I'm currently cutting sod off some of the front yard and putting the sod
in the back yard under the magnolia tree. I figure if it (some grass,
some dandelions, whatever) takes root there, it'll cover the dirt left
after the chickens scratched out the very sparse grass and moss that was
there before. If it doesn't grow there, it'll be good compost for seed
later. Either way, the front area will be level and will be real lawn (or
whatever I plant), not just native whatever that has blown in over the
last 20-30 years.

I'm considering planting shade-tolerant grass and cutting it out in the
fall to put under the apricot tree which also was "de-grassed" by the
chickens with it being sparse grass and moss also. After moving that new
sod/turf/grass/whatever to the back yard, I'm thinking of wooly or
creeping thyme there. Irish moss might be good there also. The idea is to
have it as low maintenance as possible since I prefer to spend my time in
the garden in the back yard. It's on the east side of the house so gets
the morning sun and is fully shaded late in the day from the house.
Because it's the front of the property, though two rows of Roma tomatoes
would be perfect, veggies are not practical there and I really do want to
basically ignore it as much as possible and still have it look good. It's
an area 30 feet long and 9 feet wide. What would you do with it?

Is the growing of new turf for under the apricot tree really "out there"
or is it a reasonable thing to do? What would be good for a permanent
planting in the stripped area? We are in the Portland, Oregon, area so
weather is mild compared to many parts of the U.S.A.

Glenna