Call today for soil, seed, or sod! What’s an appropriate grass for so cali, What about fake grass? In addition, always remember to follow the directions listen on a given fertilizer or grass seed package. That said, there aren’t exactly pet-friendly grass seeds that are labeled as such, since normal seed won’t harm your pet. Any type of high-impact activity will cause more damage to a wet lawn than a dry one, so try to keep your dog from zooming around the backyard following rain or watering. Gently use a rake to drag soil over seeds or use yours hands to spread mulch. Even sod that is laid on new soil that is in good condition is almost certain to be damaged by dog urine if it is exposed to it. I recently moved to Santa Fe, NM, and just have a patio area with a small area of grass. Perennial Ryegrass. If you’re a pet owner, and you also live in a house that has a lawn or garden that you care for on a regular basis, then planting season can come with some unique challenges that other homeowners don’t have to face. We’ll cover pet friendly grass seeds, how necessary they are, as well as some pet-friendly fertilizers that can make all the difference when sowing new grass. Your five grass choices are spot-on but its limited scope begs the question, how about a 6th grass focused on heartiness in primary regions of our country, such as here in the Mid-West (Central Indiana)? Cover them with a small amount of dirt or mulch -- about a quarter inch. If you plan to re-seed your lawn, you can always use a hardier grass, such as fescues or perennial rye grasses. All these considerations bring us to our next point. First of all, you should regularly patrol and clean your yard, as a build-up of pet waste can cause a number of very serious health problems for your dog and your family (as well as potentially attract coyotes). Best for Dogs & Pets: Scotts EZ Seed Sun & Shade Dog Spot Repair. That way, you can rest assured that come sowing season, you won’t have to take your pet to the veterinarian’s office. A little incidental contact with an organic fertilizer is probably not likely to cause huge health issues, but if your dog rolls around in some or eats any, it may lead to pretty big problems. Thank you! K9ofMine.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Dog Tuff™ Grass (Cynodon ‘PWIN04S’) is an amazing, highly drought-resistant lawn grass perfect for high traffic and play areas. Especially if they are young, active and accompanied by children. We try to rotate their play area to give areas of the yard “a break.” However we still end up with mud spots. However, if you have dogs, seeding … Thank you! Even organic fertilizers might be harmful to pets when you first put them down, so watch out for any warnings or specific time periods to keep your pet off your lawn. I do have a professional pet care business and will soon be having no more than 3 to 4 additional fur-children in my home to provide care for. In addition, pets with sensitive skin are also a potential concern for loving owners; if grass seeds are sharp enough, they could potentially get lodged in your pet’s skin while they’re playing around in the grass outside, causing some minor skin irritation or the formation of a boil on the surface of the skin. Hydroseeding is a fast and inexpensive lawn service that lets you have that perfect, lush lawn in a short amount of time. The answer to "Should I seed or sod?" We hike a lot but they still destroy what grass I have. As you'll … I have four dogs, who are tough runners. Look for brands clearly marketed as organic, natural, or environmentally friendly. While this is certainly a great strategy, it may take some effort to teach your dog the new potty game plan, and some sections of your lawn will still get ruined. That’s why you might find bare patches near fences and in the places connecting your dog’s favorite spots (such as the back door and his dog house). That’s obviously part of the grass-selection algebra, but we just chose to focus on the dog/owner/durability aspects of the issue here. These are the seeds you might actually want to go for, the specific varieties that expert recommend are as follows: Watering your plants and lawn properly is really important! More choices. They’re... 3. Grass Seed: Scotts best high performance grass seed with protectant to help keep seedlings safe from harmful diseases that can attack newly planted areas; Soil Amendment: Special salt neutralizer that helps repair areas in your lawn burned by dog urine; Includes a tackifier that helps keep seed from washing away Pesticides and herbicides probably represent an even more acute danger, so you should definitely follow all label instructions and keep your dog off the lawn for the recommended period of time. Dog urine damage is likely to be worse and take longer to fix in these soils. Water to keep the seed coat moist, perhaps once or twice a … Backyard is fenced but WITH ROCKS, and a beautiful doggy park is 2 miles from our home. It should be cut after 45 days when the grass is dry to prevent ripping it out, with the mower set to 3 inches in height. You get grass that’s thick, weed-free and fertilized. Kikuyugrass. You last comment is what I have done. These mixes often have mulch and fertilizer that are optimal for the type of grass seed. Don’t put down too much seed…only one or two seeds need to fall into the holes. I know this is not a good healthy surface for dog parks. We use the latest grass varieties to make sure that you get the most up to date mixture. If you spread out your dog’s