I should add: I have been fertilizing that past 2 years using the dchall_san_antonio corn-meal method.

You're probably going to get rain towards the end of the month. With that and the January/Feb rains, you shouldn't need to water it. The reason to water in the winter is more for soil health than grass health.

I think the new puppy pushed this lawn over the edge. It is not unusual for us to see posts asking for help with a lawn in full shade, two active dogs, active children, and desert conditions. Without the dog you might have had a chance, but dogs do have to go out and play every now and then.

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but if you can keep the dog off of it for a couple weeks, you might try annual ryegrass seed just to have something to keep the mud down for the winter. Ryegrass does not spread like bermuda or St Augustine, so if the dog tears it up, it will not repair itself.

I see some grass in your picture to the bottom. Is that bermuda? If so you're going to be battling that in the spring. It might awaken before the St Augustine does. Just keep the mower set high and it should go back to invisible again.

If you're looking for blessings to count, you don't have any thatch!

Can you be sure that you did not have Chinch Bug damage? I did this past summer & the areas look very much like yours. You still have grass up against the pavement so that may not be the problem because that is where it usually shows up first because that is the hottest part of the yard.

dchall_san_antonio Just St. Augustine, no Bermuda. I'll give the Rye grass a go. You recommend Annual over Perennial? Also - any fertilizer/corn meal?

girlnamedgalez8a Yep - definitely checked for cinch bugs. Had the same issue with our St. Augustine in the front yard getting Take-All/Root Rot after over-watering. Although it's since almost fully recovered.

For your area neither annual nor perennial rye will survive long into spring. The issue with the cover crop is in the spring they tend to remain tall and green long after the St Augustine should have awakened. Delaying the awakening is a problem, so I would scalp it in late March to give the underlying St Augustine (sprigs) some sunlight. Mow at the mower's highest setting until mid March and then the lowest setting until you see the St Aug blades returning. It could be ugly again for awhile.

I don't have any experience with fertilizing rye in the winter, but I would think it could take some about a month after you mow the first time.