Ideas for a decent garden with dogs
Discussion
Background - had a lovely garden and then the Springer came along. Although we're out for a couple of hours per day on walks/runs, he's still managed to dig up/chew/mulch the playbark and the lining underneath and the grass is more a mud bath with green patches here and there! We have clay soil and parts of the grass always seem to be wet.
Now we have the Labradoodle pup as well - completely different dog and not hyper like the Springer, but I want to sort the garden out this year, get it looking good again and keep it that way! We have a big patio and small deck/pergola already, so don't really need any features, more decent ground coverage.
So, thoughts so far are:
- artificial lawn (shingle or stones the Springer will pick up/eat I suspect as probably will pup whilst growing up)
- turn what was the playbark/son's play area into something else! No idea what though! This is a raised area, bordered with 3ft log posts.
Any thoughts/ideas much appreciated.
Now we have the Labradoodle pup as well - completely different dog and not hyper like the Springer, but I want to sort the garden out this year, get it looking good again and keep it that way! We have a big patio and small deck/pergola already, so don't really need any features, more decent ground coverage.
So, thoughts so far are:
- artificial lawn (shingle or stones the Springer will pick up/eat I suspect as probably will pup whilst growing up)
- turn what was the playbark/son's play area into something else! No idea what though! This is a raised area, bordered with 3ft log posts.
Any thoughts/ideas much appreciated.
Artificial lawn is probably the way to go.
Spent a fortune getting mine landscaped. 2 springers later and it's fast starting to look like somewhere heavy ordnance gets tested less than 2 years on
The bits we got slate gravel type stuff put down on, they take great pleasure in rearranging, then digging holes etc. I swear they're building man traps.
Spent a fortune getting mine landscaped. 2 springers later and it's fast starting to look like somewhere heavy ordnance gets tested less than 2 years on
The bits we got slate gravel type stuff put down on, they take great pleasure in rearranging, then digging holes etc. I swear they're building man traps.
Ahh, all so familiar!
We had a few fence panels replaced yesterday - one wouldn't sit properly due to a lump underneath - turned out to be a bone he'd buried.
Yet again, the Springer had been entertained by neighbour's grandchildren - calling him, pushing the slats apart and of course, the Springer duly obliged by biting through the slats and removing, 10 minutes later nice big gap to get through :rollseyes:
Closed featherboard has solved that problem for now!
We had a few fence panels replaced yesterday - one wouldn't sit properly due to a lump underneath - turned out to be a bone he'd buried.
Yet again, the Springer had been entertained by neighbour's grandchildren - calling him, pushing the slats apart and of course, the Springer duly obliged by biting through the slats and removing, 10 minutes later nice big gap to get through :rollseyes:
Closed featherboard has solved that problem for now!
Avoid bark, it can be toxic I believe if the dogs eat it.
Very lucky with our whippet, he does not churn the garden. even when he has a mad charge around the lawn!
Artificial sounds like a good idea, they use this at my son's nursery, which means they can go out in the garden all year round and not get caked in mud.
Very lucky with our whippet, he does not churn the garden. even when he has a mad charge around the lawn!
Artificial sounds like a good idea, they use this at my son's nursery, which means they can go out in the garden all year round and not get caked in mud.
Stu R said:
Enjoy your forthcoming tunnel 
Marvellous, thanks for that!Bex - definitely not getting more playbark, we don't need that type of covering now - was great when son was 2 yrs old - nice and safe and had his sandpit up there (he's nearly 12 now!). I had read about the dangers of it, but it was post-destruction by said Springer, by which time it had all pretty much disappeared - doglet's digging had deposited most of it under a shrub and behind son's playhouse.
Had another idea - create a patio area for dining on the raised area and put a conservatory on the current patio. Does that count as "sorting the garden"
I have had artifical grass put down in my garden as it had turned into a mud bath. I do however also have crushed slate around the outside. The annoying thing with the slate is that sometimes my dogs like to dig it all up.
With the artificial grass I have had to put addtional mini sleepers around the rest of the edges as my dogs were lifting the edges to dig underneath.
before (on a good day):
After (I have since extended the sleepers accross the front so that dogs don't pull it up):
A year after it had been fitted, it still looks good. The main tasks are to remove the leaves and pick up sticks from the tree. In Summer it does need to be freshened up by either using a deoderiser or disinfectant. Does not take long. Every now and again I go over it with the hose as well to clean off any marks the dogs have left. It was well worth it as the dogs no longer come back in messy from the garden and it looks good all yeard round.