impact on the lawn (including the physical wear-and-tear caused by his activity and the chemical assault poop and pee represent), it’ll give the grass a better chance to recover. Look for grass seed strains that are specifically bred to be durable or to resist nitrogen burns, like tall fescue. The area we’d like to sod has several hours of direct sunlight a day. I am in suburban Maryland near Washington DC. We may add some other varieties when we update this article at some point, but — unless I’m mistaken — Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass are both suitable for Indiana. Nitrogen is an important resource for grass and other plants, as it helps them produce new tissues and grow (nitrogen is the primary component of most fertilizers). You can lay down sod at any time during the gardening season. If you plan to re-seed your lawn, you can always use a hardier grass, such as fescues or perennial rye grasses. This will help dilute the amount of nitrogen and reduce the damage caused. Dog urine killing grass is just another problem us lawn owners can live without. We’re also going to take a look at all kinds of pets in general, instead of only dogs. of grass seed than laying 11 rolls of sod weighing 25 lbs. The types of grass seed that are coated in fertilizers or other chemicals could potentially harm your pet if ingested, due not to the seed itself but due to the chemicals. A new grass seed mix that has been scientifically proven to resist damage caused by dog urine is being exclusively introduced by Johnsons Lawn Seed. We’ll talk about a few of the best grasses for homes with dogs in a minute, but first, we want to explain the characteristics that give these grasses an edge. While the cost for turf is higher, the frustration and hassle sod will save you is worth the investment. God is AWESOME. Sod is probably expensive. Picking a bag for grass for high traffic backyards with dogs You can limit this damage by trying to encourage your dog to use the entire yard. Seed – Financially, seeding is an appealing choice as the cost of even the best seed mix is still a lot cheaper than sod, so if budget is your driving factor, seed wins out. Since dogs running and digging in grass can cause great harm to the root systems, you want to look for a type of lawn seed that is known for both hardy and deep roots. If you have a pet, it might not be totally necessary to buy an organic/pet-friendly grass seed, as long as you know you can control your pet and keep them off of your lawn for a while as the grass is being sown, or if you know that you can bury the seeds deeply enough that your pet won’t be able to ingest or otherwise access them. And the one dog that pulls up the grass may actually pull up the sod. Then gently rake the seed and try to get it into the aeration holes. That aside, pet-friendly fertilizers will all have some common components. Our yard takes a beating. Paw marks and wear on the grass shoots are one potential thing to look out for. And each of these types has so many models that it’s hard to choose! That’s especially true if you’re already using a fertilizer that’s fairly high in nitrogen. I have 2 Dobermans that my lawn hasctakem a beating.I do pick up poop twice a day. Dog urine and poo will often burn a lawn. It’s really the concentrated chemicals in many common lawn fertilizers that could potentially do harm to your pet, not the seeds themselves. While ingesting a normal grass seed won’t harm your pet, ingesting one that’s slathered in chemicals very well might. An Assortment of Grasses. Any ideas you can offer are appreciated. Hi! If your pet ingests that kind of grass seed, it could potentially harm them. Choose a fertilizer based on something natural, like seaweed or manure, that’s clearly marked as being safe for cats, dogs and other pets. growing up in the Northern Virginia area. When planting seed you want to keep the traffic as low as possible in your yard. Thanks for the kind words, and we’re glad you enjoyed the article. Make sure to water your lawn 2-3 times until the seeds have germinated. Reviews (937) 313-8437 Website. Before blaming it on your dog, first confirm … Now, sprinklers are a great choice to actually make the job easier for you. If you’ve been dealing with a rowdy dog that just can’t stop tearing up your grass, it might be time to switch to a new seed. And the one dog that pulls up the grass may actually pull up the sod. May God bless you and may we ALL bless God, simply by blessing others that He puts into our daily lives. You may want to put his dog house or tie-down stake in these areas, or you could simply try to confine play to these barren areas. Centipede is a pretty durable and resilient grass, so it may be worth a shot. Hey, Todd. We have four large, happy and playful, Pit Bulls. Get tons of great dog training advice and tips about gear! Dogs can do a lot of damage to your lawn in a very short time -- digging, chewing, running and urinating. That’s the size of backyard but i plan to put in a doggi pool, and a few other things but with this footage, I can get an idea. Keep the dog off that section until you thoroughly establish the sod. You may also find that you don’t even need a pet-friendly version of grass seed, even if you are a dog or cat owner. Honestly, if you want to be eco-friendly about the whole thing, you should probably select something besides grass entirely. MORE INFO. Sod is more expensive than seed. A warm-season grass seed, kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum) is … Sod is