Dogs and the Lawn!!!

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Duke82

Dogs and the Lawn!!!

Post by Duke82 » Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:18 pm

I have an English Pointer that is almost a year old and a Jack Russell Terrier that is a little over 2. The terrier was fine on my lawn...she only weighs about 10 lbs. Having a large dog had done a number on the grass! We have a nice back yard. Nothing huge, but room for a patio, swingset, and the dogs to run. Problem is there are matted down dirt trails now. I'm not a fanatic about the lawn, but I would like grass! Is there any sort of grass that will stand up to this high traffic?!?! (I'm in SE Minnesota) Any help would be great!!!

griffgirl

Post by griffgirl » Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:01 am

In the Summer my lawn looks like a race track.At least they follow the same track.I have tried to reseed but its a waste of time.

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Karen
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Post by Karen » Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:36 am

I have "traveling lawn furniture" :D :D

As I see a path being beaten down, I move a nice little cluster of lawn chairs or a park bench in the way, which changes the traffic pattern. I do this weekly as I'm mowing the lawn, sometimes throwing down some extra seed as I go, and I've managed to maintain my lawn fairly well with anywhere from 2-5 Brittanys trampling all over it for the last 8 years. It's a challenge, and you have to catch the paths just as they're being formed, but it does work.

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markj
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Post by markj » Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:19 am

Move out to the country and fence in oh say 4 or5 acres :)
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Duke82

Post by Duke82 » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:09 am

I wish :D

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bean1031
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Post by bean1031 » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:12 am

same problem here! :lol:
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luke0927
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Post by luke0927 » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:55 am

i cut grass with the belly mower on a ford 3600 tractor....i don't worry about the lawn!

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Post by jcbuch » Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:33 pm

depends on the type of grass you have. Some grasses are more traffic resistant then others. I think kentucky grasses are more heat and traffic tolerant.

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ezzy333
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Post by ezzy333 » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:12 pm

Fescues are more heat and traffic tolerant than blue grass. And if you are in the south Bermuda is excellent.

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Post by natetnc » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:52 pm

In NC the drought beat my dogs to the lawn :(

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Post by phillipsgsp » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:07 am

I think fescu is the toughest. I fenced in a 200 ft by 75ft area with the house at the corner. I still have the race track going around the out side edges and a track from the patio down to the kennel but thats it. I have 7 dogs and sometimes up to 2 more for training. Thinking of puttining concrete from kennel to patio. That trail around the outside up next to the fence is kind of nice, no weed eating to do there, and no weeds growing up into the chainlink. :)
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3 Joes

Post by 3 Joes » Sun Mar 16, 2008 7:57 am

I would try "kentucky 31 tall fescue". I work at a golf course and this is the seed that we plant in high traffic and shade areas where it is hard to get grass to grow

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Post by phillipsgsp » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:27 am

3 joes, I think thats what I planted when we built our house and it seems to hold up well. It does not take very much water either. I think I might have had some red fescu mixed in there also.

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Post by zodiakgsps » Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:54 am

I gave up on grass with the dogs running about, then ended up fencing off a good portion of the yard & put down cement & gravel, now I have grass & a nice garden again in the remaining portion & no muddy paws. (although a few escaped last year into the yard since someone didn't latch the gate - they ate half my garden, dang goats!! Ate cantalopes rind & all, peppers-even hot ones! & maters too. :x )

Duke82

Post by Duke82 » Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:18 am

Thanks for the ideas everyone! I know it definitly won't be a perfect lawn, but anything I can do to help is nice. This fescue......sorry, I really spelled that wrong! Will it grow in my area? Southeast MN?

Thanks again guys!

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Post by gunner » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:34 am

I think you're on the right track with the fescue.
The old KY31 is tough but it's a clump grass and lives up to it's name as being coarse.
My suggestion would be to buy a blend of the modern dwarf cultivars. This would probably be known as a 3 or more blend of the modern cultivars of turf-type tall fescue with 5-10 percentage of bluegrass to help the fill-in.

dustertoo

Post by dustertoo » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:40 pm

Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue is the toughest. It's used on ball fields and other high traffic areas where a thick tough cover is desired. However, it's not got it's limitations too.

It's popularity has been blamed for the demise of the bobwhite quail population in this country also. Really thick at the base.

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Post by Buckeye_V » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:25 am

I was at a fair last fall and this guy was selling man-made truf that was specially designed for dog kennels. It is made of a material that will not mold, is tear resistant and feels like grass. I know it was pretty expensive, but i'd have to think really long and hard about it.... You put it over concrete or cushion it with a layer of sand/gravel/shredded rubber. I can't remember what it was called.....
We have done something with nothing for so long we are now qualified to do everything with anything....

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Post by GL » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:09 am

While we're on the grass subject, is there any help for the yellow spot left by continual urination in one spot?

Seems my girl likes to pee in one area and I suspect the acidity is killing the grass there.

Can I use some sort of fertilizer or lyme to counter act the acid if thats what the problem is?

Thank you

Gary

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Post by gar-dog » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:15 am

GL, I'd just consider that a blessing, congratulate your pup, and enjoy yellow!

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GL
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Post by GL » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:24 am

It was just a thought Gardog! :D

Here she is yesterday a bit frazzled from her new found duty of keeping the returning Robins out of her yard.

Image

Gary

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Post by gar-dog » Fri Mar 21, 2008 7:50 am

Pretty dog! Looks so much like Ginger.
G

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Post by wems2371 » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:18 pm

GL--I've never used this product and wouldn't know where to purchase it. I just so happened to watch The Today Show this morning, and the had a segment on lawn care including this product. Sprays on green for an immediate color fix, and then suppose to fix problem and be safe for dog. Don't know if it will work if dog pees in same spot every time. My dog keeps nailing an evergreen bush, and I'm wondering what it's going to look like in the spring. Below is paste up from Today show's site. Denise

Simple Solution Lawn Spot Away
Price: $10.99 32 oz., $19.99 64 oz.
When preparing for outdoor entertaining, it's always embarrassing to have patchy grass and burn marks on your lawn. Simple Solution Lawn Spot Away instantly repairs lawn blemishes and promotes regrowth. The natural green color dries quickly and blends with a variety of grass types. Instantly repairs pet-urine burn marks on lawns with a natural green color. Works continuously to break down pet urine with bacteria and enzymes. Safe for use around pets.

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ezzy333
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Post by ezzy333 » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:28 pm

I would spray the areas with the hose during the summer. The yellow color comes from the burning of the grass from the urine. Wash it off and you will be ok. Hard to do in the winter but will work in the summer.

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GL
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Post by GL » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:35 pm

Thanks Wems! I've seen this advertised also and I guess I am a bit of a skeptic when a product is advertised on TV.

If Billy Mays sells it I already know I can get twice as much of something that won't work for $19.99 plus $29.99 in shipping and handeling with a life time guaranty & all I have to pay is the shipping every time! LOL

I was hoping one of our lawn care members might offer up some good advice but I do have a big yard and can get by with a yellow patch where she prefers to pee. I've been known to join her myself which might even be part of the problem! :D

Gary

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Post by gunner » Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:14 pm

The stuff won't work.
Here's the lowdown from Purdue University...
http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/turf/dog_l ... blems.html

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