With the artificial grass I have had to put addtional mini sleepers around the rest of the edges as my dogs were lifting the edges to dig underneath.
before (on a good day):
After (I have since extended the sleepers accross the front so that dogs don't pull it up):
A year after it had been fitted, it still looks good. The main tasks are to remove the leaves and pick up sticks from the tree. In Summer it does need to be freshened up by either using a deoderiser or disinfectant. Does not take long. Every now and again I go over it with the hose as well to clean off any marks the dogs have left. It was well worth it as the dogs no longer come back in messy from the garden and it looks good all yeard round.
Excellent to see the artificial lawn post dog use! Does look fantastic and I think that has pretty much made my mind up, espcially with the upkeep being fairly minimal.
Have spoken to 1 or 2 local suppliers of it, they fit a solid edge around it as standard (looks like a concrete round topped kerb).
Shall avoid slate - have some in the front garden (looks like the same plum slate you have there Dave) and it goes all over the place if the Springer walks on it. I have a couple of shaped border sections with mature shrubs/plants that the Springer hasn't dug out/killed, with a larger area of planting on the raised area - which the Springer uses as a Jungle walk through! That bit needs re-designing as the water feature in there still reminds me of a frozen turkey 8 years on!
Conservatory quote for a 5m x 3m on it's way...expensive garden re-vamp, but getting a much clearer idea how good it could look once again.
Have spoken to 1 or 2 local suppliers of it, they fit a solid edge around it as standard (looks like a concrete round topped kerb).
Shall avoid slate - have some in the front garden (looks like the same plum slate you have there Dave) and it goes all over the place if the Springer walks on it. I have a couple of shaped border sections with mature shrubs/plants that the Springer hasn't dug out/killed, with a larger area of planting on the raised area - which the Springer uses as a Jungle walk through! That bit needs re-designing as the water feature in there still reminds me of a frozen turkey 8 years on!
Conservatory quote for a 5m x 3m on it's way...expensive garden re-vamp, but getting a much clearer idea how good it could look once again.
I wish we could have an artificial lawn.
We're renting... been here for 2 months, and the garden is already a mud bath with patches of grass.
Not really too sure what how we're going to fix it... the problem is that they won't stop running to pick the toys up; they just sort of splay their back legs out whilst still at full speed, making massive ruts of mud!
Go artifical, OP!
We're renting... been here for 2 months, and the garden is already a mud bath with patches of grass.
Not really too sure what how we're going to fix it... the problem is that they won't stop running to pick the toys up; they just sort of splay their back legs out whilst still at full speed, making massive ruts of mud!
Go artifical, OP!
e320dave said:
I have had artifical grass put down in my garden as it had turned into a mud bath. I do however also have crushed slate around the outside. The annoying thing with the slate is that sometimes my dogs like to dig it all up.
With the artificial grass I have had to put addtional mini sleepers around the rest of the edges as my dogs were lifting the edges to dig underneath.
before (on a good day):
After (I have since extended the sleepers accross the front so that dogs don't pull it up):
A year after it had been fitted, it still looks good. The main tasks are to remove the leaves and pick up sticks from the tree. In Summer it does need to be freshened up by either using a deoderiser or disinfectant. Does not take long. Every now and again I go over it with the hose as well to clean off any marks the dogs have left. It was well worth it as the dogs no longer come back in messy from the garden and it looks good all yeard round.
Can I ask how much that cost please?With the artificial grass I have had to put addtional mini sleepers around the rest of the edges as my dogs were lifting the edges to dig underneath.
before (on a good day):
After (I have since extended the sleepers accross the front so that dogs don't pull it up):
A year after it had been fitted, it still looks good. The main tasks are to remove the leaves and pick up sticks from the tree. In Summer it does need to be freshened up by either using a deoderiser or disinfectant. Does not take long. Every now and again I go over it with the hose as well to clean off any marks the dogs have left. It was well worth it as the dogs no longer come back in messy from the garden and it looks good all yeard round.
bull996 said:
Can I ask how much that cost please?
I had 4m x 11m grass @ <£1200. This one was the best out of all their samples. It was not quite the best out of all the samples I saw (although in the top 2 or 3), however taking into account the cost of the grass and the installation, it was certainly the best value.Then an additional 1400 for groundwork and labour, including all hardcore etc. I also got them to do an extra 23.5sqm groundwork (hardcore etc) where the slate went as it was easier (and cheaper) to get it all done at once. All in took 3 guys 2 days to do the work.
