Low Maintenance Dog Friendly Backyard Ground Cover – One of the first steps in becoming pet-friendly is to create a place for dogs to be dogs—a place where they can run, play, and go potty. You’ve found the perfect spot and set yourself up by the fence, but what exactly are those puppy paws on? Choosing the right surface for your playground is an important decision and can mean the difference between an accessible space and a muddy mess. Read on to find out how you can effectively showcase your playground without breaking the bank!
All land cover discussed in the following article falls into two categories: loose fill surface and consolidated surface. Loose fill consists of small loose loose materials such as crushed stone, wood chips or sand and generally requires slightly longer maintenance. When the dog runs, the material naturally separates and eventually needs to be renewed, smoothed and straightened. A single surface refers to a solid surface such as grass, kennel boards, or natural grass. Unlike loose fill surfaces, an even surface requires less maintenance, but a little more to keep it clean and hygienic.
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Our favorite material for dog playpens is, hands down, pea gravel! This soft soil and soft gravel is actually a cat litter for your dogs. This is a very cost-effective solution ($0.50-$1.50 per square foot) and is available in most locations in the US. It provides natural drainage for easy cleaning with the products of your choice, perfect for almost any landscape design, so you don’t have to sacrifice the aesthetics of your yard for your dog’s bathroom needs.
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If you choose pea gravel as your substrate, remember to replenish the gravel from time to time. Some rocks are collected with dog waste, while others sink into the subsoil. Generally, the first application of gravel sinks into the soil faster than subsequent applications, so plan to “dress” the area every 3-5 years after the first year. Keep in mind that some dogs may try to eat gravel, so it’s important to use a round rock that passes easily through their digestive system. A round stone is also gentle on dog paw pads. Depending on the selected color, the filler material heats up in direct sunlight. If you have a dark stone or live in a particularly hot climate, wash the stone with water to allow evaporation to cool.
Before installing pea gravel, you must first remove 3 to 4 inches of dirt, grass, weeds, and roots from the area. If grass continues to grow through the gravel, apply a herbicide/grass control agent (such as Roundup) and allow the product to dry for the recommended time (usually 24-48 hours) before bringing pets inside.
Wood chips are the most common type in dog parks today. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to install yourself! However, there are a few things to keep in mind before choosing them for the playground. First, let’s look at the two types of wood chips you’re likely to encounter: wood veneer and engineered wood fiber.
Mulch consists of chopped or chopped pieces of wood, sometimes bark, twigs and leaves. It is usually very cheap ($0.15 to $0.40 per square meter) and can even be found for free in many cities. But be aware that locally sourced mulch often comes from locally split trees and, depending on the quality of the cut, may contain sharp pieces that can cause splinters or get stuck in a dog’s paw. Unlike local mulch, mulch purchased from a landscape company or box store is cut from wood with a much finer cross-section and is much less likely to contain sharp branches and twig fragments.
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Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) is the most common type in children’s playgrounds. Unlike mulch, EWF is made from the heartwood (inside the tree) and does not contain bark or branches. It is ground to a fibrous consistency and sometimes treated or “braided” to prevent splinters and sharp edges. Engineered wood is more expensive than fiberboard (about $4 per square foot).
Like gravel, wood chips are naturally dislodged by running and playing dogs and need to be replaced from time to time. Unlike gravel, wood chips break down over time and usually take no more than two years to recover.
Also, keep in mind that not all wood chips are safe for dogs. Some contain dyes, dangerous chemicals, and toxic ingredients, while others have scents that can tempt your pup to latch on and cause colic. Pine bark, cedar bark, spruce bark, and cypress-alder are some of the best choices for dogs. Another good option is coconut flakes made from coconut shells (not to be confused with the dangerous coconut flakes). On the other hand, you should definitely avoid eucalyptus, painted/chemically treated decking, shaded wood decking, and forced cocoa beans.
Another disadvantage of wood chips is that they are very absorbent. While this may seem like a big advantage at first, it also means that the scents will last. Some owners report that their covered planting areas smell terrible after it rains. As with pea gravel, the playground for wood chips must be prepared to remove the top 3 or 4 inches of dirt, grass, and roots to prevent plant growth.
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Grosscon is an excellent choice for large gardens where the cost of other materials is prohibitive. Depending on your location, this can happen naturally, saving you significant upfront costs. Even if you have to install it yourself, grass is a great inexpensive option. On average, grass costs $0.35 to $0.80 per square foot. If you choose to sow your own lawn, the price drops to around $0.10-$0.19 per square meter. The grass is soft on the dog’s paws and provides good natural drainage. When handled correctly, it’s a beautiful choice, cools even in direct sunlight, and is safe for dogs (as long as you stay away from herbicides and other chemicals).
Unfortunately, natural grass wears out quickly in high-traffic areas and leaves visible dirt. When you add rain, those patches of dirt can easily turn into mud puddles. If you choose natural grass as your playground surface, remember that you will need to cover your garden periodically, at least in parts, during reseeding. Natural grass needs to be maintained with regular watering and mowing, which adds up to a significant expense over time.
Beautiful and durable artificial grass. Depending on your budget, you may be able to purchase a product that looks like real grass, but without the risk of wear or the added cost of watering and mowing. Keep in mind that the long fibers of tall grass make it difficult to clean pet waste, so you should look for a product designed specifically for dog yards. When it comes to cost, artificial turf tops our list at around $15. per square foot, it’s a tough choice for budget shelters.
While high-quality products can last 7-10 years, to achieve such longevity, the lawn must be installed by a professional. Installing grass in a dog park requires removing all existing weeds and grass and adding a special drainage base layer to prevent urine from accumulating. Some dog parks that use heavily used grass also have a concrete base with drainage pipes so that urine and cleaning products can drain away properly. However, this step is usually not necessary for small-scale playgrounds.
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There are special lawn cleaning products that can be sprayed and then hosed off. The frequency of cleaning depends on the number of pets in your yard, with large yards requiring cleaning at least once or twice a week.
If the price tag isn’t enough to scare you off, the scorching heat of the lawn can be even in colder climates. According to research conducted at Brigham Young University, the surface temperature of synthetic turf is 37°F warmer than asphalt and 86.5°F warmer than natural grass under the same weather conditions. On an average summer day, the surface of artificial turf can reach 165°F – hot enough to burn a dog’s paw in seconds. If you are interested in artificial grass as a surface for your playground, make sure it is well shaded or be prepared to cover your yard during the summer months.
Sand is a popular surface choice, especially for coastal dog parks. It is relatively inexpensive (usually between $1.50 and $3.00 per square foot) and attractive if kept clean. It also provides an excellent opportunity for digging – a
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