Is your lawn being trampled on by your canine companion?
Homeowners who are also dog owners know that a dog's urine, feces and foot traffic are not friendly to their grass. Oftentimes, dog urine or feces causes discolored grass and burn spots, and traffic will cause some types of grass to completely die off. When seeding a new type of grass, do not allow the dog to walk on the lawn until the grass has fully grown in. Otherwise, the lawn will die off before it has even gotten a chance to fully grow due to the excessive traffic.
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky Bluegrass is a sturdy, well-performing type of grass in terms of high traffic, making it ideal for dog owners. This grass can repair itself over time, if given the opportunity; however, owners should look into remedies to help reduce the acidity of their dog's urine to prevent urine burns on the lawn, as Kentucky Bluegrass is not as sturdy against canine urine. Kentucky Bluegrass is ideal for cooler, northern climates.
Tall Fescue Grass
Tall fescue grass is a deeply rooted grass that is ideal for families with dogs. This grass can withstand high traffic created by dogs but it can also withstand urine damage. Tall fescue features wider blades than Kentucky Bluegrass and other grasses, making it an overall stronger and sturdier grass. However, this type of grass may grow or sprout in a clumpy pattern, so it may be ideal to mix the seed with Kentucky bluegrass or ryegrass to fill in the space and give the lawn a more plush appearance. Fortunately, tall fescue grass is also very drought-tolerant, so owners with a busy schedule don't need to worry as much about maintaining a regular watering schedule.
Ryegrass
Dog owners who are concerned about the overall appearance of their lawn should also consider keeping some ryegrass seed. Specifically, perennial ryegrass can be used to patch up cosmetic blemishes that occur throughout the season.
Zoysiagrass
In the southern region of the United States, Zoysiagrass is a great option for dog owners. This grass is used in parks, golf courses and athletic fields as it is considered to be highly durable.
St. Augustine Grass
St. Augustine grass is another sturdy grass that is ideal for dog owners living in the southern portion of the United States. St. Augustine grasses prefer extreme temperatures to flourish into a lawn full of wide-bladed, dark green grass. This type of grass is ideal if you have dogs who dig, because the roots of this species of grass are deeply rooted and can withstand the damage. However, St. Augustine grass does not tolerate excessive dog urine or excessive traffic.
Artificial Grass
Artificial grass is another alternative. While it won't provide the same lush appearance of real grass, it will withstand canine traffic, feces and urine. However, it is not safe for the dog to eat and can become hotter than concrete during the summer. So with artificial grass, there are several pros and cons to consider.
The owner could continue to have real grass but also designate a small area for artificial grass. The dog could be trained specifically to use only this area and not to urinate on the real grass, thus relieving the real grass from the urine and feces that cause damage.
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