Best Turf for Dogs
Are you looking for the best turf for dogs?
Our four-legged friends play such a massive part in our lives but the constant playing, toilet breaks, and digging can have a negative effect on your lawn.
This is why choosing a premium-quality turf, such as Rye Gold Turf, that’s designed to withstand the typical challenges dogs bring, is so important if you want a beautiful lawn the neighbours will be jealous of.
Natural Vs Artificial Turf
When choosing turf for your garden and your pet, one of the biggest decisions is whether to go for natural or artificial grass. As a provider of natural turf, we may be slightly biased – but there are many good reasons to choose real grass.
Most artificial turf sold in the UK is imported from China and often has a cheap latex backing. This can absorb dog urine, leading to strong and unpleasant odours. Artificial grass is also usually made with plastic and chemical compounds. While it's generally safe for dogs to play on, it could cause problems if chewed or swallowed. Another thing to think about is heat. Artificial turf can get very hot in the summer and may need to be watered before your pet can use it to avoid burning their paws. On the plus side, artificial grass does need less care than real turf.
Most synthetic turf is made with plastics and potentially harmful chemical compounds. Unlike natural grass, it can also bake in the sun and burn dog pads and feet.
Natural turf, on the other hand, has good drainage and breaks down bacteria naturally, so it doesn’t hold the smell of dog urine. It also stays cool, is non-toxic, and provides a soft and safe place for your pet to play in any weather. Natural turf can be easily repaired in case of any damage caused by your four-legged friend too, which may be trickier to do with an artificial lawn.
Check out our 'Benefits of Natural Turf' blog to learn more.
Why Rye Gold is the Best Turf for Dogs
Online Turf has been selling Rye Gold Turf for over 20 years and its unique seed blend of perennial ryegrass and red fescue allows it to withstand the typical challenges that your lawn will face if you have a dog (or dogs!). The reason why it is the best turf for dogs comes down to its key attributes:
Wear & Tear Tolerant
As any dog owner knows, stopping your dog from running around your lawn and chasing a ball is not an easy task. However, over time, this can lead to bald spots and a patchy lawn.
This is why our Rye Gold Turf is designed to handle heavy foot traffic caused by pets and other family members with ease due to its main component – perennial ryegrass. Ryegrass is known to be one of the most durable grass types, meaning it can quickly recover after being damaged.
On top of this, red fescue grass is also known for its hardiness along with the ability to form very dense turf, positively contributing to your lawn’s luxurious appearance. It also requires less light than ryegrass, making Rye Gold turf more shade resistant.
Together, these grasses create a strong, attractive lawn that can bounce back from digging and day-to-day play while only needing minimal care to do so.
With Rye Gold Turf, you truly don’t have to choose between a lawn that looks great and one that stands up to your pets - you can have both.
Tolerant of Dog Urine
The best turf for dogs needs to be able to cope with high amounts of dog urine.
Dog urine can be tricky for certain grass types to deal with, as it tends to be high in nitrogen. While a small amount isn't harmful, too much can burn your grass, causing it to turn yellow or brown. In the worst case scenario, it may even kill it.
While it's impossible for grass to be completely immune to this, the ryegrass used in our Rye Gold Turf is one of the most urine-resistant grasses. This means it can tolerate higher nitrogen levels by having a greater nitrogen absorption than other turf types and recovers quicker from the stress that they have caused.
In the long term, choosing Rye Gold Turf means your grass keeps its vibrant, green appearance for longer, while staying healthier and recovering quicker from any stress caused by your pets' regular visits.
Suitable for the UK Climate
There are two main types of grasses: warm-season and cool-season grasses.
Warm-season grasses grow best in hot climates. They start growing actively when temperatures are between 27°C and 35°C, and they go dormant in colder weather. Because of this, they perform best in warmer regions like Australia or the southern parts of the US. They’re also more drought-tolerant, as they’re used to dry, hot conditions.
Cool-season grasses, on the other hand, grow best during spring and autumn, when temperatures are between 15°C and 24°C. They can slow down or go dormant during the hot summer months, but they handle colder weather and frost much better in winter.
It’s important to choose turf that suits your local climate. If the grass type isn’t suited to where you live, it will already be under stress - and regular playing, running, or urinating from your dog will only make things worse.
That’s why Rye Gold is made entirely from cool-season grasses, which are perfectly suited to the cooler, wetter UK climate.
Quick Germination and Establishment
When you're investing in new turf, you want to enjoy it – and so does your dog – as soon as possible without unnecessary delays. Rye Gold Turf allows you to do just that.
Famous for its ability to establish incredibly quickly, often in as little as 3-4 weeks, it guarantees your lawn will be ready for play and relaxation in no time. This rapid establishment also significantly reduces the risk of your pets damaging the lawn during the early growth phase.
But the benefits don't end there! Here at Online Turf, we also sell the Rye Gold Lawn Seed that we use to grow our turf. This means you can easily overseed your lawn in case of any damage and expect the same premium quality result as from our turf rolls once it germinates. The grasses used in our mix are known for their ability to germinate incredibly quickly, so fixing any bare patches caused by your furry friend won't take long, and your lawn will be back to looking its best without unnecessary delays.
Natural grass has many benefits compared to artificial grass. It doesn’t hold on to smells from your pet’s regular toilet trips, and it stays safe for them to walk on even during the hottest part of the day, so it won’t burn their paws.
Rye Gold is especially good for dogs because it can cope with lots of paw traffic, handles the high nitrogen levels from pet urine, is well-suited to the UK weather, and recovers quickly from any damage with only a little care.
