Pets and turf: All you need to know

We often get questions about whether artificial grass is suitable for pets.

Many dog owners we speak to have reservations about laying artificial grass for their garden, fearful that their pets won’t like it. But the truth is, we’ve lost count of the number of homeowners who have told us how happy their pet is in their TigerTurf garden.

Perhaps they appreciate the soft dry surface of our landscape lawns, so much nicer than harsh concrete runs, muddy and dusty soil, or, worse still, gravel.

And our lawns will not become unpleasantly hot for pets to lie on, although they will, of course, need shade in the heat of the day.

Won't my pet destroy the synthetic turf?

Our synthetic lawn turfs are manufactured from the same top-quality components as our renowned sports turfs, utterly hammered by the world’s best sports players day after day.

As well as being the best choice for pets, TigerTurf landscape lawns look superb in gardens, for large areas or just where natural grass is difficult to maintain under shady trees, high traffic areas, or where pets spend their time.

What happens when my pet does its business on the turf?

Animal urine is high in nitrogen, which burns natural grass, killing the blades affected and causing unsightly brown patches in your green lawn, while synthetic grass is not discoloured by the nitrogen.

The cleaning routine for artificial grass is swift and easy. Hosing down the area regularly is a sensible hygiene practice and will avoid any lingering smell of urine. If you want to go an extra step towards ensuring a bacteria-free play area for your children and pets, you can mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle to spray down areas where pets frequently urinate.

Clean up the number twos, just as you would anyway, then hose the surface down to wash away any residue.

If correctly installed, and you have taken expert advice with regard to the appropriate synthetic grass, the surface will drain freely in rain, and water will wash away through the base when you are hosing the surface to refresh the artificial lawn. TigerTurf’s installation always includes effective drainage of the surface, so you’ll find it easy to hose clean, after removing droppings.

Does the surface contain any chemicals or toxins that could harm my pet?

All TigerTurf products are lead free. At TigerTurf, we use the highest quality yarns, from our parent company TenCate, which contain no toxic properties. Because we know where our yarns are manufactured we can guarantee the safety of the yarns that go into our products. This may not necessarily be the case with all synthetic turf surfaces so it is best to check the yarns’ origins.

Furthermore, synthetic turf has no need for expensive and harmful chemical, fertilisers, or pesticides. Does not need mowing, and no grass clipping to be carried indoors by children and pets.

There are no chemicals required in the care of manufactured lawns, and overall maintenance is much simpler and less time consuming than caring for conventional options.

Will it help reduce the occurrence of parasites such as ticks and fleas in my pets’ fur?

One benefit you’ll love is that synthetic fibre discourages fleas and ticks from becoming established in the surface.

While artificial pet grass won't completely eliminate pests, it does greatly reduce them. They simply can not live inside the blades of synthetic turf, and of course there is no soil to nest in.

Parasites such as fleas and ticks can live in natural lawns, making it very difficult to control the cycle of egg, lava, pupa, adult flea or tick. But these blood sucking parasites are not attracted to synthetic grass, solving a major problem for you, and for your pets and children.

TigerTurf lawns are durable, bringing many benefits beyond beauty

A synthetic lawn is a healthy, dry surface for dogs and cats. Other benefits, often overlooked, include:

• It can reduce seasonal allergies triggered by grasses, from which dogs can suffer just as we doNo more digging holes and buried bones in the backyard lawn
• No more muddy paw prints through the house or having to wipe your dog’s paws every time they come insideWith no clover to attract bees, the risk of bee stings for animals and children is avoided
• No prickles. Prickles can be a problem for animals because they stick into sensitive doggy pads and can be difficult to find and extract
• No grass seeds to become lodged between teeth and pads, possibly leading to expensive vet bills
• You can also wash your dog right on your lawn or in your dog run without getting muddy
• Plus, you may find that your dog’s coat also stays cleaner when he is not rolling around in natural grass with exposed soil

Fake lawns are just the same as natural lawns; your pets will enjoy artificial turf just as much as real grass but without all the dirt, mess, and ruined lawns.

Relax and enjoy your trouble-free TigerTurf lawn

So, with a book in hand, a glass beside your deck chair, you can be part of family time outdoors in your own version of paradise.

You can choose from a number of different surfaces so talk to TigerTurf about the benefits of versatile TigerTurf synthetic surfaces in your pets and garden.

Story by: Trends