Lawn Care Tips With Dogs

Dogs are great companions and we love them, but dogs can also cause some serious damage to a lawn. Luckily, there are ways you can maintain a beautiful lawn without your furry friend causing harm.

One of the biggest culprits is dog urine. It contains a lot of nitrogen which can cause brown spots in your grass.

1. Feeding

Your lawn is a big part of your home, so it’s natural that you want to keep it looking its best. But sometimes it can be a little hard to manage if you have a dog that likes to run around all day, destroy the grass and do their business on your garden.

One of the most important things you can do to help your lawn and dog live in harmony is to change the way that you feed your pet. Not only will this make your yard look better, but it can help you maintain a healthy weight on your dog as well.

Choosing the right food for your dog is important, and it’s important to pay attention to the ingredients. You’ll want to look for a package that has the words “complete and balanced” on the label. This means that it contains all of the nutrients your pet needs, without any supplements or extras.

If you’re trying to keep your lawn looking its best, a great way to do that is by choosing the right type of lawn fertilizer. The right type of fertilizer will encourage your lawn to grow and even out its color.

Another way to make your lawn look better is to ensure it gets plenty of water. This can be done by using a drip irrigation system or rainwatering your grass.

Finally, a good quality lawn feed will not only improve your lawn’s health, but will also help it to grow faster and thicker. It is also a great way to help your lawn cope with the wear and tear that can be caused by dogs running around.

Feeding your dog at regular times will also make it less likely that they will use the lawn as a potty spot. It also gives your dog a sense of routine and helps them to adjust to household changes such as a new baby or a house sitter in the house.

2. Watering

Dogs love to play outside and run, paw, and dig in the grass. This can lead to damage to your lawn and make it a challenging to keep healthy.

Thankfully, keeping your dog on the same feeding schedule and training them to use a designated area for their potty can help prevent this from occurring. You may also want to consider setting up a pet-friendly sandbox where your dog can dig and play. This is a much kinder approach than not letting your dog use the lawn altogether, and it will be much easier to clean up after!

Another way to prevent dog urine from causing damage is to water your yard regularly. Watering your lawn at the right time will dilute the nitrogen in your dog’s urine, which will reduce any potential damage to your grass.

In addition to this, a well-watered yard is more resilient to the acidic components in dog urine. Adding an agricultural lime product to your fertilizing program or even bone meal will “sweeten” the soil and make it less likely to burn when exposed to dog urine.

You should also watch where your dog pees so that you can quickly water the affected areas before they become too saturated. You may need to water these spots more frequently than other parts of your lawn if there are multiple soiled spots on your grass.

Other problems can also cause yellow or patchy patches in your lawn, including excessive fertilization, irrigation water high in salinity and dense clay soil. If you suspect that your lawn is displaying these symptoms, you should consult with your local lawn care expert for a recommendation on how to fix the problem.

3. Training

When dogs are trained properly, they can make your lawn look great and keep it healthy. They can also be trained to avoid digging or trampling your grass and garden, which will prevent damage to your yard.

Training your dog to use a specific area for potty can help to reduce the impact of urine spots on your lawn. It’s a good idea to mulch an area of your yard that Fido can use for pee, and you can train him to use this spot for every potty break.

The type of dog food that you feed your pet can also affect the health of your grass. If you change your dog’s diet to one that is rich in nutrients, it will help to reduce the amount of urine that they produce.

Your dog’s urine can be especially damaging when it has high amounts of nitrogen, which will dry out your grass and leave yellow or brown patches on it. If you notice your lawn is looking dry and yellowish, make sure that you water it often enough to help it recover from the loss of moisture.

Digging can be a problem for your yard as well, as it uproots plants and kills them. It also compacts the soil and makes it difficult for new grass to grow.

It can take time to train your dog to stop digging, but you can start working on this early on by using positive reinforcement and training. When your dog is bored or anxious, it can start to dig and destroy your yard.

If you have a large yard and you’re concerned about the damage your dog is doing to your lawn, consider installing an electric dog fence. These can be expensive but they will keep your dogs within a designated area of your property and will be very effective at stopping them from roaming the lawn.

4. Fences

If your lawn is dotted with dog poop or you have areas in your yard that you don't want trampled by your pup, fences are a must. Robert Frost is credited with saying, "Good fences make good neighbors."

Besides keeping dogs off your lawn and away from the grass, fencing also protects plants, flowers, and vegetables that you have in your yard. These fragile items need to be protected, as dogs are prone to destroying them.

Fencing can be done in a variety of ways, depending on your needs and budget. There are traditional barrier fences, which are often costly and time-consuming to build, as well as less expensive options like chain link or wire.

For large and high-energy breeds, metal fencing is a great option. These fences can be made to any height you need, and are durable enough to withstand the rough treatment of your dog.

Wire fences are also very popular, especially for yards with vegetation and trees. These fences blend in nicely with the natural landscape and can be topped off with decorative flowers.

To deter your dog from digging under the fence, place rocks or gravel, chicken wire, shrubs, or raised planters near it. You can even add a layer of mulch around the base of the fence to keep it from being dug under.

Finally, remember to add some peeking holes for your dogs so they can see people and pets in the yard. This helps prevent barking, fence stalking, and other behaviors that dogs have when they can't see what is going on outside.

5. Exercise

A dog-friendly lawn is a dream for pet owners, allowing dogs to exercise while providing a safe and enjoyable space. However, the combination of dog urine and high foot traffic can take its toll on your lawn’s health and appearance.

The good news is that there are a number of ways to prevent damage to your lawn while still allowing your dogs to have their daily exercise. The first and most important step is to ensure your yard is pet-friendly.

Dogs are known for their love of playing, so it’s essential that your backyard provides them with a large, open area to run around in. This will help to reduce their urge to bark, chew, dig and destroy your property.

Another way to ensure your dog doesn’t ruin your lawn is by taking them out for longer walks outside of your home. This can be done by going to a nearby park or walking track, where there’s more room for your dog to roam without damaging your yard.

Finally, one way to avoid lawn damage is to train your dog not to urinate in the grass. Instead, train them to urinate in a mulched or gravel area, so that any urine is contained and will be easier to clean up.

It’s also a good idea to pick up your dog’s feces as soon as it happens, because this will dilute the nitrogen that’s in the feces and lessen the burn on the lawn. Alternatively, you can train your dog to use a designated area in your yard that can be re-turfed as and when necessary.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to exercising with your dog is to start at a low intensity and gradually increase the intensity of your workouts over time. This will not only help to keep you active, but it will also ensure that your body can adjust to the increased demands.