If you’re preparing for an active pet, chances are good that you’re already worried about unwanted lawn damage caused by your furry friend. Even if you’re still able to maintain your lawn with a new furry friend, you’ll want to start preparations early so that the damage doesn’t get out of hand and start affecting the overall health of your grass or the look of your lawn. Below are six effective ways to prepare your lawn for an active pet.
1. Choose the Right Grass
One of your biggest concerns when preparing your lawn for a pet is undoubtedly going to be what kind of grass to plant. The most common types are Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and Bermuda grass.
Kentucky bluegrass is one of your safest bets when it comes to a healthy lawn: It’s drought-tolerant and will hold up well even if you don’t pay attention in dry weather. If you don’t want as much maintenance, however, go with Bermuda grass; it’s naturally disease-resistant and can tolerate being walked on by bare feet—something you’re not likely to do with other kinds of grasses.
2. Add Walkways
As you prepare to add a pet to your family, it’s a good idea to add walkways to your property. In addition to making your yard look more aesthetically pleasing, they’ll serve as a pathway for you to walk your pet in without disturbing the grass. That way, you can make sure your lawn is green, growing, and healthy.
3. Use Turf
Another important way to prepare your lawn for pets is by using artificial pet turf, which will look great and last far longer than natural grass. Using turf also comes with some other benefits, such as reduced maintenance costs. You can place turf over top of existing grass or use it in areas where your pet’s activity isn’t frequent—like in front of a garage or along a back fence.
4. Add Fences
It’s a good idea to provide a physical barrier between your pet and potentially harmful or irritating elements of your yard. For example, wood fences can keep pets from wandering into pools and sprinklers and away from plants you don’t want them digging in.
Solid fences will also help prevent your pet from chasing nearby animals or running out into traffic. Of course, these options can be expensive and may not be viable for everyone—but if you’re able, they’re worth considering. For example, if you want your pet to run around freely on your property, consider investing in a well-fenced backyard.
5. Have Your Pet Use the Bathroom in a Specific Area
Another helpful tip for keeping a perfect lawn with your pet around is to have your pet use a specific bathroom area. Doing this will teach your pet where to go so the rest of the lawn is untouched. To get your pet used to a particular area of your lawn as a bathroom, you can place their litter box or a pee pad in that spot. That way, your pet will go there on instinct.
If there is a specific area in your yard that you want to keep your pet from, consider planting dogwoods and lavender. These are especially aromatic plants and easy-to-grow landscaping choices that help keep other animals away from your yard. Plant them close enough so that they can deter animals without impeding walkways or making them difficult to reach.
6. Add a Pet Door
Adding a pet door can also be helpful when caring for your lawn with an active pet. This way, your pet can come and go as they please. This will also potentially prevent them from digging up your lawn or urinating on it as they won’t get bored being confined outside.
7. Consider Pet Insurance
There is no telling what troubles your active pet can get into when exploring the outdoors. Making sure you have the proper assets in place to protect your pet in the event of a serious injury or health issue can be of huge service to you. For example, when you look for pet insurance in Las Vegas, it becomes clear that our furry friends can get into very expensive troubles. With the proper insurance premium in place, the cost becomes much less. While we all hope our pets never get into extreme dangers, a general pet insurance policy can bring you peace of mind.
Final Thoughts
It’s not always easy to maintain your lawn if you have an active pet who likes to roll around, play fetch, and explore in the backyard or on the front lawn. Thankfully, there are many ways you can prevent your pet from destroying your greenery. Keep this guide in mind as you prepare your lawn for your new furry friend.
