Did you know that 40% of Australian households own at least 1 dog?
Dogs are an important family member to many aussie homes, but on occasion they can cause damage to our beloved lawns. Our dogs are often the ones who will be spending the most time out on the lawn so it is important they have a place to enjoy. In this blog, we will look at ways to keep both your four-legged friends and your lawn happy…
Skip to: Urine Burn, decompact your soil base, pets digging your lawn, and choosing the right lawn variety for your pets
Wear and tear to the lawn
If your dog gets the zoomies and runs around your lawn like crazy, your turf can cop quite a hiding. Especially for families with larger dogs, this can be a forever uphill battle to help the grass survive. If this is you, a turf reinforcement mesh might be the right option. Turf reinforcement mesh will give your grass extra strength so that it can withstand the extra wear, reducing damage. These meshes are usually made from high-density plastics and are put down onto an existing lawn. Once these are laid out on the lawn the plastic structure will disappear within a few weeks when the turf naturally grows back over. These meshes also provide an easy solution to help stop chickens scratching throughout the lawn.
Urine burn
If your dog is one to leave burns on the lawn, there are a variety of options that can help stop or reduce urine burns on your lawn. One popular option that has seen success is Dog Rocks. These work by filtering out the impurities from water such as tin, nitrates, and ammonia. Filtered water has also seen success, working similarly to dog rocks. Training your dog to use one area of the lawn or synthetic pet potty mats can also help prevent widespread damage throughout the lawn. For more information on stopping and preventing urine burn click here.
De-compact your soil base
If your dog spends most of its time out on the lawn, your soil base can become compacted. Compaction will occur when an area of the lawn is regularly used. This can hinder the soils’ ability to absorb water and the lawns’ ability to properly root down into the soil profile. To help reduce compaction, you can use either use a garden fork or a core aerator to help to fracture up the soil profile, better allowing for water and nutrients to get to the roots of your lawn. For more information, please check out our blog on aeration here.
Digging
But what should you do if your dog is a digger? Well, let’s look at why dogs dig in the first place. Some dogs like to dig to help stop their boredom, are trying to escape, seeking protection, or are just playing. To help stop your four-legged friend from digging up your entire yard there are a few things you can do. Chew toys can serve as a great distraction and can help keep your dog busy while you are not home. Regular exercise will also help your dog use up its energy and will keep your dog active.
Sandpits
If your dog just loves to dig, why not give them an area where they can dig all day long without causing any damage to your lawn! Treats and chew toys can even be added into this dedicated digging area to encourage them to use it rather than the lawn. These sandpits can easily be constructed by a few pieces of timber or you can even use a kids clam shell and fill it with sand.
Choosing the right turf variety
When choosing the best turf variety, it is important to consider your pets needs too! If your dog will be spending its time out on the lawn, it is best to choose a variety with a high wear tolerance. Sir Walter DNA Certified buffalo has a soft and hardy leaf that is a great performer in high wear areas! Sir Walter DNA Certified is a great all-round turf variety that is great with pets and kids and is well suited to the Australian Climate. Another great turf variety for pets is TifTuf Hybrid Bermuda. TifTuf has a fast-repairing nature, so if damage does occur to from your pet, your lawn can repair itself fast. This turf variety has a soft fine leaf that is great to touch and feels great underfoot.
For more information on pets and your lawn, check out our other pet-related lawn care blogs here.
