Doggy Landscape Suggestions?
We are looking to re do the landscaping...Any suggestions on what is good? All lawn? More deck? Some sort of outside turf? I plan to do some agility and jumping with him so I'll need something cushiony.. Thanks, Diane |
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| If you want to do agility I would go with all lawn.
Gravel has its benefits too though, if you can teach him to do his business on that it's much easier to clean up and no dead grass spots. |
| Hi,
I also have a 1/4 acre yard which is environmentally friendly as I planted for birds, butterflies and bees..no pesticides, and also pet friendly to my three furballs. I won the gold medal for gardening two years in a row for my city which shows it can be done despite three large dogs romping around in the warm weather. Hard to say what you should do without a look at your place but my first advice would be to visit the library and view gardening books and write notes. Have a plan before you do anything and you'll find it's not that hard and inexpensive. Also try to stick to native shrubs and plants local to your zone and area...you won't be fighting nature and the stuff will be super easy to grow. Most books suggest you start with the hard surfaces first and then trees, shrubs...then flowers. Unfortunately I didn't do that at the time which is my regret, as I now have to move shrubs around to lay down brick or ? whatever hard surface I'm going to do. Hard surfaces are walkways, fences, retaining walls, stone work, ponds, ect. I would avoid wood chips at all cost as one of our local offleash parks has it on the outskirts of the park where they planted shrubs..yuck! With our furkids the wood chips stick to their fur. If possible I would plant trees and scrubs on the outer layers of the yard and perhaps have seasonal flowers in tubs so no damage if doggie decides to lay in the shade. Scrubs just bounce back up or are avoided by dogs. Grass does get the yellow stains from burning by dogs urine but I solved most of the problem with that by having a "Pooh Corner" where the majority of the time...they go to the far space in the yard where it's not noticable. Good luck to you and happy reading! |
| Ashley, you didn't tell us where you live. My answer would depend somewhat on your growing region. For example, up at Marianne's place a lawn and shrubs are pretty darn easy. Here and with our Arizona friends, a lawn is more difficult due to dry climate. However, I can't tell you how grateful I am that we do have such as large "lawn" for the dogs. It looked better years ago, but right now even the "weeds" are far better than the bare areas. Less mud. So first, as much lawn as you can reasonably handle would be a good first step.
Deck is a "four letter word" for something that lives in the back yard. They are high maintenance. Still I think puppy needs a nongrass/hard surface to get off wet grass. So if you keep the deck or make a hard surface area, it will save your indoor floors on those wet days. I agree about the stone. Good for picking up poop, but not for daily running. It flies everywhere when puppy runs. And yes, I lost a sheepdog to gravel eating. Puppy also needs shade. Since trees that time to grow, having some structural shade (man made) would be nice. Patio cover, gazebo, shaded doggie yard, whatever. It needs to have shade somewhere in that area all day long. Shrubs can become wonderful construction sites for digging underground caves. My guys love to excavate under shrubs for the cooler soil. In the summer they don't bother to come out frorm under the shrubs, but just bark at passerbys from their hidden caves. I have "barking" shrubs in summer. Obviously they are sizeable shrubs that withstand a lot of abuse. Trees are always welcome by the dogs, they even follow the limited shade provided by smaller trees. Remember, the shade pattern will be north of the tree, very little if any will be on the south side due to angle of the sun. Compaction will be a problem especially in his designated runways. I don't know why they establish them, but they can't seem to vary their pattern. Plan on having the lawn aerated at least once a year to relieve compaction. Talk to your county agent to determine what is the toughest grass for urine burn. For us it is tall fescue. My "lawn" is K31 tall fescue which is actually a better pasture grass than lawn. It withstands abuse, but after 27 years it is fading out. Oh well, a lot of dogs have called it home. Finally shrubs. Avoid anything with thorns! Also avoid sticky leaf plants...those that either attract aphids so are full of aphid honey dew or leaves that have a natural fluff to them as the fluff sticks on doggies' coat. Walking London Plane tree leaf dogs. I find Euonymus flowers in the dogs' coat in summer, no big deal, but might be a problem if your dog will be in long coat. Not just Euonymus, but any small flower. Also avoid blue flowers as they attract bees. Stella loved to chase bees until she caught one and ate it...........she didn't like hot salsa either 
Remember boys will burn the sides of your shrubs, the girls will spot the lawn. Nothing to add to their food to change the fact that it is the urine nitrogen, not the pH, that does the burn. Finally a design, my guys prefer large open lawn areas with pockets of massed shrubbery and trees. This are more likely along the margins, not helter skelter in the middle of the lawn. If your guy has already developed his paths, respect those and don't try to change them. It is easier for us to plant elsewhere than it is for puppy to change his routine. enough |
| Hi Again,
Great suggestions Sheepie Boss! I knew I could count on the best advice from Sheepie Boss as she's an expert in the horticultural field! You're right too about some shrubs and doggies..regarding digging holes surrounding them to get shade. I hadn't had that problem myself so forgot that part as I had 6-7 large 100 ft mature trees on the back of my property. Merlin, the only digger in the group does like to dig a hole in one particular spot in the back and lays in it. He does occasionally squish shrubs but I'm not too concerned as the ones in my yard are pretty hardy. Also be aware that certain plants are considered dangerous to dogs should they ever chew on them...digitalis (foxglove) for example, is used to make heart meds and very dangerous to pets and kids if chewed. Thanks for all the great advice Sheepie Boss and good reminder regarding former lawn turning into mudhole..sigh I live in the rainy Pacific Northwest and will convert some of my lawn with hard surface.  |
Ashley wrote: I plan to do some agility and jumping with him so I'll need something cushiony..
