08/05/2015
Has your once lush, emerald-green lawn turned into a patchy, yellowish-brown eyesore?
If so, is Fido to blame?
Fido may be the cause, but he’s not to blame, highly rated dog trainers say. Dogs are dogs, after all, and will relieve themselves wherever they want unless trained to go somewhere else.
To return your backyard to a peaceful paradise, look for a solution to prevent animal urine from killing your grass. Dog p*e contains nitrogen and other compounds, such as ammonia, that cause grass to yellow and die.
“The first time a dog p*es in the yard, it’ll get yellow spots,” says Mike Schaeffer, owner of Pro Curb Appeal in Kirkland, Washington. “The only real way to solve that is to keep the dog off the lawn, or try to train them to pick a spot.”
Training is the most affordable option, but it takes time and patience on your part. Another option is through proper landscaping techniques.
Landscaping overhauls
Fortunately, landscaping options are endless, especially if you have an unlimited budget.
One popular option is hardscaping, which consists of covering the top layer of soil with patio stones, retaining walls, sidewalks or brick. Outdoor kitchens and fire pits are other popular options.
Hardscaping is a low-maintenance alternative to caring for a lawn, but the costs can be significant upfront.
“We do quite a bit of hardscaping,” Schaeffer says. “It can pretty much go anywhere and be washed off with a hose [if urine gets on it].”
Other landscaping options include removing grass and replacing it with either pea gravel or artificial turf. Larger paver stones and potted plants can complement pea gravel for a more interesting look.
“Pea gravel is a round small rock that dogs can walk onto and do their business on,” says Bill Weber, owner of Stumper Landscaping in Sylmar, California. “You just need to make sure you wash it away with a hose and have irrigation underground.”
Artificial grass also is an option but it can be an expensive upfront cost — about $1.50 to $5 per square foot. Over time it will save you significant money on lawn maintenance costs. The pros recommend using polypropylene instead of nylon because it absorbs urine better.
Simple landscaping projects
Other, less expensive landscaping possibilities, include:
• Adding a small strip of grass in the corner of the yard for the dog to use, while hardscaping the rest of the backyard.
• Creating a small pea gravel area in the yard, and training the dog to go there instead of on the grass.
• Re-seeding areas of dead grass. This won’t prevent the dog from killing those areas again, though.
• Watering the lawn directly after the dog does its business will dilute the urine. .
Training your dog to use specific areas for bathroom breaks will help keep the rest of your lawn lush and green.
Dog training
Training your dog to go in one area will keep the majority of the lawn looking great.
Ken Baechtold, owner of Gentle Dog Training in Overland Park, Kansas, recommends flagging off a large area of the yard and taking the dog there with a leash each time it needs to go.
“It takes a little while — sometimes up to four to six weeks to train them,” Baechtold says. “You’ve got to start off with a big target for them.”
If the dog responds well to the training, continue shrinking the size of the area. It’s also important to clean up after the animals regularly so they don’t stop using the designated area.
Another tip Baechtold practices at his Kansas training and kennel facility is keeping the grass longer and using organic fertilizer.
“I keep the grass 4 inches tall, and it holds up well even with 24 dogs out there every day,” he says. “The grass is healthier, and it has held up quite well over the past year.”
