alternative to artificial turf

Posts

• ViewAhead Posts: 866

  24 January

  Good morning ... and welcome! 🙂
  
  Is there artificial grass laid at the moment?  Have you ruled out real grass for any reason other than the shade?  Do you need a surface that is easy to clean up after the dogs or do they go for walks for that kind of thing?  What size is the area under consideration?
  
  Sorry for so many qus.  🙂  Any garden with 3 dogs is going to get a lot of wear and tear. 

  
  
  

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• AnniD Posts: 12,585

  24 January

  Tricky question. You can buy specialist turf for shady areas which may help
  https://www.turfonline.co.uk/blog/buying-turf-shaded-areas/
  
  Hopefully dog owning forum members can help   

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• GardenerSuze Posts: 5,692

  24 January

  @helen51821 How big is your garden? Is there an area for the dogs, or do they have access to the whole garden. I don't own a dog but I assume they would like some natural grass too. In some shady areas grass may not grow at all, under trees for instance. You can get grass seed for a shady lawn but if your soil is poor draining it would be ruined in the winter months and there would be a long wait for it to grow.
  Whatever you do it needs to be porous so that the rain runs through especially with the latest flooding in mind.
  If the dogs have access all areas including running through flower beds you will have a continuous problem.  Sorry you have waited a while for a reply I would continue to enjoy your beloved dogs and accept your garden as their playground.
  
  One thing, you could try posting a photo someone with more doggie knowledge may have a solution.

  I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.

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• Loxley Posts: 5,698

  24 January edited 24 January

  Bark, perhaps? (I'll get my coat)
  
  A lot depends on the size of the garden, and the type of dogs. My garden is small, and I have a greyhound, and a frequent lurcher visitor. They are happy lying around on dog beds laid on the stone paving. The rest of the garden is perennial beds with a slate gravel path. They don't really get amongst the planting very much (and if they do I call them away!) There isn't really room for a full on zoomie session, and the devastation that would entail.

  "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 

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• Waterbut Posts: 344

  24 January

  Grass is best for picking up dog poos.

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• ViewAhead Posts: 866

  30 January

  Hi, @helen51821.  You sent me a private message, but may have meant to post here. 🙂
  
  So, you have on-its-last-legs artificial grass at the moment and I agree, it is not great for the environment.  When you take it up, there may be a sandy layer underneath and the soil will be short on insect life.  You could put down real grass, though quite a bit of preparation would be needed, and seeding would be tricky as it would need time to establish without the dogs going on.  So, turf might be your only option there, which would be more costly.  I like Loxley's idea of patio paving with dog beds.  That would work in a shady area and be relatively maintenance free.  All "moving" surfaces (gravel, bark, slates, etc) might not be the best for running about on.  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• madpenguin Posts: 2,543

  30 January

  I would go with paving of some sort.

  “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings

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• helen51821 Posts: 2

  31 January

  Thanks all for your alternative to artificial turf suggestions, especially the Turfonline link, AnniD- looks really promising. 

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