Regular dog traffic can kill your lawn if you don't seed it often.
Dog traffic usually leaves bare spots on your lawn, and if your dog patrols the perimeter of your yard, you likely have a pathway that runs right around the edge. This is because continuous paw traffic damages the grass and plows up the soil, dislodging the grass at the roots. Regular running helps to compact the soil, making it more difficult for the grass to grow, and dog urine burns the grass, creating dead spots and bald patches.
Climate Zones
The U.S. has six different climate zones that are cool and humid in the northwest and northeast, warm and humid in the southwest and southeast, and warm and arid in the central desert zone. States that fall under the transition zone include Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and some parts of North Carolina, Georgia and Texas.
Grasses for Home Lawns
The best grass seed to use to combat dog traffic is the grass native to the region in which you live. Hardy grasses may grow easily in most states, but more tender grasses are limited to areas with the right climate if they are to flourish. Different grasses are found in each of the U.S. climate regions, with the one constant being Kentucky bluegrass, which is the most widely-grown grass in the country. In the northern zones, perennial rye grasses grow well, while in the arid, desert zone, tough buffalo grass is common.
Other Regional Grasses
Other grasses used in home lawns across the U.S. include a variety of fescues as well as a few standard grasses. Red fescue, hard fescue and chewings fescue grow well during spring and fall, and are best used mixed in with the seeds of other grasses. A mix of 55- to 60-percent Kentucky bluegrass combined with 30- to 35-percent red fescue and 10- to 15-percent perennial ryegrass will provide a tough, easy growing lawn that can be seeded as often as necessary to keep the dog traffic areas to a minimum.
Making it Work
Seed your lawn at the correct time of year for optimal growth. Cordon off the area of grass you are reseeding to keep your dog off it and give the grass seeds a chance to take hold. Water daily for a week, and once the grass begins to grow, move on to the next section. Break the dog's favorite pathways regularly by placing obstacles, garden ornaments or sections of fencing to encourage it to take alternative routes.
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