Thanks, Diane If you are planning on competing in agility you will have to make the agility area totally separate from the potty area. Going potty on an agility field is grounds for dismissal, I believe, or at least heavily penalized. All agility dogs learn NOT to do their potty duties there, so that should be started when they are young, and at home. But if it just something you plan on doing for fun with your dog, then that doesn't apply.  |
| Wow, first let me say thanks! I didn't expect to get such great advice! You guys are the best...
To answer a few questions...I live in New York. Long Island to be exact. Plants and flowers have a rather short life span here...maybe June to September. Shrub wise I would need evergreens...Hemlocks or pine trees or something like that...We already took down one beautiful holly tree because of the posonious berries... Shade wise, our yard faces the southwest and does get ALOT of sun. There are some trees on the perimeter for shade but not enough. In fact, we are looking into one of those retractable awnings for ourselves... Thanks for the info on agility...he actually does go potty exactly in the stretch of land I was thinking would be good for practice..good thing you told me that! He's only four months old but has his spots chosen so I'll look for a different area for my practice spot... So much to think about and so much to plan! Thanks guys!!! |
| Something that I have become a fan of lately is ground rubber. I first heard of it in landscaping. We use it in the museum for a dig area for children. Advatages over gravel: it is soft, does not stain, does not degrade, if it is eaten it goes right through, it is not aprasive-you do not have to worry about floors being damaged, it does not roll or blown about, dirt sifts down through it, and it is unbelievabley cheap. |
| At the museum? Which one? |
| I never heard of it...where would I find it? Home Depot? Through a landscaper? Sounds good to me!
Thanks. |
| We would like to sod our yard with hopefully Zoysia Grass if we can find it along the mid atlantic states somewhere. Even though I would prefer just regular grass, Zoysia seems to hold up pretty well to the dogs running around on it. |
| You don't usually sod zoysia, but rather plug it. By setting out little tranplsnts throughout the space, the lawn "fills in quickly." That quote because it varies by soil prep, sun, climate. The few lawns here took over 3 years.......I don't have the patience. Usually in mid-Atlantic it's about a season and a hlf.
Let me think about the shrubs. I'm too sleepy yet and I have to get dressed and out this a.m. |
| here's a general website:
http://www.rubberecycle.com/landscape.asp I think I read HomeDepot will be carrying this stuff. The material is also formed into pavers that interlock, like the capital "I" shape. This is gread for playgrounds were there will be more running especially for developmentally challenged children...more falls, etc. They look like paving blocks, just rubber. Darker colors hard to use in hot, sunny climates. Where more cloudy days, not a problem. FYI: The artificial grass now on the market uses ground up sneaker soles as a mulch, giving the "grass" that extra bounce. Material is swept into the carpet, separating the fibers to resemble grass blades. |
| I work a the Natural history museum. We bought ours from a company that provides it for show horse rings. You may try tire recyclers. |
Strange you should mention that.....yesterday I drove by a Perless or it is Peerless Tire store. Blue rubber mulch around the store and then stacked used big tires for planters. It was done with just enough artistic eye that it didn't look like "white trash" landscaping. It was still hokey, but I'll reserve judgment until the plants grow a bit. This is a store on a boulevard that has crushed glass as ornamental stone in the medians...... so blue mulch and tire landscape seems to fit right in with the "recycle" mode.  |
| I was actually investigating this just a few weeks ago myself. I was thinking it would be great for a particular area where the wigglebums have worn down the grass. I don't want to re-seed there as eventually, there will be a grooming room there. So, I'm thinking "temporary fix".
However, a gentleman I ran into today at the landscaping materials place down the street, told me that he bought some for his grandson's play ground area and it's terrific - except for one thing - it gets so hot in the summer months that you can't walk on it. So, now, I'm rethinking. I liked it because I thought it would be soft on their pads (as opposed to maybe pea gravel).  |
| Did he say what color he has? I wouldn't use the darker colors if sun was on it for more than a few hours.
If it is cool you are looking for, nothing beats grass. Ryegrasses germinate quickly. Granted you still need to keep the wigglewonders off the grass for an extended period. Even sod needs some knitting time. |
| No, he didn't say, Susan, and I didn't think to ask. But, you're right that could make a difference. What I want is the red brick color because it will match the brick patio area best.
