Yard suggestions

Trashman'sDOGS · 04-09-2007, 08:15 PM

Well I had two patches of grass in my yard but the "grass" is gone now......b/w the dogs going to the bathroom and the digging it is mostly dirt now...........im just trying to figure out something to do with it b/c i know the next time it rains its going to be a huge mud pit..........i was thinking of putting down some heavy duty plastic sheets and then some gravel or something.........Im open to any suggestions.........i would love to just dig it down and put down concrete but thats not an option right now..........

Thanks.......
Robb

BeagleLover · 04-09-2007, 08:31 PM

Concrete, thats not much of a yard! Rofl...

But you should keep your dogs going to the bathroom/digging, to one area. Just large enough to have some fun. Then get grass feed, or fertilizer. Or get Turf. Like rolled up grass, that you roll out on your lawn, usually in the fall, and let the roots of the grass really grow into ground. It looks so natural after the summer, and never turns gray with the bi-yearly fertilizing (Before and after winter).

Trashman'sDOGS · 04-09-2007, 09:06 PM

the two areas of grass arent really much, maybe 20' x 6' each.........will the roots grow in even with both my dogs "going" and playing on top of it.........?

Robb

BeagleLover · 04-09-2007, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trashman'sDOGS

the two areas of grass arent really much, maybe 20' x 6' each.........will the roots grow in even with both my dogs "going" and playing on top of it.........?

Robb

I think you should start over. Dig up all the grass, roll out turf, let it grow into the ground, then BAM, you got a new lawn, and all the other men of the street will be jealous.

I don't understand why us men care about lawns, and have to have the GREENEST, FULLEST lawn on the street!?! I think it relates to having the best wife.....

Trashman'sDOGS · 04-11-2007, 11:40 PM

someone else suggested pea gravel........any thoughts?

Robb

RonE · 04-12-2007, 07:03 AM

Pea gravel makes a good base in a kennel run, but for a yard? It needs to be 4-5 inches deep. That's a lot of pea gravel.

Where's the dog gonna go to chow down on grass so he can throw up on your carpet?

You may need to fence off one part of the grass, reseed it and give it a chance to grow. Then reverse to the other part.

Dogs are tough on lawns, but they can coexist. Just don't expect any pictures on the cover of Home and Garden.

Trashman'sDOGS · 04-12-2007, 09:31 AM

well, i was probrably only gonna do one side.........the side closer to my house is really long gone and it is only dirt...........its pouring right now and i have a huge mud pit...........

nrhareiner · 04-12-2007, 01:56 PM

I have areas for the horses that need to be dry and what I do is dig down to solid ground then lay down sheets of underlaiment like what you get to put under mulch. Lets the water through but keeps the weeds down. Then I put down screenings. When it gets wet and packed down it is like concrete but drains. Dogs have a rally hard time digging through it. You can put stepping stones through it to give it a better look. Pea gravel works OK also but dose not pack down and I find that dogs will dig it up. I use the screening for the dog kennels and stalls under the mates. Just all around good stuff. Plus it is not too expensive.

Another thing you can give a try. They make a plastic hive type thing. Not sure of the name. You put it down put good top soil down into the forms and plant grass. It stabilizes the roots and even allows you to drive on it without killing the grass. Will stop the dogs from digging and will protect the roots of the grass from the dogs running. I have not personally tried this system as I live in the country and the dogs have 2 acers fenced to run so killing the grass here is not a problem.

Heidi

RonE · 04-12-2007, 03:23 PM

Some good tips there.

We have a big dog and a little dog, so our poor yard is full of big holes (that you could lose a truck in) and little, schnauzer-size holes.

Actually, I surpised we haven't lost the schnauzer in on one of the Plott hound holes.

Trashman'sDOGS · 04-12-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrhareiner

I have areas for the horses that need to be dry and what I do is dig down to solid ground then lay down sheets of underlaiment like what you get to put under mulch. Lets the water through but keeps the weeds down. Then I put down screenings. When it gets wet and packed down it is like concrete but drains. Dogs have a rally hard time digging through it.

what exactly are screenings? And about how much would all of this cost (ballpark)?

Thanks.....
Robb

nrhareiner · 04-12-2007, 10:56 PM

Screenings are just really really crushed graval. It is smaller then a pea and dust. When it gets wet and then your pack it down it gets really hard yet still drains. If you call your local stone yard they can tell you the cost. Around here it is about $14/ton. A ton should cover about a 10X10 area about 3-4 in thick.

Heidi

Trashman'sDOGS · 04-14-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrhareiner

Screenings are just really really crushed graval. It is smaller then a pea and dust. When it gets wet and then your pack it down it gets really hard yet still drains. If you call your local stone yard they can tell you the cost. Around here it is about $14/ton. A ton should cover about a 10X10 area about 3-4 in thick.

Heidi

How deep did you make the screenings?
also, would landscape/weed-stop fabric work as well?

Thanks.....