Thanks for your question.

For me to provide a good answer, I need two further pieces of information. 

1).You stated that over the years, you tried "....different kinds....".  Could you please be more specific as to what kinds of grass you've tried.   Blue grass?  Rye?  Fescue?  It would not be helpful to you if I suggest something that you have previously used.

2).  When you say "no luck", what exactly do you mean?  Did the grass never germinate?  Did it germinate and then quickly die?  If it did germinate, for how many seasons did it last?

Looking forward to your response.  Thanks for consulting our forum.

Dear Cindy, here's the response to your question:

Thanks for your question.

For me to provide a good answer, I need two further pieces of information. 

1).You stated that over the years, you tried "....different kinds....".  Could you please be more specific as to what kinds of grass you've tried.   Blue grass?  Rye?  Fescue?  It would not be helpful to you if I suggest something that you have previously used.

2).  When you say "no luck", what exactly do you mean?  Did the grass never germinate?  Did it germinate and then quickly die?  If it did germinate, for how many seasons did it last?

Looking forward to your response.  Thanks for consulting our forum.

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Thanks for getting back to us.

The fact that you can get grass to germinate but not last more than a season or two solidifies in my mind that the two obstacles confronting you are shade and a soil that has poor water retention. I suspect that I’m not telling you anything that you don’t already know. The hot and dry weather of the last few growing seasons only adds to the challenge. Your addition of black dirt really did not address the sandy nature of your soil. It often has few nutrients and can quickly dry out and disperse. You discovered this. Black dirt does not really counteract the sandy nature of the soil. What you should strongly consider is adding three to four inches of compost to your yard and work it into the underlying soil. See the following for further information:

https://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2022/02/improving-sandy-soils/

https://www.pca.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/h-hhw1-36.pdf

Contact the following and inquire about places within Washington County where compost can be obtained:

https://extension.umn.edu/local/washington

https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/28

https://www.wcsw.org/compost

https://www.rumpcacompanies.com/products

With respect to grass seed, and as you correctly concluded, Kentucky Blue Grass would not be a good option. The same goes for most rye grasses. Fescues are your best bet. I know you have tried chewing and tall fescue with, presumably, marginal results. I suspect that they might have done better with improved soil conditions. If you do add some compost to your yard, I would suggest that you give consider using a mixture of creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, and hard fescue. Perhaps 40% creeping red, 40% Chewings, and 20% hard. Call around to local gardening centers as often they can make up such mixtures. See the following:

https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/buying-turfgrass-seed-minnesota-lawns - :~:text=Strong creeping red and Chewings,Sheep fescue = low maintenance.

https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-grass-shade/

https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/planting-and-maintaining-fine-fescue-lawn

https://turf.umn.edu/news/which-fine-fescue-should-you-use

Good luck. Please get back to us should you have any further, related questions. Thanks for consulting with us.