Our canine pals might make brilliant companions but while a dog might be man's best friend you can't always say the same for the garden. From digging holes to urine acidity killing the grass, keeping a lawn looking fresh can feel like a losing battle.
But banning your hound from the garden is not the only answer to keeping on top of things. To help you revive your garden, the experts at tails.com have compiled a list of dog-friendly ways to keep your lawn looking as fresh as possible this summer.
Dilute your dog's urine
Dogs' urine is highly concentrated with nitrates, which is why it can be so damaging to your lawn, as it essentially burns the grass. It is especially problematic for owners of female dogs, as they tend to empty their urine fully in one area, compared to male dogs that spray smaller amounts around different parts of the garden.
If you can’t prevent your dog from going to the toilet in the garden, a good way to reduce damage is by pouring a jug of water over the area to dilute its strength.
Choose tougher turf
If you’re planning on re-turfing your garden, it’s important to opt for grass that is more resilient to your dog’s urine, and can withstand wear and tear from them running about the garden. A number of grass types that are best suited for pet owners available to purchase in the UK include perennial ryegrass, meadow grass, and tall fescue.
Train your dog to go to the toilet in designated areas
Taking it back to basics with toilet training, you can try to encourage your dog to go to the toilet in a designated area of your garden. Whilst this particular area will become more damaged, a smaller spot is easier to maintain than the whole garden!
Use dog-friendly fertilisers and pesticides
When trying to undo the damage already done to your lawn, usually fertilisers or pesticides are recommended. However, it’s important to make sure that the solutions you are using are dog-friendly and that you follow the instructions on usage carefully, to avoid using too much of the product and potentially causing harm to your dog.
Avoid grass seeds
Whilst grass seeds are often recommended for regrowing your grass, they can be extremely problematic for our dogs and lead to frequent trips to the vets. For dog breeds with long ears, the seeds can be picked up by their ears, making their way into the ear canal and requiring a vet visit to retrieve them. The seeds can also get lodged in between your dogs paws, causing pain, swelling and even infections.