weed-free. Dog-Friendly Shrubs: Best Pet-Proof Shrubs For Your Yard! Sod is a convenient and fast way to establish a lawn, but it is basically a one-size-fits-all product. Angie's List weighs the options for the age-old question. God answered my prayer as if He wrote it himself and the man we bought the home from left everything including all furniture, 55 inch tv with free tv channels no need for a contracted tv provider, forks and sheets, etc. And for bonus points, it’s native to parts of New Mexico, which is always something to look for when picking out plants or trees for your home. If you’re on the quest for a dog-proof yard, also make sure to read our articles on dog-friendly shrubs and dog-safe flowers. A lot of dogs like to dig – they’ll dig at their beds, they’ll dig at their water bowls, and many dogs seem to pick a particular part of your lawn where they focus most of their attention. Thanks for your brief yet cogent information. However, large or medium dogs in a small or medium sized lawn will yield noticeable turf damage as they run and play regularly. Would centipede grass be better? He currently lives in Atlanta, GA with his spoiled-rotten Rottweiler named J.B. Dogs can inflict quite a lot of wear and tear on a lawn. Moreover, finding a pet-friendly fertilizer is arguably more important than finding a pet-friendly grass seed. PLEASE HELP ME. Another advantage is the various hybrid mixes available in seed. Kentucky Bluegrass. Menu & Reservations Make Reservations . Here , west cost of zoysia sod Atlanta and in any subdivision, zoysia is the Best. Besides, letting your dog play on a wet lawn essentially guarantees a huge mess in your home once you let him come back inside, and you’ll likely to have to break out the paw washer. Wonder if you know how it compares with others you’ve listed. Even though choosing a pet-friendly grass seed matters, choosing a pet-friendly fertilizer may in fact be an even bigger issue. You have successfully joined our pup pack. Valuable lawn and care information. I'd like to plant some ornamental grasses but can not find any lists of ornamental grasses or plants with seed heads or awns that will not become embedded into my dog like 'foxtail' type grasses. But a trying to grow a lawn from seed with 3 large dogs in there, would be impossible. Spot can be a … Grass seed in particular might be a worrying concept. This seed mixture contains species such as Dwarf Ryegrass and Creeping Red Fescue, to provide a … The only thing that worked was Zoysia. We have another separate area that is grassy but I’m thinking of putting in artificial turf over the sandy area where they walk after exiting the covered patio. My lawn is tall fescue/Kentucky bluegrass blend, but I do have to aerate and overseed each fall and many time also have to buy some sod to “fix” spots in the yard. We discussed these a little on our article entitled dog resistant grass seed, but we’re going to be a little more detailed today. Seeds should be watered lightly and regularly—every couple of days. Bermuda is a popular choice among those living in warm climates, and it rarely needs supplemental irrigation. Then gently rake the seed and try to get it into the aeration holes. I meant, the cool season grass will stay green during cold months if the weather is not to harsh. As a side note, the opposite can actually happen, and pets have the potential to damage new, still-growing grass. I’m not positive on this. I live in Memphis, so I use tall fescue. 24 Comments. Running usually only causes problems when dogs repeatedly run across the same stretch of land. Ben’s had the chance to work with hundreds of different species, but his favorite animals have always been dogs. Firstly, they are for the most part organic or composed of something organic. The one major advantage of seeding your new lawn over buying sod is cost. I spread some top soil then rake in seed. But aside from this, cleaning your yard and disposing of dog poop regularly will help keep your grass healthier. Kentucky Bluegrass is one of the hardiest grasses available, and it thrives in most growing locations. Your information has been wonderful Thank You. Let us know all about your experiences in the comments below! Be it a dog or a cat or even another animal, digging is something most animals do. From lawn fertilizers and weed control to plant foods and soil supplements, we take pride in providing you with the highest-quality ingredients. Any suggestions with that? Seed may have a greater degree of initial maintenance than sod. Ben is the senior content editor for K9 of Mine and has spent most of his adult life working as a wildlife educator and animal-care professional. Can you recommend the best type of grass to sod in Atlanta? If your dog's urine is causing your grass to die, consider this solution. Or, if you end up needing to replace your lawn, you’ll know what type of grass to choose. Top 4 Oscillating Sprinklers with Built-in Timers. Awesome grass for dogs to runs my lawn. A running dog’s paws can crush grass blades and dislodge swatches of turf. This grass doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, and likes both dry and humid conditions. In short: do pet friendly grass seeds exist? Most lawns will have an area or two that – for whatever reason – struggle to nurture a thick carpet of grass. Click here to find out the Best Sprinklers for Windy Areas! Follow the steps outlined in the article and you’ll be in good shape. I have Sun & shade area. 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