Re: Best Grass for an Active Dog?

[Beecrofter]

> Sunny yard. Atlanta area. Very active dog who has torn up the (already
> sparse) yard at my new (15 year old) house during the course of endless
> frisbee and tennis ball chasing.
>

> Thoughts? Opinions? Wanna help me prep the soil and lay sod sometime in
> May?
>
> KB

There aren't any .

Best bet would be to divide the yard and let one side heal while the
other side is abused.

[Kyle Boatright]

I have a yard, not a pasture! ;-)

Seriously, I think I'm doomed, but hate the idea of a muddy back yard for
the next decade.

KB
"Beecrofter" > wrote in message
om...
> > Sunny yard. Atlanta area. Very active dog who has torn up the (already
> > sparse) yard at my new (15 year old) house during the course of endless
> > frisbee and tennis ball chasing.
> >
>
> > Thoughts? Opinions? Wanna help me prep the soil and lay sod sometime in
> > May?
> >
> > KB
>
> There aren't any .
>
> Best bet would be to divide the yard and let one side heal while the
> other side is abused.

[animaux]

Bring the dog to a park? Bermuda is a very tough turf, but it would help.


On Thu, 23 Jan 2003 17:02:43 GMT, "Kyle Boatright" >
wrote:

>I have a yard, not a pasture! ;-)
>
>Seriously, I think I'm doomed, but hate the idea of a muddy back yard for
>the next decade.
>
>KB
>"Beecrofter" > wrote in message
om...
>> > Sunny yard. Atlanta area. Very active dog who has torn up the (already
>> > sparse) yard at my new (15 year old) house during the course of endless
>> > frisbee and tennis ball chasing.
>> >
>>
>> > Thoughts? Opinions? Wanna help me prep the soil and lay sod sometime in
>> > May?
>> >
>> > KB
>>
>> There aren't any .
>>
>> Best bet would be to divide the yard and let one side heal while the
>> other side is abused.
>

[Cereoid+10]

Try Astroturf!!!!



Beecrofter > wrote in message
om...
> > Sunny yard. Atlanta area. Very active dog who has torn up the (already
> > sparse) yard at my new (15 year old) house during the course of endless
> > frisbee and tennis ball chasing.
> >
>
> > Thoughts? Opinions? Wanna help me prep the soil and lay sod sometime in
> > May?
> >
> > KB
>
> There aren't any .
>
> Best bet would be to divide the yard and let one side heal while the
> other side is abused.

[zhanataya]

On Thu, 23 Jan 2003 19:29:55 GMT, "Cereoid+10" >
wrote:

>Try Astroturf!!!!

If anyone is keeping score I vote for the Astroturf and V's suggestion
of the park.

zhan

[madgard]

astro turf on play side......nailed with spikes to keep in
place.............nope, I grow flowers and perennials, not
lawn................... madgardener

"Kyle Boatright" > wrote in message
. ..
> Facts...
>
> Sunny yard. Atlanta area. Very active dog who has torn up the (already
> sparse) yard at my new (15 year old) house during the course of endless
> frisbee and tennis ball chasing.
>
> What's the most resilient grass for wear? Zoysia? Bermuda? I know
Zoysia
> is more expensive, and heals slower, but have the impression that it may
be
> tougher than Bermuda. Forget Fescue. Too fragile, and won't fill back in
> after damage.
>
> Thoughts? Opinions? Wanna help me prep the soil and lay sod sometime in
> May?
>
> KB
>
>

[Dave Gower]

"Kyle Boatright" > wrote

> What's the most resilient grass for wear?

I have two active dogs and was told to look for grasses that propagate from
the roots readily - there are several kinds, depending on your climate.

> Wanna help me prep the soil and lay sod sometime in May?

Only if you'll come and help me with my rock garden ;<)

[kate]

Bermuda has survived my dog (and I) for the past 6 years of throwing the
ball, throwing the ball, throwing the ball.....

(Is it really possible to kill Bermuda grass?)

