Artificial grass is a great option for dog owners who want to avoid the mess and hassle of natural grass. However, it’s important that you take care of your artificial lawn if you have a dog as they can sometimes be vulnerable to wear and tear.
Here we will discuss how to look after your artificial grass when you have a dog so it stays great all year round!
Best type of artificial grass for dogs
The best type of artificial grass for dogs is that which mimics natural turf. It uses a combination of long and short fibres to create the perfect balance between softness and durability, giving it excellent drainage properties too.
This means your dog can enjoy all the benefits of an outdoor space without any worry about wear-and-tear.
When choosing your artificial grass there are really just two considerations:
1.Shorter pile heights are easier to clean
If your dog will be doing his business on the new fake lawn you will want something which is easier to clean. The same rule applies to both hair on your head and artificial grass; if its shorter it will be easier to clean.
Even shorter pile artificial grass will still need to be properly cleaned from time to time, thankfully there are a few great artificial grass cleaning products specifically designed for dogs and other pets.
2.Underlay is not a good idea
Foam underlay can make your grass feel like a plush carpet but it can also absorb dog pee which can result in very bad smells.
Instead, dog-owners are advised to opt for a non-absorbent underlay such as gravel or synthetic turf pellets that will divert the liquid away and into the ground below.
As artificial grass safe for dogs?
Yes, artificial turf is absolutely safe for pets. Fake grass for dogs can withstand any wear and tear inflicted by the pet’s claws paws or nails since they cannot dig through it like traditional lawns.
Many professional dog boarders and pet owners choose using fake grass over natural for these reasons.
Artificial turf provides a safe, chemical-free environment for pets to play in. Unlike real grass it does not need pesticides that may be harmful and can cause allergic reactions or other health problems. And even better? There’s no weeding!
Do dogs like artificial grass?
Imagine a play area that is worn and hard. Now imagine re-carpeting it with something soft and dense, like artificial grass!
Dogs love comfort just as much as humans do, so they take to the new surface pretty quickly – it feels very similar to real grass but can’t be dug up or made muddy.
What’s more? Artificial turf is pet safe because there are no toxic layers beneath this grassy layer: only an all natural feel and appearance you won’t find in any other carpeting product out there today!
Discolouration
A lot of people have this question – will pet mess discolour artificial turf?
One of the great advantages to installing an artificial surface is that it doesn’t turn a different colour when your dog has done its business on it. If it eventually fades there is unfortunately very little that can be done about it.
Bad smells
What about the smell?
The truth is, artificial grass can’t be smelly if you take care of it well. Artificial turf needs to be washed regularly with water and a pet-friendly cleaner – like StinkyPaws™! This will leave your lawn looking clean and fresh all year round without any bad odours taking over.
However if your pooch has a favourite pee spot and your don’t clean it regularly it can end up smelling pretty bad, and be impossible to get rid of.
This is an especially common problem with dogs that have been trained on turf from a young age – they can become very territorial about their spots!
Read more about how to get rid of the smell of pet urine from your artificial lawn.
Digging on artificial grass
Fake grass is much more resilient than traditional lawns.
Traditional lawns are weaker and can’t withstand the wear and tear inflicted by a dog’s claws, paws or nails but fake turf for dogs doesn’t have this issue as it cannot be dug through.
This has led many professional pet owners to choose artificial over natural grasses because of its resilience in these conditions which will provide safety for pets that might try digging on them.
What if they always dig?
If your dog is a persistent digger then they can damage artificial grass and unlike real turf, its can’t be repaired.
Dog pee
Dogs can pee on artificial grass, just like they would on natural grass. Most of the time this will drain away and if it’s raining then there is no problem.
The issues with bad smells begin when the pee stays in the lawn because it has not rained in a while or because doesn’t have a proper base which allows urine to drain into the ground below.
Dog poop
Yes, dogs can poop on artificial grass – just like they would on natural grass. However, you will need to scoop up and dispose of dog poop just as you would do when your furry friend makes a mess on regular lawns.
It is also recommended to hose down the area where there’s been a pooping incident in order to completely eliminate any residual messes from happening again!
Fleas and ticks
Can fleas and ticks live in artificial grass?
While its not common It’s difficult to remove these pests altogether from any environment.
Artificial lawns do not provide hosting for parasites like fleas and ticks, but they can’t guarantee 100% elimination either because without soil, there is no way of knowing if nests are present.
That said, a clean turf will make it more likely that you’ll be able to reduce the chances of them living on your property- just take care when maintaining your artificial grass!
Cleaning up
Now that artificial turf is so popular for pet owners, we have to keep it clean and healthy just like any other lawn. How do you maintain its appearance?
The first thing you should know about maintaining your dog’s favourite spot is using a high-pressure hose will help with pesky odours left behind by Fido or Fluffy.
Hose down the area at least once a week to remove smells and debris from every surface in order to make sure they don’t end up on their paws when they come back outside again!
Secondly you will want a good brush or garden vacuum to take care of any dried dirt on the surface. See our recommendations for garden brushes here.
Special types of bleach and purpose made cleaning solutions can also be a great help in keeping your grass looking and smelling great.
heat
While artificial turf typically does not reach temperature extremes like things such as pavement and cement do during warmer months it can still get quite hot.
Artificial grass does heat up faster than natural turf which rarely gets too hot due to its moisture content.
When the heat is extreme, it’s important to provide your pet with shade.
When artificial grass gets hot you may want to spray down part of the lawn or bring a hose outside for them.
One way that we recommend reducing overheating while out with doggo this season? Bringing an extra hose along so he/she has access to some fresh cold H2O whenever needed!
conclusion
If you have a dog, and want to keep your lawn looking as good as possible, it is important to know how best to take care of your artificial grass. Artificial grass can be one of the most durable surfaces for pets that are rambunctious or clumsy.
Dogs tend to enjoy running around on an artificial surface because it doesn’t feel too hot in summertime heat waves like concrete does! It also won’t get discoloured from their toilet habits.
If not cleaned properly, bacteria will start living in any urine stains and this will cause bad smells over time which can make even nearby neighbours complain about the smell coming from your garden!
The key with caring for artificial turf when you have a dog is making sure you clean up any urine stains within 48 hours and then sanitising the area.
Have a look around our website for more great content on artificial grass
