Do pets and lawns mix?
Pets – we all love them, and they add a lot to our lives. In fact, we wouldn’t be without them. But if you also love gardening, and have a lawn that you cherish, you’ll know that often pets and your lawn don’t mix very well. If you’ve known the frustration of dealing with digging in your lawn, urine burn, faeces and the wear and tear caused by energetic animals, then you may be wondering if it’s all worth it. But relax, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent your pets from wreaking havoc on your lawn while still allowing them to enjoy their outside time.
Your choice of lawn
If it’s possible for you to choose your lawn before you let your pets loose on it, this will solve at least some of your problems. Dogs in particular can be very rough on lawns, using them as a racetrack, a playground, a toilet and a hiding place for bones. You need to choose a tolerant and pet friendly variety of turf that can stand all this activity and has a high tolerance for heavy traffic. Sir Walter DNA Certified lawn turf (a tough, soft leaf buffalo grass) is an ideal choice for pet owners, as it is self-repairing. Any holes or torn up grass will soon be covered up by the dense growth habit of Sir Walter DNA Certified lawn turf, leaving you with one less headache!
Urine burn
Urine burn is caused when dogs urinate on the lawn, essentially dousing it with highly concentrated nitrogen which scorches the grass, leading to unsightly dead, brown patches. While it’s nearly impossible to prevent your dog from urinating when and where they feel like it (although you can certainly attempt to train your dog to urinate in a designated area), you can try adding dog rocks to your dog’s water. These naturally occurring igneous rocks remove nitrates and tin which naturally occur in water – and hey presto – the burnt patches will disappear in most cases.
You can also try keeping a bucket or watering can full of water in a handy place and dilute the urine as soon as you notice it. Avoid letting you dog out on the lawn early in the morning too, as dog urine tends to be strongest first thing in the morning. Already existing urine burns will usually repair themselves within about five weeks. If you need your lawn to look better sooner than that, try using ColourGaurdTM, a pet and environmentally-friendly natural turf grass colourant which is great at covering those urine stains. All you need to do is spray the product onto the affected area.
Digging
While choosing a self-repairing lawn turf will definitely help with this problem, sometimes replacing your lawn just isn’t practical. In these cases, you will need to try other tactics to prevent your dog from digging up the grass. Often digging is a sign that your dog is bored, so make sure you give your pet enough attention and exercise, and provide them with a few toys to keep them amused when they’ll be left alone. Work on their training as well, to try and prevent this behaviour. Choose a place where you don’t mind your dog digging and try burying a few treats there to encourage them to dig in an appropriate place.
Wear and tear
Bored or energetic dogs (and to a lesser extent smaller pets like cats, guinea pigs and rabbits) can cause a lot of wear in high-traffic areas of the lawn. In these cases, you may need to more regularly fertilise and aerate these areas of excessive activity to reduce the compaction caused. When fertilising the lawn, make sure you keep your pets away from that area for the length of time recommended on the product so your pet doesn’t get sick. Try also putting an obstacle, such as a pot plant, in areas of high use so that your pet is forced to continually take different paths and the lawn is given a break and the chance to repair itself.
Pet friendly lawn care
Always remember to check that anything you plant in your lawn or garden is non-toxic or safe for pets. Where possible, use organic or natural fertilizers, such as animal manure and non-chemical pesticides, to minimise the chance of your pet being harmed. And always read and follow safety directions on any chemical treatment or product used on your lawn, so you know when it’s safe for your pet to be allowed outside again. Before mowing or trimming your lawn, ensure your pets are kept somewhere safe away from the machinery.
So, don’t let your pets stop you from having a great lawn. Follow these few tips and you’ll find it’s definitely possible to love your lawn and your pet – without tearing your hair out!
