While we all love our canine friends, keeping
your lawn lush and healthy when you own a dog can be challenging. From
territory-marking to digging, your pet may have your lawn looking a little
worse for the wear. If this is the case, read on for our tips on how to keep
your southern lawn looking its best.
If you’re noticing yellow or brown dead patches in your yard or spots with more growth than the rest, your dog’s urine could be to blame. Dog urine contains nitrogen and salts, and too much of these materials can damage or kill your turf. Here’s how to help.
- Flush the spots with water.
Keep an eye on the areas where your dog tends to do his or her business and
then wash them off with a hose or watering can. Flushing these spots can help
reduce the concentration of the urine and protect your grass. While this is more
of a temporary solution, it can help mitigate some of the damage. - Install a marking post. Train your
pup to use a specific spot outdoors. Place a decorative rock or special stake
for this purpose in a discrete spot in your yard. Encourage your dog to use
this spot, and praise him or her when they do. Hopefully they will soon learn
to do their business there and not on your grass. - Keep grass a little higher. Make
sure your grass isn’t mowed too short. If it’s a
bit longer, you are more likely to be able to disguise the discolored patches
or the overgrown spots.
If your dog is a digger, it’s likely because
of natural instincts. He or she may be hunting for pests or simply exerting
extra energy. There are a couple of tricks that might help your yard withstand
damage from digging.
- Schedule exercise. If your
dog is often inside, constant digging might be a sign that he or she needs more
exercise. Schedule time to let your dog walk and run, and encourage playtime
that doesn’t include digging. - Limit digging to one area. Since
some dogs simply like to dig, it can be helpful to have a specific place in the
yard where this is allowed. Monitoring Rover, rewarding him when he digs in
that spot, and discouraging digging in other areas can encourage the behavior you
prefer.
Finally, scheduling routine lawn maintenance can help keep your lawn healthy despite the damage from your furry friend. We love dogs — and we love seeing healthy lawns that both people and animals enjoy.
