Backyard Disaster

So this past summer we had sod laid in our backyard, which was just a dirt pit that turned muddy and nasty when it rained.  Bad thing about laying sod this past summer is that not only was it extremely hot, but we were getting married!  Who has time to nurture new grass in the midst of a wedding?  We didn't, and it turned out that our lovely sod that we once had is now completely dead.  What a waste of thousands of dollars!  I'm so frustrated with our back yard, it's practically hopeless. 

I had a company come out this morning to aerate and over-seed the entire yard, which I made sure to run by my brother-in-law first, as he was the one who laid our sod.  He said to go for it, but I don't think he realizes what bad shape the sod is in.  After the front and sides were finished being aerated, they attempted to start on the back.  As our luck would have it, aerating was not our solution.  They couldn't even work back there because it was just tearing up the sod and turning it to mush.  Our biggest problem is that the root system never developed, so the sod isn't anchored in at all.  The guys this morning said there was no point in seeding the dead sod either. 

So now what?  Are we just destined to NOT have a beautiful back yard?  I will make damn sure to check under the snow the next time we are house shopping!!!

Our yard the year we moved in.....after we raked away all the straw that the snow had covered