Preparation was levelling the ground, Geofix ground stabilisation fabric, MOT type 1 and grit sand as well as compacting.
We've got 2 Bulldogs who love playing in the garden and tear round chasing each other so it was just a losing battle with the grass. Went for artificial and it's the best money we spent on outside work. Here's a thread from just after it was done -
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It's my mates company so if you're interested I'll give you his details, he covers the whole of the country.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It's my mates company so if you're interested I'll give you his details, he covers the whole of the country.
My dogs have always seemed to have a preference for the concreted or patio brick areas.
They do of course use the lawn, playing, fetching ball and crapping.
For casual ball fetching my current mutt will go in a straight line to capture the ball then bring it back via the nearest path. (Unless intructed to bring it straight back)
Our visitors find it amusing to see a dog using the paths like a human.
And of course a hard surface is better for the nails.
Drainage I think is the key, they don't start cricket matches until the grass is dry ! Wet grass does not fair well under heavy use.
Green sand is a good soil modifier.(I think)
They do of course use the lawn, playing, fetching ball and crapping.
For casual ball fetching my current mutt will go in a straight line to capture the ball then bring it back via the nearest path
. (Unless intructed to bring it straight back)Our visitors find it amusing to see a dog using the paths like a human.
And of course a hard surface is better for the nails.
Drainage I think is the key, they don't start cricket matches until the grass is dry ! Wet grass does not fair well under heavy use.
Green sand is a good soil modifier.(I think)
Thanks for all the replies, thoughts and advice - all much appreciated.
Have a good plan in mind now:
Current patio will mostly be taken up with a conservatory. If the raised area can be lowered to the current grass level (would need a retaining wall at the boundary I guess or it'll have to be sloped), we will put the new patio infront of the conservatory.
We could put in a covered area down the side of the house that's not used at all instead of replacing the playhouse with a shed for the garden loungers (detached property so gate/access path will be kept clear). Meaning we can put artificial lawn right across the width of the garden and it'll make it look bigger, given we're taking a good chunk for the conservatory.
We'll add in some border planting and remove the current jungle that the Springer unfortunately loves! Some of the old paving slabs will also go where we've currently got grass under the kitchen/utility windows, as we need somewhere to keep 3 wheelie bins (was just 1 when I had it landscaped originally) and they'll be out of view from inside the house.
The current deck/pergola and pathway will all remain in situ, thankfully!
Part of the reason some of the grass has remained wet is a couple of trees are over-shadowing it, but the growth has been useful as it completely blocks out a house diagonal to ours.
Have a good plan in mind now:
Current patio will mostly be taken up with a conservatory. If the raised area can be lowered to the current grass level (would need a retaining wall at the boundary I guess or it'll have to be sloped), we will put the new patio infront of the conservatory.
We could put in a covered area down the side of the house that's not used at all instead of replacing the playhouse with a shed for the garden loungers (detached property so gate/access path will be kept clear). Meaning we can put artificial lawn right across the width of the garden and it'll make it look bigger, given we're taking a good chunk for the conservatory.
We'll add in some border planting and remove the current jungle that the Springer unfortunately loves! Some of the old paving slabs will also go where we've currently got grass under the kitchen/utility windows, as we need somewhere to keep 3 wheelie bins (was just 1 when I had it landscaped originally) and they'll be out of view from inside the house.
The current deck/pergola and pathway will all remain in situ, thankfully!
Part of the reason some of the grass has remained wet is a couple of trees are over-shadowing it, but the growth has been useful as it completely blocks out a house diagonal to ours.
I've got an old Cairn ( problem is that he don't accept that). I've also got a rented house - so I'm not paying out for Turf etc. But we've also got wild grass - which keeps coming back . He has this (terrier)habit of scratching ,with both rear legs - result a spot devoid of grass .In fact he does a good job of stopping growth od wild grass. And now - we've got "Bald " patches on the rear . But I've let him run wild in the garden - he's almost 11 - so he's having a great old age . But I can appreciate what other energetic dogs do to a garden . I just accept his performance and look for him to settle down to his last few years .And he has a field day doinf his bird scarer thing . I just say ,if you've got a active dog - enjoy. One day , he'll not be an active dog - just one that needs to be let out for a P in the bark .
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