Sod?

[L.M.]

Hi again!  My last post was about "dog proof" grass.  Well, now we are considering sod instead.  My lawn is an absolute mess...not so much from my doodles than from last year's summer sun and intense heat which killed nearly all of our newly established grass.  We are strongly considering fescue sod and sprinklers.  For those of you that have used sod and a sprinkler system, how has it lasted with dog traffic?  I have two doodles...one big guy and one little gal.  Both are diggers....although they only dig when there is exposed dirt....That issue should be okay once sod is down.  How do the lawns last with dog urine?  Again, I would have sprinklers as well to dilute it, but does that really help?  Our yard is small, so we have no option of sectioning off a dog area.  I know female urine is more concentrated....but do the sprinklers usually dilute it enough to prevent grass burn spots?  Basically, I'm curious if most of you who use/used sod found it to be worth the cost when you have dogs that could potentially ruin it.  Reseeding the lawn was our original plan, but keeping the dogs off of it while it establishes for months would be virtually impossible for us.  

Thanks for the help again!  =) 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think you left a couple of letters out, lol. Is this the one?:

 

http://www.jmsyntheticgrass.com/

[Marianne *OZZY & ZOEY]

Oppps sorry I did... Yes, Karen that is the one.

[L.M.]

Thanks so much for the info!  We are getting estimates on both synthetic and sod......at this point in time money is a HUGE issue for us, so I'm really not sure what we're going to do.

[L.M.]

Well the decision is made........we signed a contract and will be getting fescue sod and sprinklers installed in our backyard in a couple of weeks.....assuming there is no more snow....  Fingers crossed for growing grass in our yard!! =)  Hopefully beautiful pictures to come soon!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Fescue is great and the sprinklers should make life easy. I wish I had them at times but I just let most of the grass go dormant. Enjoy.

[Marianne *OZZY & ZOEY]

enjoy post pictures of your new yard

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I just stopped giving my doodles cranberries because I thought they might be contributing to dental tartar. But their urine certainly burned the grass when they were getting Craisins.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I'm so glad I happened on this old discussion. I was just wondering how I would manage a lawn when I get a house. I have no idea what I'm doing, but as usual, DK is here to help! I'll be coming back to this discussion, and this group, once I decide on a yard (and a house).

Maybe you all have some tips on what to look for in a yard? Obviously enough room to run around a bit is important. And of course it has to be fenced, or fenceable, but what else should I consider?  I've seen big yards, small yards, yards with lots of trees, yards with flower beds (how would you keep doodles out of it??), yards with pools, yards that are really long and narrow, wide and long, tiny perfect squares, I saw a 'yard' that was all patio, which would have needed to be ripped up and some sort of grass put in. They are all starting to look the same, and I've only seen about 15 of them in person, but a gazillion listings online. My agent must think I'm nuts. All I care about is finding a house for the dogs.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The main thing I think, aside from having a fence, or being able to get one, is good drainage, you don't want a mudhole. Easy access from the house is good too. The bigger the yard the better but you have to be realistic about house versus yard and price. I think the dogs will be happy with even a small yard as long as they can run around a bit. Some shade is good but not too much. Good bones, as I call them, are good too. I mean existing trees and shrubs since these take time to establish themselves. I love flowers and I have to have flowering shrubs and perennials but they are not so important to everyone. Surprisingly the doodles and the flower beds coexist although sometimes a little yelling or a small barrier is needed. The first year it's good to see what comes up if a gardener has lived there before you.