Pregra Turf

[Pattty Oehrlein]

We live on Long Island in NY and have a huge yard with lots of  flower beds- I am seriously considering putting in a 15X15 garden solely for our new GD (15wo) She now is training to go in one area and is about 70% there. Our hope would be this artificial turf would be easier to manage and safe for her- she loves to eat grass, dirt, rocks just about anything other than her chew outside toys. I know these products are popular with kennels and pet centers- I am waiting on a rep to come and give an estimate.

If anyone has experience I would love to hear from you.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I have a teeny, tiny yard that the dogs have ruined.  We have reseeded without success.  I will be following this discussion to see if we should put this instead of our 'grass.'

[Diane and Alma]

We have a few soccer fields nearby that are turfed.  These fields are noticeably hotter than grass.  I'm not sure if this is due to the coating used on the back side or the composite underneath.  We briefly thought about turf in our backyard but always came back to how hot it is.  We'd rather have a cooler yard with a few brown spots.  We tried to train Alma to use one part of the yard but we didn't keep up on the training.   

When Alma was a puppy she would go after some of my flowers.  We sprayed them with bitter apple or deer off.  She also knows the command "out of the plants."  She's almost 3 now and leaves the plants alone.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That is one of my major concerns about it too. I also hate that it is artificial but then I'm a gardener. I would prefer the mess outside, well we had an extra 2 feet of rain last year, than that. I will reseed soon.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I have had "Easy Turf" on the area of my yard that the dogs use for about 5+ years.  I chose it over granite countertops and I have never been sorry.  It is holding up very well. Washes down well.  Was bleached nearly everyday for several months when Tigger had giardia.  It was expensive to install, but worth every penny.  Nearly zero upkeep and the dogs never track mud in during the rainy season.  We do not get snow or deep freezes here.

[Adina P]

I don't have it but I"ve heard some excellent reviews from those who have it.  I would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it if I could afford to do this to my whole yard.  My youngest doodle (1.5 y.o.) has done more damage than all my 3 previous trio of dogs combined in the year + we've had her.  Not just from digging, but she runs like she's running with cleats and takes out chunks of grass and dirt as she turns and goes.  So frustrating. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Boca must be Vern's younger sister :) We call it, "Landscaping by Vern."

[Adina P]

Laurie, I'm glad you an laugh about it. I just want to cry. No landscaping makes me happier than thick, lush green grass. I don't need flowers or ponds or anything ...just a bunch of green grass and I'm in my dream backyard.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Adina overseed with a good blend of grass seed starting now. Believe me it helps. I may write a lawn discussion soon. The best time to seed is the fall but depending on weather conditions and with dog damage anytime is good. I am a big fan of the newer fescues for toughness. I took the doodles on a 3 hour round trip recently to get the grass blend I wanted.

[Adina P]

I just don't think it will take with the way she runs and plays.  But Clark will probably try. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe you could block off sections of the yard for a few weeks at a time and let the seed germinate and grow in the blocked off section, then switch around. I know a lot of what I throw around won't take but some of it does and things improve gradually.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We had our small yard aerated

and reseeded with tall fescue last fall. DID NOT take and I am not a happy camper. The parts of our yard that already had grass is growing the new fescue but the parts that had turned to dirt from dog play are still dirt. Drat!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Aeration doesn't really prepare ground for seeding. But it sounds like some parts of your yard are more hospitable to grass than others. If the ground is too compacted, doesn't get enough water etc. this could be  a problem. You can scuffle the earth a bit with a hoe, or top dress with topsoil. Keep the soil moist and try to keep the dogs off that area for a few weeks : (