Dogs and mud

madatdogs – posted 10 March 2004 09:00

Our lawn was newly seeded last October, so it is a quite new. We have two 60-pound dogs, and they have left a large mud patch at the area where the deck steps end. The rest of the newly-seeded lawn is looking pretty good (by my standards).

My question is this: How do we re-seed the mud patch without the dogs trampling it again? We have tried to think of everything short of putting in concrete. Blocking off part of it while it grows strong? Help! : )

Jajana – posted 12 March 2004 10:54

I know exactly what you are talking about. I have two 90 lbs labs and they have turned the lawn just off my patio into bare dirt. Gross! I’m right now trying to repair this and yes I plan to fence off that area till my St. Augustine sod takes hold. I have no idea if this will work. It may just be an expensive experiment. Cost of sand, sod, fence and posts adding up. I’ll let you know.

Dchall_San_Antonio – posted 15 March 2004 08:38

If you put a landing at the bottom of the steps, you will distribute the area where the dogs can enter the yard. If the dogs have to hit the soil at the same spot every time, as they would coming off steps directly to soil, they will tear it up. I ended up putting a 20 foot walk way down – basically an extension of my deck, so the dogs can enter the yard anywhere along the 40 foot path (20 feet on both sides). I also added a second set of steps with a flagstone and brick landing for the dogs.

All I can say about having the deck is “what a Godsend!” Before the deck, we had all that mud tracked into the kitchen all day long. Our kitchen looked like a river bottom.

Nydiroth – posted 04 April 2004 17:35

I have the same problem with my shepherds. I ended up with a 4’x4′ mud hole. I got what looks like green rubber chicken wire. Cannot remember the name. I just lay it out over the seeded area and it lessens the displaced mud/soil when the dogs run, but allows the sun to get through.

With the spring rains, my dogs tear up the grass pretty easily and I’ve ended up putting concrete pavers from the deck steps about 4′ into the yard. Not the prettiest, but, it helps with the abuse from the dogs going up/down the steps.

Dave