It is pretty easy to figure out that this apartment complex welcomes pets — not just because of inconsiderate neighbors who don’t pick up poop, but because of the urine burn spots around the grounds.
Many pet owners — whether you own property or rent — suffer with dead, bald spots on the lawn thanks to pet piddle. But your lawn doesn’t have to look like Swiss cheese! Here are some tips to help minimize lawn damage from your pets.
- Water your lawn deeply. A long, deep watering can encourage grasses to put down deeper roots — up to two or three feet deep! Deeper roots will help your grass stand strong against urine damage. Shallower roots (like six inches) mean your lawn will be more vulnerable.
- Let your grass grow a little longer. For each quarter inch of growth, a blade of upright grass adds twenty-five percent more surface area. This can help grass stand up against paw (and foot) traffic.
- Give your yard an occasional rinse. This will dilute harmful salts in pet urine that cause dead spots. If you’re diligent about rinsing, you can reduce or even prevent urine burn entirely!
- Don’t be shy about reseeding your lawn. If you do have worn or dead areas, sprinkle out some new grass seeds.
- Think about “tough” grasses like Bermuda or St. Augustine grass. Look at tough hybrids, too. Tough grasses (sometimes known as sports turf grasses) stand up well to active feet and paws.
- Try using more than one type of grass seed for your yard. Different areas of your yard are used differently, and mixing seeds will allow the toughest, best grasses to take up residence in the places they like best.
One other lawn damage problem — digging — can be avoided if you give your pets a safe place to dig. A sandbox can satisfy your pup or kitty’s need to dig and help keep pets out of your gardens.