks and sticks).. Fill it mostly full of water.. Shake it up really good and let it sit overnight... Then shake it up really good again and let it sit again... It will separate out into various layers.. Sand and rocks on the bottom, silt in the middle, clay near the top, and light organic material on the top or floating... You then measure the layers with a tape measure and it tells you the soil makeup... These tests will help lead you in the direction of which amendments will help vs which ones will hurt... If your soil is all sand and already drains too fast.. Adding more sand won't help anything... but adding a little Clay would help quite a bit... and vice versa. Thanks John

If you have dogs, I think turf grass is the best option instead of a groundcover like ivy or mondo grass. I would note how many hours of sun or shade you have and check with your local university extension service re best lawn grasses. Centipede, St Aug, Bermuda, Buffalograss? You may just need to overseed (which will involve some irrigation (use a sprinkler) until the shoots are established a bit. Or aerate, as perhaps your lawn looks a bit compacted? It might need some organic fertilizer like maybe just buy a few bags of compost and sprinkle around even?

Hi elseniorfruita, Your yard looks like it has loads of potential, but may require lots of hard work. You should hang out at the FL forum also. Folks there will give you loads of suggestions and will spur you on. You may even find folks that live in your area and be able to attend plant swaps where you can get plants from new friends. Post these photos over there and I'm sure you'll have loads of suggestions. If it were me, I'd start by getting rid of the black plastic. I'd just work on a small area at a time, so it doesn't seem like an insurmountable job. Since you pretty much have a blank slate, I'd amend the soil before planting an area. Amend it with any organic material. You can buy Black Kow at HD, but any organic material will help. Hang out at these forums and visit nurseries, look around at yards you like, to get ideas. Take your time before you decide on planting. It will pay off. Are you particularly interested in ornamentals, fruit, veggie gardening? Low maintenance? Try to answer as many questions as you can before making decisions. Good luck! Anna

No one can advise you because we do not know your zone or soil conditions.