It depends on the rain. If you've had more then your fair share this spring I see no problem to planting this year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

Stevie, it's good to see you posting and I'm sorry about your loss. This is a rather strange question but I'm sure it has occurred to all of us at one time or another.

Can you utilize the soil for an above-ground crop like sweet corn this 1st year?

I might take a rather "extreme" approach and cover the ground with wood ashes. If your soil is naturally alkali, you should be able to bring it back to a more neutral pH (in, say, a week) by working in a good amount of peat moss. The lye in the wood ashes may kill any pathogens after a few days. Peat is naturally acidic and bouncing from one side of neutral to the other would probably make it difficult for most organisms to survive.

just a wild guess . . . .

digitSteve

Stevie,

Last year I did that. The dogs pooped and peed where I wanted to plant so I scraped off the top few inches of soil, after making sure everything was cleaned up, then dumped that dirt into a fill area where nothing special goes or grows. After that, I shoveled and churned the remaining soil, going a couple feet down, and added compost and top soil. I think I added fertilizer too but I've forgotten.
I put the produce in giant pots last year, just in case, but the flowers that I put in the formerly-contaminated plot turned out very happy!
I am sorry for your loss, too. We have three dogs and they love to eat what I plant.
Good luck!
Jennifer

I'm very sorry about your dog. :-(

I would do what Jennifer suggested owing to the ick factor of dog poop.

But I do see the irony in scraping out the little bit of dog poop that might remain and putting down a bushel of cow poop.

You could just solarize it - cover it with clear plastic for 30-60 days and that will kill just about every microorganism that might be lurking.

Cheers,
Michelle