10 Lawncare Tips for Homeowners with Dogs

Homeowners, tired of yellow stains on your grass? Or perhaps, balding spots from your pets? Here’s a few tricks.

Taking care of your lawn is a challenging task for dog owners and your favorite four-legged friend can add a lot of patches in your lawncare routine, literally. You may find yourself worrying about yellowing spots on your lawn caused by your dog’s urine, and, in turn, what chemicals you can use that don’t pose a threat to Fido. Here are ten lawn care tips for homeowners with dogs to make your life easier.

1. USE DAMAGE-RESISTANT GRASS TYPE

There are many types of grass on the market, and not every kind of grass can survive your dog's playing, peeing, pooping, and running. If you find yellow spots from your dog's urine or bare patches due to wear and tear from your dog's running in the lawn, the reason is likely because you have a more delicate, weaker type of grass. In such cases, you should replace your current grass with a more damage-resistant grass such as:

• Perennial ryegrass

• Tall fescue

• Zoysia grass

• Bermuda grass

• Kentucky bluegrass

2. DISPOSE OF YOUR DOG'S WASTE IMMEDIATELY

Both the poop and urine of your dog can cause damage to your grass if allowed to get absorbed into the soil. Your dog's waste is rich in nitrogen, which burns the grass in your lawn. You see the brown or yellowing spots where the nitrogen burned through the grass.

Clean up and dispose of your dog's poop immediately, even if it is in your backyard. Once your dog urinates, water those spots thoroughly with a hose. This will dilute the nitrogen and flush the ground, preventing any damage.

3. LET YOUR GRASS GROW TALL

Taller grass means your grass has deeper roots, which are more durable. When you allow your grass to grow tall, it makes it tougher so it can survive more of a beating from your dog's playing and running. While this does not mean that you should stop mowing your lawn, it just means that you should raise the cutting height on your lawn mower to the highest recommended height setting for the grass type you have.

4. USE LESS FERTILIZER

It is essential to know that most lawn fertilizers contain nitrogen since it is necessary for your grass to grow. However, again, too much nitrogen can burn the grass. This is shocking for dog owners as nitrogen-rich fertilizers paired with the nitrogen in your dog's waste lead to excess nitrogen.

You can prevent urine burns on your grass by fertilizing less or using a fertilizer without nitrogen. Most fertilization schedules usually include four to five feedings per year. Of course, the exact time of the year when you should fertilize also depends on where you live. For dog owners, cutting back to just one or two feedings at optimal times for your grass type is best.

5. CHECK FOR YELLOW SPOTS

You should always pay close attention to your lawn, especially the spots where your dog loves to hang out. There are tell-tale signs that your grass is damaged. Grass tends to fade into a straw-like yellow color before it dies and ultimately turns brown. If you notice the yellow spots, you can still save the grass. Flush the soil in these spots immediately with water to eliminate any excess salts and nitrogen left over from your dog's waste.

6. MAKE YOUR DOG PLAY IN AREAS WITHOUT GRASS

One of the best ways to prevent damage to your grass is to allot a play area to your dog where there is no grass. Replace the grass in some lawn spots with mulch, hardscapes, or groundcovers to make a dog-friendly landscape.

7. REMEMBER TO CHECK FOR FLEAS

You do not want fleas in your backyard because this means that they will eventually find their way onto your dog and into your home. Even after giving your dog flea prevention medication, you should still take steps to reduce the number of fleas around your home, as they can bite you as well. Some tips to prevent fleas in your lawn include:

• Avoid overwatering the garden or yard.

• Remove debris like twigs, branches, or forgotten toys from the property.

• Dethatch the property regularly.

• Keep the trash cans secure.

• Do not leave out any food waste that will attract other animals that carry fleas.

8. AVOID USING CHEMICAL LAWN TREATMENTS

Many chemicals used in common lawn treatments, including pesticides, weed killers, fertilizers, and fungicides, can make your dog seriously sick if they ingest them. This is possible if they lick their paws or eat the grass. If you want to keep your dog safe and allow them to play on the lawn freely without risk, you should avoid using chemicals on your property. Try using home remedies or organic, chemical-free products on your lawn.

9. WATCH OUT FOR FOXTAIL WEEDS

Foxtails are a common variety of weed that often appears in turfgrass in the summer months. Though they are more commonly seen in the Western part of the US, one or the other species can be found in every state. These weeds have barbed seed heads that can quickly become embedded in your dog's skin.

Foxtail weeds can be hazardous because the seed heads do not dissolve and can work their way into your dog's body if you do not pull them out in time. They can lead to severe infections and even puncture your dog's organs or blood vessels.

10. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT PLANT ANY TOXIC PLANTS

Be extra careful while selecting the plants you want in your yard. You want to keep your lawn dog-friendly by avoiding some of the common plants that are toxic to dogs. It is always a good idea to check online about which plants are harmful to your breed of dog. And if you want to put in a plant that might be toxic to your dog, make sure to plant it at a place that is not accessible to your dog.

Some common Florida plants that are toxic to dogs and cats include:

• Lilies

• Aloe vera

• Philodendron

• Chrysanthemum

• Azaleas

• Bird of Paradise

As always, you want your landscape to be as fun and friendly as possible for everyone in your family, including your pets.