Dogs and Zoysia

DML5130 – posted 08 April 2012 07:23

I live on Long Island NY and am trying to grow a lawn that will be tough enough for 3 large dogs to run around on. At this point, I am not even concerned that it is green for an extended period of time. I realize I chose to have dogs, and I will never have a perfect lawn. At this point, I just want to cut back on the mud. I was hoping if I planted Zoysia plugs that it will be durable enough to withstand the dogs running around on it. I’ve tried reseeding 3 years in a row, keeping the dogs off the seeds for 4 or 5 weeks each year, but it is not enough time for the lawn to take. I have inground sprinklers, so keeping the seeds moist while growing was not the problem. I’ve seen posts that Zoysia will not grown in tbe North, but my neighbor has it for her front lawn. She has no dogs running around on it however. Any opinion as to whether or not i should plant the plugs with my 3 large dogs would be helpful.

gt2201b – posted 08 April 2012 18:57

quote:Originally posted by DML5130:I live on Long Island NY and am trying to grow a lawn that will be tough enough for 3 large dogs to run around on. At this point, I am not even concerned that it is green for an extended period of time. I realize I chose to have dogs, and I will never have a perfect lawn. At this point, I just want to cut back on the mud. I was hoping if I planted Zoysia plugs that it will be durable enough to withstand the dogs running around on it. I’ve tried reseeding 3 years in a row, keeping the dogs off the seeds for 4 or 5 weeks each year, but it is not enough time for the lawn to take. I have inground sprinklers, so keeping the seeds moist while growing was not the problem. I’ve seen posts that Zoysia will not grown in tbe North, but my neighbor has it for her front lawn. She has no dogs running around on it however. Any opinion as to whether or not i should plant the plugs with my 3 large dogs would be helpful.

I’m not sure how long your zoysia will remain green that far north but here’s a couple of tips.

Dog urine will kill zoysia. You will have a round brown spot every place they urinate (if they are big dogs).

I’ve used burlap over seeds and it will prevent any birds/dogs from disturbing the germination process.

Zoysia is a very slow growing grass. It will probably take years for the plugs to fill-in. I would use sod if that’s possible.

If you can get past the urination, fill-in time, and seeding issues, zoysia will definitely hold up to wear/tear. It’s a very dense grass almost like a carpet.

DML5130 – posted 08 April 2012 20:13

Thank you for your reply. I’ve tried seceral different types of seeds over the past few years, which is why i wanted to try the zoysia plugs. The burlap idea would be great except the dogs will trample over it and probably tear it up! I’ve tried covering seeds with hay in the past, and it worked great at keeping the moisture in…..but there were no dogs in that area. If I get the plugs, i realize it could take a couple of years to fill in, but my goal is to have less mud! and with any type of grass, green or not, I will have less mud. I’ve read if the dogs are fed food with less corn and rice, it will cut down on the nitrogen in their urine, which lessen the brown spots. My dogs are on very good food,with little corn, rice…so my brownspots arent too bad now. I also water daily, which also helps. (It hekps with the little grass I have left, but it generates mud…catch 22!) Thanks again for your reply.