Kate

Kyle Boatright wrote:
>
> Facts...
>
> Sunny yard. Atlanta area. Very active dog who has torn up the (already
> sparse) yard at my new (15 year old) house during the course of endless
> frisbee and tennis ball chasing.
>
> What's the most resilient grass for wear? Zoysia? Bermuda? I know Zoysia
> is more expensive, and heals slower, but have the impression that it may be
> tougher than Bermuda. Forget Fescue. Too fragile, and won't fill back in
> after damage.
>
> Thoughts? Opinions? Wanna help me prep the soil and lay sod sometime in
> May?
>
> KB

[Tom Jaszewski]

On 23 Jan 2003 07:52:10 -0800, (Beecrofter) wrote:

>> Sunny yard. Atlanta area. Very active dog who has torn up the (already
>> sparse) yard at my new (15 year old) house during the course of endless
>> frisbee and tennis ball chasing.
>>
>
>> Thoughts? Opinions? Wanna help me prep the soil and lay sod sometime in
>> May?
>>
>> KB
>
>There aren't any .
>
>Best bet would be to divide the yard and let one side heal while the
>other side is abused.


We have large turf areas roamed by tigers. Adequate organics turned
into the soil along with compost tea treatments and we are actually
getting the grass to grow and replace less.



Regards,

tomj

"Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution.
Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages."

- Thomas Edison

[bryan lafleur]

Bermuda is the toughest, but dont expect anything living to hold up
well under those conditions, the ground gets too compacted. Aerating,
and topdressing with compost if its not too large, a couple times of
year would help.

Bryan

[Wendy B G]

>Very active dog who has torn up the (already
>sparse) yard at my new (15 year old) house during the course of endless
>frisbee and tennis ball chasing.

You might want to lay down concrete pavers that have an open grid pattern. The
dogs run on the concrete. The grass grows in the holes.

E.P. Henry Turf Pavers are one brand.
http://www.ephenry.com/store/product.asp?dept%5Fid=120&pf%5Fid=tp

Wendy

[LeeAnne]

Hey that stuff's neat!! How do you install it - shred up an area, put them
down and then plant seed?

Thanks
LeeAnne

"Wendy B G" > wrote in message
...
> You might want to lay down concrete pavers that have an open grid pattern.
The
> dogs run on the concrete. The grass grows in the holes.
>
> E.P. Henry Turf Pavers are one brand.
> http://www.ephenry.com/store/product.asp?dept%5Fid=120&pf%5Fid=tp
>
> Wendy
>

[Janet Baraclough]

The message >
from Tom Jaszewski > contains these words:


> We have large turf areas roamed by tigers. Adequate organics turned
> into the soil along with compost tea treatments and we are actually
> getting the grass to grow and replace less.

But captive tigers just pad about, they don't skid around at high
speed, tearing up turf, like dogs do :-) Do tigers dig a hole to poo,
like cats?

Janet

[Tom Jaszewski]

On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 22:53:50 GMT, Janet Baraclough
> wrote:

>The message >
>from Tom Jaszewski > contains these words:
>
>
>> We have large turf areas roamed by tigers. Adequate organics turned
>> into the soil along with compost tea treatments and we are actually
>> getting the grass to grow and replace less.
>
> But captive tigers just pad about, they don't skid around at high
>speed, tearing up turf, like dogs do :-) Do tigers dig a hole to poo,
>like cats?
>
> Janet
>
>


Ever had a cat? now try a 600 pounder, far more energy than any
dog....



Regards,

tomj

"Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution.
Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages."

- Thomas Edison

[animaux]

On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 22:53:50 GMT, Janet Baraclough >
wrote:

>The message >
>from Tom Jaszewski > contains these words:
>
>
>> We have large turf areas roamed by tigers. Adequate organics turned
>> into the soil along with compost tea treatments and we are actually
>> getting the grass to grow and replace less.
>
> But captive tigers just pad about, they don't skid around at high
>speed, tearing up turf, like dogs do :-) Do tigers dig a hole to poo,
>like cats?
>
> Janet

The big cats weigh over 500 pounds. Sometimes as much as 700, so apples and
oranges.

[Beecrofter]

"Kyle Boatright" > wrote in message >...
> I have a yard, not a pasture! ;-)
>
> Seriously, I think I'm doomed, but hate the idea of a muddy back yard for
> the next decade.
>
No you have a kennel

You should see the excavations my 3 german sheps can do.

[Ann]

"LeeAnne" > expounded:

>Hey that stuff's neat!! How do you install it - shred up an area, put them
>down and then plant seed?

