If there’s one thing that man’s best friend needs it’s to get outside for some exercise and fresh air every day. In good weather, there’s no problem with letting your pets out. But when it’s cold or rainy, letting them out even just into the yard can be a problem if they come back in the house with muddy paws. This and other common pet owners’ dilemmas are taken care of for homeowners who choose to install artificial grass in place of their natural lawn.
Apart from the benefits for pet owners, the other advantages you will enjoy with artificial grass are:
- It looks very much like real grass. You can choose a deep green color, a lighter shade, or a patterned mix of shades.
- Synthetic lawns stay green and beautiful year round.
- Reduced utility bills when you cut lawn watering out of the equation.
- Easy maintenance with no trimming, mowing or fertilizing required.
- You will have made an environmentally conscious and sustainable choice.
- You can enjoy rebate and cash back programs offered by state and local governments for installing artificial grass.
What is Artificial Grass for Dogs?
It’s a synthetic turf that’s made specifically for dogs and is the best choice for pet owners because below the surface is a layer for drainage. The best synthetic grass for dogs also has blades with an impermeable coating that will be stitched or looped onto the backing and held in place by a hardened liquid latex material.
Good quality pet grass will also have backing with weep holes so that water and liquid pet waste can go drain into the base – an important feature that ensures the backing and infill don’t hinder the flow of liquid. Otherwise, urine will remain on the surface and odors can develop. You also want to ensure that your dog can play freely and tumble around on the surface.
Artificial grass uses infill (a mix of sand and other materials) as a top soil. This layer makes the turf strong, uniform and stable. To protect your lawn from odors and bacteria, there are pet-friendly cleaners that can be used to keep your grass nice and fresh.
There are a number of other factors that you should take in mind when choosing an artificial grass for dogs:
Quality of the backing
The backing should effectively facilitate the flow of water and your pet’s urine. The best backing is the knitted variety. It is a bit more expensive but the extra cost is worthwhile. Also, the blades of grass and backing should be tightly attached so that your pet can play and roll around without damaging the grass.
Ability to drainage
Another important factor is the turf’s drainage capability. The choice of many professional installers is a product made of either polypropylene or polyethylene, rather than choosing nylon. This is because poly products do not absorb moisture the way nylon does.
Shorter blades
Artificial grass with shorter blades or a “thatched” layer do not require infill. Thatches use both short blades and a layer of smaller curly ones to make it easy to spot and remove solid pet waste.
Antimicrobial protection
Synthetic pet grass with antimicrobial protection ensure that mildew, mold and bacteria won’t grow and cause damage, odor, or staining.
The Process of Installing Artificial Grass for Dogs
It is very important that the design and installation is done by a professional. Apart from advising you on the best option for your pet, a professional will also ensure that the turf is correctly laid out so that it looks good and will last a long time.
The company will come out to your property to see where the turf will be laid and take accurate measurements . They will also look at the work that needs to be done on the site to prepare it. Sometimes, it may be necessary to do sloping, grading or drain modification work.
Installation is done in three main stages:
- Sub-base work – deals with the slope, material and drainage
- Preparation of the base – involves preparing the perimeter border, the gravel if there is any, or the soil where the turf will be laid
- Laying down of the turf – after which it will be cut to size, seamed and securely fastened
Many homeowners are waking up to the benefits of artificial grass for dogs and in the process learning about the many other benefits that come with eliminating your natural lawn and switching over to a more eco-friendly synthetic lawn.
