Dog-Friendly Artificial Grass

You have the family dog and a backyard and you want to make it fun for the pet and easy to maintain. Artificial turf may be the answer. From hygiene to maintenance, artificial turf can make life easy for everybody.

  1. Advantages

    • With artificial grass, you will not have bare or burnt spots.

      Imagine no more mud in the house. With artificial turf, when it rains, there will be no more muddy paws running into the house.
      The look of the grass is another advantage. With regular grass, there are bound to be worn or burnt patches of grass. Either from digging or urine, the grass takes a beating. With artificial grass, there will be no worn spots.
      Hygiene is much better with artificial grass. The urine will wash through the artificial grass and will run off. Hose off the turf to ensure cleanliness. Feces will need to be scooped up, but can easily be cleaned off with a hose if there is any residue.
      Dogs quickly get used to the new grass and learn it is all right to play and do their business on the surface. They like using this surface more than gravel, sand and other abrasive materials.

    Maintenance

    • With artificial grass, you will not need to mow.

      With artificial grass there is limited maintenance once it is installed. There will no mowing and no regular watering. The only water used is to occasionally clean the grass, considerably less than a regular watering schedule. The grass is usually made out of an synthetic material. It is attached to a backing and placed where there can be a drainage area where water can run off.

    Allergies and bugs

    • With artificial grass, there will be less pollen in the air.

      Many dogs have allergies to grass or trees. These will be eliminated with artificial grass. Also, there will be fewer fleas and ticks since they have no grass or bushes to live in.

    Installation

    • There are several companies to choose from. A local outdoors store will likely have a display or be able to direct you to a local dealer.

      Online, there are several companies you can contact.

      ProGreen Grass (888) 440-7888

      Paradise Greens (480) 586-0655

      Justlikegrassinc.com (951) 845-2249

    Cost

    • It is always smart to contact several dealers to see if anyone is offering a sale. In 2010, the cost was around $2 a square foot with installation, which means a 300 square-foot area would cost around $600. With the savings in maintenance costs, it would offset the cost in a few years. If you install the turf yourself, the cost will be considerably less.