“I have two active dogs. Kayla, the Shepherd, is four years old, and Maggie, our baby, is actually an Alaskan Malamute. They love to run around and have a great time – but I have to admit our lawn is looking a little rough. My husband is blaming all the bare patches and yellow grass on the dogs. Is he right?”
We have good news and bad news here. The bad news is that dogs can be hard on the lawn. Dog urine is the big culprit. If there are large patches where the grass is turning yellow, brown, or just flat out dying, it’s because the excessively high levels of nitrogen and salt in the dog urine is killing it.
Bare patches can be caused by active dogs running over the same area repeatedly. Dogs digging, rolling, and otherwise having fun in the yard can result in bare patches. Additionally, it’s possible that the soil has become heavily compacted by the dogs playing, which can contribute to bare patches on the grass.
The good news is you don’t have to give up your dogs to have a great lawn. Connect with your local lawn service for help. Power seeding is the best way to alleviate the issue of yellow, brown, or bare patches. Fresh new green grass will grow in these areas.
Additionally, when it’s time to fertilize your lawn, the best Massachusetts lawn care companies will take steps to help counter the high nitrogen levels in your lawn. Fertilization is both an art and a science, taking into the account the way the homeowners (and their pets!) use the lawn.
Heavily compacted soil can be addressed with aeration – a specialized lawn care service that loosens the soil and promotes healthy grass growth. The key to keeping a lawn looking great with active dogs is ongoing care. Your local lawn service can tend to the grass’ needs while you focus on keeping the dogs happy and healthy.