It's not that I'm really after the cool, I just don't want it to get so hot it will burn their pads if they walk on it. But, then again, when it's that hot in the summer, they're parked inside the house on an airconditioning vent most of the day anyway. So, maybe it would be okay. Would it get that much hotter than the patio itself, do you think? |
| It could, but then concrete has the mass behind it. Asphalt sure gets hot. Actually any non-vegetative covering will get hot since it doesn't have the evaporation that plant material does. Even bark gets hot, but not blistering like rock, asphalt, concrete will.
I suspect whatever you put down will be fine until the sun beats down on it for a few hours. So it will be strickly a morninging area. The more mass it has, the longer it will hold the heat into the night.......but then how well do you cool off at night? Here we are high and dry and cool quickly up until mid July. |
| Not that quickly...it's so humid that the mositure seems to trap the heat. So, no, I guess it doesn't cool down very quickly in the summer months. |
| Since she was concerned her dog might eat gravel, might that still be a concern with the rubber mulch? I hope not.
A fairly quick rinsing down with the hose could cool down the rubber pretty quickly, so a smaller area of the rubber might not be a bad thing. Do they make it in white? PS What if doggy likes to go on the rubber? Would it be harder to find with the darker colors? |
| Ron,
you said actually what I was thinking...the rubber may be okay and "go right through" an adult dog bu I ahve a puppy, aka, a doggy vacuum, who picks up everything...not sure if the rubber pieces would be able to get through his still small intestines... I've been looking into what they call K-9 grass or "new grass" its actually artificial grass but has drainage and is made for dogs so no stains, etc...They use it at some doggy day cares and agility places, etc...But there is no dealer in my area...so I am trying to get my landscaper interested in becoming a dealer and installer... If you ahve time, check this stuff out...it is awesome... www.newgrass.com |
Great! Now you've done it! I'm never going to be satisified with mulch now.  I want this grass. |
| Don't set your dreams on this unless your pockets are very deep and you can afford higher cooling bills for your home. Synthetic turf ain't cheap......think comperable to a good carpet......outdoors.....around $10 per square foot. The price varies greatly with quality and installation.
The payback in reduced maintenance, fertilizer and water is about 8 years, the darn stuff only looks good for 10 years....on average. Home use might be longer. Maintenance is blowing off plant trash and an occassional washing to reduce the dust. Since it's not evaporating, it gets HOT! Pro fields have to water down their fields before players can get on it due to heat. Also the abrasion factor comes in for rough and tumble play.....the grass can take it, but people seems to suffer a bit more. And if it really doesn't drain well, it mildews.....stinko! In construction they go to great extremes to get it to drain well and then add the ground rubber inbetween the blades to cushion to carpet, so it feels spongy like grass. I'm not really sold on it yet. I watch several places here and in Santa Fe to see how well it's holding up. My main complaint is the cost.......but then what doesn't cost these days?? |
| Thanks, Susan!! I need you around to keep me grounded. You're right -that ain't cheap. |
| Well, I'm off to get a load of mulch!! I can't stand the mud in the dog yard anymore. I don't plan on it for long-term - just short enough to get pounded down into the mud as the spring melt and rains come. Then I plan on investing in pearock for the high traffic areas later.
Our local compost site makes "brush mulch" from the branchs and tree trimmings that people bring in. They sell it cheap - $4 for a pickup load!! They load it in with a big front end loader, but I have to do the labor unloading. I plan on backing Todd's truck up to the fence and scooping it out. Wheelbarrow for carting it to the farther areas. Lots of work, but I am sick of continually washing multiple dog's feet every time they go out to potty!!!  |
| Get me a load or two too! That's what we use on the west side. I put landscape weedbarrier fabric underneath first, so when I see the fabric, I know we need more.....it's time. It's not pretty, just functional. None of my guys are into chewing (they teeth are worn and old) so I don't worry about that.
susan |
| OK, the mulch is here!!! Just had to stop in for an oes.org boost before I start unloading!!
See you all later .
PS - and it only cost me $2.50!!!!!!! I will take at least that much in Ibuprofen to recover afterwards!  |
| Got it unloaded - did my front flowerbeds and the rest in the dog yard. I ran out. If I would have skipped the flower beds, I might have had enough. So, I'm going to stop in the morning after I get off work, and get another load.
Good thing I work all night - I can keep taking my ibuprofen. The stiffness is starting already..... |
| I'm not sold on the artificial grass yet either. But there are many different types. Not all of it is the same as "turf" they use for sports and golf courses, etc...In questioning the company, they insist theirs (newgrass) has a super draining system that will not get moldy or mildew buildup, urine stains will soak through and not yellow, even salt water flooding will not effect it...but of course he is the company spokesman...I sent off some e mails to the doggy day cares and doggy facilities they have on their site as customers to see how they like...
Hey, guys, here is a new business for us....landscaping for dogs... |
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