need landscaping advice

[Snapdragon]

We have a fenced-in area on the side of the house where the four dogs go out to do their business. It's approx 14' x 20'. About 60% of the grass is dead, presumably from the dog urine. I have tried treating the soil with gypsum and re-seeding, but I cannot get anything to grow. I am not looking forward to another season of this area being a mudpit.

The options I can think of are

1. sod (but there is no source of water nearby)
2. mulch
3. gravel
4. bacon

I'm thinking that covering the entire area with a smooth medium-sized gravel may be my best option. Any other suggestions?

Sun is coming in strong from the south..

 

[chocktaw2]

Have the topsoil removed and go with gravel.

 

[ruger1800]

Would use lime, kills the smell, makes for very easy cleanup, if you put the doo in a compost pile it's even better.

 

[RustyHornet]

Bacon.

 

[skulhedface]

Bacon.

Hard to argue with that lol


We've got 2 Siberian huskies, so no grass anywhere they can access. Covered their areas with cedar mulch for mud and bug control. It's been working for us, needs topped off every year though.

 

[PGRChaplain]

Crushed limestone #4, 3/8"-1/2". Sod is fragile until established and the Dogs will kill that to.

 

[CHCRandy]

Yeah, I always used fine limestone in my kennels. Every quarry calls it something different....some call it fines, screenings, flume, #10 limestone.........basically what you need is something that will compact but not have much gravel in it. It just makes it a little easier to clean up if no gravel. And later on if you don't need that area for dogs just till it up and plant in grass....no need to remove limestone.

 

[Hoosierkav]

Gravel might work well, with some potted plants so it doesn't look so barren/wasteland-esque. Add a nice bench to sit and enjoy the evening...

 

[wabashman]

Have fun sifting dog poop from the gravel. Especially after it's been rained on.

My dogs cannot seem to make it past the driveway into the yard/woods.

 

[Dave Doehrman]

11F limestone. It is 1/4" to dust. It packs in like concrete and the limestone absorbs the urine smell. Poop is easy to clean up and the dogs won't be able to dig in it once it is packed in and rained on a couple times. I've used this for 50 years for dog runs and it has never disappointed me or the dogs.

 

[bacon#1]

Doggy Astroturf

 

[edwea]

Doggy Astroturf

This for sure. Easy to clean with water and easier on the paws than stone.

 

[Snapdragon]

This for sure. Easy to clean with water and easier on the paws than stone.

No source of water on that end of the house except for rain.

 

[rob63]

Any other suggestions?

Get rid of the dogs. Sheez, that was easy.

 

[Snapdragon]

Don't think I haven't been tempted...