Let's talk grass...

[MyBabyShihPoo]

Hi there everyone~

Okay, so I am looking to replenish an area of grass in my backyard, and I am not sure if it is safe for the dogs or not. Do any of you happen to know if grass seed is poisonous to dogs?

Any info. you may know or have, and would like to enlighten me with, would be greatly appreciated!!!

Have a wonderful week!

[PooGirl13]

OMG, MyBaby!! My hubby and I were just talking about this last night! I don't have an answer, but I will be curious to see what others say.

There are a couple of patches on our lawn have little grass (we didn't get all the leaves up from last Fall, so we think that's why) and we were thinking about reseeding that area.

I'll check back.......

[MyBabyShihPoo]

Too funny PooGirl...we'll have to see what everyone has to say!

The area of grass I want to reseed is all yellow and dead compliments of Mickey & Tigger. The area happens to be their "potty area," so that explains it all! I've moved them to a different "potty area" for now, but I would like to fill in their old area with grass seed to bring it back to life! LOL

(I don't know if this is something you know about or not, but the nitrogen in a dog's urine kills the grass...just wanted to let ya' know in case this is something you haven't heard about! )

*One tip I have heard to is to water down the area that the dog urinates on immediately after he/she goes to dilute the spot in an effort to cause less damage to the grass, but that is a pain in the neck to do, TRUST ME (that's why I stoppped). I didn't like having to follow my dogs around with the hose waiting for them to go so I can hose down the area...no thank you, call me crazy (don't even go there Monster ), but I'd rather just deal with the dead grass and reseed the area every now and then! That's just me though!

[PooGirl13]

I had heard that, but had forgotten so thank you for reminding me!!

Yeah, I can't imagine that it's much fun to follow your pups around with a hose! I don't blame you, I wouldn't want to do that either!!

[ilovemaltipoos]

I don't know about the grass seed part ,but if it is just a few places ,why don't you try sod instead ,that way the birds don't eat the seeds as you put them out ? just a suggestion .

[4Dogsihave]

Also so you dont have to follow them around with a hose, they make products to prevent lawn burn. I am not sure where to get them I would try petsmart. I think they also have something you can give your dog to prevent it. One of the other posters on the general forum uses them and says they work great. I wouldent know since I have NO grass at all. We just put our house up about a year ago and cannot get grass to grow except where my dogs go potty.

[MyBabyShihPoo]

Malti~

Thanks for the idea about the sod! Unfortunately though, the area in which needs some work is a good size area, and quite patchy, so I have a feeling that sod won't work too well in this case. (Wish it would, it would save me some work! )

3dogsihave~

Thank you as well for your suggestions! I am going to go to the pet store sometime this week and look for any lawn care products that are out there to prevent/help this issue in the future! I didn't even know they made that kind of stuff...it'll be great if I find something that works!

Once again, thanks for all your input Malti and 3dogs!

[4Dogsihave]

Hey let me know what you find, If I EVER have grass I am going to make sure its taken care of.

[MonsterBailey]

SOOOOOOO ((((whistles))))... yoooohoooo....? CRAZYYYYYYYYYYYYYY...........hellooooooooo.............

ooops... I wasn't suppose to go there!!

[MyBabyShihPoo]

Monster~

How could I have guessed you would go there anyway...you're just sooooo unpredictable!!! LOL

3Dogs~

You bet I'll let you know if I find that special "miracle product!" I'll see what's out there, and give them a try! If all else fails (fingers crossed I'll find something), then I'll just have to reseed every once and a while!

I'm sorry to hear that your grassing isn't growing too well (or at all I should say, lol)! I think I need to ship some of our soil to you...grass grows beautifully out here, and like crazy! I moved my garden this year to another area so I had to reseed the old garden area to get grass to start growing in, and after just a couple of short weeks, tons of lush grass has popped up and filled in the entire area!

I'll be hoping for the same luck for you and your grass...happy grass growing!

[4Dogsihave]

Thanks hopefully this year it will grow, we are seeing more that last but the weeds still overpower the grass. We have the poorest quality dirt I have ever seen. Its more like red clay. I would love for a lush beautifull yard of grass but right now will settle for grass period. But anyway I am going to be putting hubby to work next time he is off cause the weeds are taller than me in some areas. My poor husky though, when it rains she turns red.

[puttin510]

Well, I don't believe the seed is poisonous especially with the birds devouring it. You will need to make sure no-one walks on it for many months so it can toughen up. I hate growing grass from seed. You have to water it good everyday, if you want good results. If you let the dogs run on it too soon it will just tear apart and be ugly once again. Now if you put feritilizer on it the dogs have to stay off till its absorbed. So yes the fertilizer is poisonous.

[MyBabyShihPoo]

3dogs~

That red clay type soil is terrible when trying to get grass to grow...next to impossible! We don't have the red clay type soil where I live, but when we first moved here and were planning out all the landscaping, we actually had to BUY tons of soil (high quality) b/c the soil on the property at that time was simply awful! I just couldn't believe it though...we actually had to BUY dirt, pathetic! LOL

Puttin~

Great info.!!! I moved the dogs' "potty area" over a bit and away from their old dead area, so they won't be getting into it. I plan to just till up that ground, throw out the seeds, and water daily (this method worked really well on another part of my lawn, so I am hoping for the same luck again)! That is definitely good to hear about the fertilizer being poisonous though, I had no idea. Fortunately though, I didn't use it on the other part of my lawn, and I won't be using for this part either (grass grew nicely, and quickly without it )! Thanks for letting me know about the fertilizer, glad I know now, and can let others around here know as well!

Kind Regards!

[puttin510]

There are some fertilizer that can burn also. I just read on another forum about a bad gardener throwing some on a boxer that was barking at him and the dog recieved 3rd degree burns.

[puttin510]

Not sure what the manure fertilizer would do. I know Sasha took a good roll in some once. She was fine but a dirty mess. Could not help but laugh.

[MyBabyShihPoo]

[puttin510]

Trust me she got one good bath. Usually when she gets a bath , its followed by a complete blow dry then clippings.

[MyBabyShihPoo]

LOL Puttin, a very deserving bath indeed! When Mickey & Tigger are given a bath, I too always follow it up with a complete blow dry while brushing. Mickey and Tigger love the blow dryer after their baths...it's a definite must for them.

[MonsterBailey]

mybabyshih? Where is your avatar?? I don't see it anymore...?

[MyBabyShihPoo]