They are cook, aren't they? I've often thought if I ever build a
house I'd make the driveway out of them. This Odl House used them on
a driveway years ago.

--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
********************************

[Kyle Boatright]

"Tom Jaszewski" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 24 Jan 2003 22:53:50 GMT, Janet Baraclough
> > wrote:
>
> >The message >
> >from Tom Jaszewski > contains these words:
> >
> >
> >> We have large turf areas roamed by tigers. Adequate organics turned
> >> into the soil along with compost tea treatments and we are actually
> >> getting the grass to grow and replace less.
> >
> > But captive tigers just pad about, they don't skid around at high
> >speed, tearing up turf, like dogs do :-) Do tigers dig a hole to poo,
> >like cats?
> >
> > Janet
> >
> >
>
>
> Ever had a cat? now try a 600 pounder, far more energy than any
> dog....
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> tomj
>
> "Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all
evolution.
> Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages."
>
> - Thomas Edison

You've never been around a Border Collie, have you?

;-)

Kyle

[Kyle Boatright]

"Beecrofter" > wrote in message
m...
> "Kyle Boatright" > wrote in message
>...
> > I have a yard, not a pasture! ;-)
> >
> > Seriously, I think I'm doomed, but hate the idea of a muddy back yard
for
> > the next decade.
> >
> No you have a kennel
>
> You should see the excavations my 3 german sheps can do.

Fortunately, he doesn't dig, and since he's only outside when I play with
him, he doesn't spend 12 hours a day pounding the grass into dust.
Unfortunately, 20 minutes a day of frisbee and tennis ball tossing does a
pretty good job of pounding the grass into dust anyway.

KB

[Ann]

Ann > expounded:

>cook

cool (damned fingernails!)

--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
********************************

[Tom Jaszewski]

On Sun, 26 Jan 2003 00:28:55 GMT, "Kyle Boatright"
> wrote:

>You've never been around a Border Collie, have you?
>
>;-)
>
>Kyle
>
Nope, the tigers eat them....

*VBG*






Regards,

tomj

"Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution.
Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages."

- Thomas Edison

[germ]

You find pavers like that all over Germany being used in commercial
parking lots. Much nicer and cooler in the summer than acres of
blacktop. It would be wonderful if it caught on over here.
(Cynically) Codes would probably prevent such a wonderful idea!


Ann > wrote in message >...
> "LeeAnne" > expounded:
>
> >Hey that stuff's neat!! How do you install it - shred up an area, put them
> >down and then plant seed?
>
> They are cook, aren't they? I've often thought if I ever build a
> house I'd make the driveway out of them. This Odl House used them on
> a driveway years ago.

[Wendy B G]

>Hey that stuff's neat!! How do you install it - shred up an area, put them
>down and then plant seed?

I would expect E.P. Henry to provide instructions.

I happen to love the rounded-edge, mottled look of pavers. Rod has installed 2
backyard patios, a path, and a driveway out of pavers. I think they are
beautiful :-).

The key to keeping an area of pavers level is to provide a stable, level
underlayment. Because of this, you wouldn't want to shred the ground below. You
would want to keep it solid, to provide a firm footing. Then you put builder's
sand and firm that in. This will prevent possible uneven settling of the earth,
which would displace the pavers.

The pavers are 2" thick. Rod dug down about 5" (we hired a front-end loader for
the driveway), then put in 3" of builder's sand. The pavers lie on the sand.

For open-grid pavers, stable underlayment would be important. They are larger
than the "cobble type" pavers, so uneven settling would displace the edge even
more.

If I was doing the job, I would put in 3" of sand. Then I would lay the pavers
on top of the sand. Then I would fill the open grid area with 2" of good
topsoil, add grass seed, and water. I would expect the topsoil to subside about
0.5". This would keep the root area of the grass below the top surface of the
pavers. Then, when the dogs run over the pavers, they won't scrape the grass.

Wendy
Wilmington, DE (Zone 7)

[Bob]

LOL

Bob

"Tom Jaszewski" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 26 Jan 2003 00:28:55 GMT, "Kyle Boatright"
> > wrote:
>
> >You've never been around a Border Collie, have you?
> >
> >;-)
> >
> >Kyle
> >
> Nope, the tigers eat them....
>
> *VBG*
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Regards,
>
> tomj
>
> "Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all
evolution.
> Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages."
>
> - Thomas Edison