Over the winter, pets tend to migrate to a localized area to take care of business when nature calls. Unfortunately, this can lead to lawn damage. Urine isn’t good for grass, and it can easily lead to yellow spots and dead patches that will need to be repaired. This can happen even if you aren’t a pet owner yourself, as neighbourhood dogs and cats will lift their legs wherever and whenever the need strikes.
Fortunately, there are straightforward fixes for winter pet damage to lawns. Whether you want to repair problem areas yourself or hire an experienced professional, here’s a step-by-step breakdown.
Fixing Winter Pet Damage to Your Lawn
The first thing you’ll want to do is get rid of the damaged or dead grass and prepare the area to be re-seeded. To do this, you’ll need to perform a heavy-duty raking, then aerate and fertilize the affected section of your lawn.
Aeration opens up the soil in your lawn, allowing greater quantities of oxygen to penetrate it. This promotes the healthier and more robust growth of the replacement grass. Fertilizers support strong roots and provide growing grass with essential nutrients.
Once you’ve completed these prep steps, you can then proceed with a top dress and seeding. When doing the top dress, you should spread generous quantities of soil over the area you’re repairing. It’s a good idea to visit your local home and garden retailer so you can gather suggestions for quality soils from professionals.
After completing the top dress, spread the seeds and water the area immediately. You’ll enjoy the best results if you have a built-in irrigation system, and you’ll also save water along the way.
Then, water the newly re-seeded area regularly. Keep a close eye on progress, and if you don’t see significant growth within a couple of weeks, you can try seeding the area again. Adding peat moss can help if your newly planted grass is struggling to grow, as peat moss helps keep moisture in the soil.
If all goes well, the damaged area will no longer be detectable after a few weeks!
Preventing Pet Damage
Of course, the best way to solve the lawn problems that pets can cause is to avoid them in the first place. Here are some proven tips that can help you steer clear of urine damage:
- Go for a walk. Encourage your pet not to leave a mess in your yard by taking it for a walk. Head to a local park or another public area where it’s acceptable for pets to do their business. Just make sure to clean up properly.
- Limit the pet’s exposure to a particular area. Pets get cold outdoors in the winter very easily, and they keep moving to stay warm. The problem is that they usually move across the same spaces in the same direction every time. This can also wear down the grass. Mitigate this risk by changing up the area where you let it out.
- Use multiple potty sites. Another added benefit of introducing your pet to different outdoor areas is that it won’t go potty in the same place every time. While even small amounts of pet urine can damage grass, your lawn is more likely to need extensive repairs if your pet goes in the same place every time.
Call Mirage for Professional Calgary Landscaping Help
While the method for repairing pet damage is pretty straightforward, results can vary. Experienced professionals have the skill and know-how to generate great results, time and time again. If you need help repairing winter damage from pets, Mirage Landscaping is here to help.
Mirage Landscaping also provides expert irrigation system installation and maintenance services. Trust their seasoned crews to get your system up and running properly when spring arrives, or to install a brand-new set of irrigation sprinklers that will help you save water and reduce labour.
You can also count on Mirage for:
- Spring clean-up services
- Calgary landscaping and property maintenance services for both residential and commercial properties
- Landscape construction services
- …and much more!
Our family-run Calgary landscaping company is pleased to provide reliable services delivered by qualified professionals at rates you can afford. Get started today by contacting Mirage Landscaping for a fast, free service quote.
