Dog Days of Summer...
According to Wikipedia Dog Days or "the dog days of summer", refers to the hottest, most sultry days of summer.
The Dog Days originally were the days when Sirius, the Dog Star, rose just before or at the same time as sunrise. The ancients offered sacrifices to appease the rage of Sirius, believing that that star was the cause of the hot, sultry weather.
The Old Farmer's Almanac lists the traditional timing of the Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the ancient helical (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius.
And speaking of Dogs...
Dogs, and kids, and summer time just seem to go together. We're often asked if it's possible to have a dog and a nice lawn and the answer is yes. With a little extra care and advanced planning you can have a good looking lawn and a happy pet.
Dogs, and cats too, love grass! They love to play on it, roll on it, and occasionally munch on it. If you own dogs, particularly one of the larger breeds, you will want to select a grass that can hold up to their paw traffic and their exuberant playing style.
Putting a tougher grass in solves the traffic problem, but doesn't solve dog spots, which are the yellow patches caused by high levels of salts and nitrogen in dog urine. We'll talk more about dog spots later in this article.
So what type of grass is best? That will be determined by your particular situation but here are a few ideas:
- Fescue is a tough cool-season grass that performs well in sun or shade. It will hold up to traffic but is sensitive to urine concentrations.
- Kentucky Bluegrass, another cool-season grass that does well in sun or shade, is a good choice but like Fescue it is sensitive to urine concentrations.
- Bermuda is a tough warm season grass that is not as sensitive to urine effects as Fescue and Bluegrass. Bermuda has good summer wear tolerance and quick recoverability too. It's a favorite for sunny areas.
You will need to decide, based on your yard and the number of pets, which turfgrass will stand up against the wear and tear and possible nitrogen concentration.
About those Dog Spots...
Dog urine (especially female) contains high levels of nitrogen, which causes grass to become greener. Under certain conditions, such as heat or drought stress, the nitrogen may actually burn the grass, causing it to die, leaving a bare spot with a dark green circle around the dead grass. This type of reaction is similar to the damage caused by an over-application of fertilizer.
An organic solution to this problem is to sprinkle gypsum over and around each spot then flush the spot with water. You may also give your dog Grass Saver pills or a liquid formula that will help prevent the nitrogen burn that creates spots. Always check with your veterinarian first as this option is not suitable for all dogs.
Check your sprinkler system for proper coverage. Summer temperatures increase your turfgrass water needs so adjust automatic watering schedules. Replace faulty sprinkler heads.
