We have 2 dogs in a moderate sized suburban, fenced in backyard. Our
problem is that one of the dogs(a hound) tends to run and yelp if she
sees or smells people or other dogs. She runs a figure 8 type pattern
which she has run so many times she is starting to furrow the ground.
We have mulled over a number of options when our neighbor came up with
what seems to be a good idea. Take advantage of this now established
path. My question is what to make the path out of? We have considered
astroturf or mulch or some similar material. If we used mulch, what
particular type and should it be on something like a pea gravel bed
base so the furrow doesn't just get deeper, then have mulch or dirt on
top of it? Also should we put in some type of border like you put
around a garden(about 1 inch high) to keep the path from getting wider
and wider? Any ideas would be appreciated. TIA.
BTKY

On 2008-03-22 13:54:09 -0400, BTKY said:

We have 2 dogs in a moderate sized suburban, fenced in backyard. Our
problem is that one of the dogs(a hound) tends to run and yelp if she
sees or smells people or other dogs. She runs a figure 8 type pattern
which she has run so many times she is starting to furrow the ground.
We have mulled over a number of options when our neighbor came up with
what seems to be a good idea. Take advantage of this now established
path. My question is what to make the path out of? We have considered
astroturf or mulch or some similar material. If we used mulch, what
particular type and should it be on something like a pea gravel bed
base so the furrow doesn't just get deeper, then have mulch or dirt on
top of it? Also should we put in some type of border like you put
around a garden(about 1 inch high) to keep the path from getting wider
and wider? Any ideas would be appreciated. TIA.
BTKY

I'd dig it down a bit, smooth it (snow shovels do a swell job of this),
put down some landscaping cloth and some edging, and then put down some
stone. Like sandstone or pavers. You can fill in the spaces with a
rough sand.

I'm assuming that you have grass nearby that you want to mow, so you
don't want to use gravel. Mulch that dogs travel on also travels and
makes a mess. You could use something else, but I wouldn't want to use
anything that's going to get thrown by the mower...

You could use Astroturf but it's going to look unusual. Unless you live
in an area like Las Vegas, where they actually use that... or your name
is Bradey.

"montana wildhack" wrote in message
news:2008032216275375249-montana@wildhackcominvalid...
On 2008-03-22 13:54:09 -0400, BTKY said:

We have 2 dogs in a moderate sized suburban, fenced in backyard. Our
problem is that one of the dogs(a hound) tends to run and yelp if she
sees or smells people or other dogs. She runs a figure 8 type pattern
which she has run so many times she is starting to furrow the ground.
We have mulled over a number of options when our neighbor came up with
what seems to be a good idea. Take advantage of this now established
path. My question is what to make the path out of? We have considered
astroturf or mulch or some similar material. If we used mulch, what
particular type and should it be on something like a pea gravel bed
base so the furrow doesn't just get deeper, then have mulch or dirt on
top of it? Also should we put in some type of border like you put
around a garden(about 1 inch high) to keep the path from getting wider
and wider? Any ideas would be appreciated. TIA.
BTKY

I'd dig it down a bit, smooth it (snow shovels do a swell job of this),
put down some landscaping cloth and some edging, and then put down some
stone. Like sandstone or pavers. You can fill in the spaces with a rough
sand.


stones would be great -cut way down on toenail clipping!

"montana wildhack" wrote in message
news:2008032216275375249-montana@wildhackcominvalid...
On 2008-03-22 13:54:09 -0400, BTKY said:

We have 2 dogs in a moderate sized suburban, fenced in backyard. Our
problem is that one of the dogs(a hound) tends to run and yelp if she
sees or smells people or other dogs. She runs a figure 8 type pattern
which she has run so many times she is starting to furrow the ground.
We have mulled over a number of options when our neighbor came up with
what seems to be a good idea. Take advantage of this now established
path. My question is what to make the path out of? We have considered
astroturf or mulch or some similar material. If we used mulch, what
particular type and should it be on something like a pea gravel bed
base so the furrow doesn't just get deeper, then have mulch or dirt on
top of it? Also should we put in some type of border like you put
around a garden(about 1 inch high) to keep the path from getting wider
and wider? Any ideas would be appreciated. TIA.
BTKY

I'd dig it down a bit, smooth it (snow shovels do a swell job of this),
put down some landscaping cloth and some edging, and then put down some
stone. Like sandstone or pavers. You can fill in the spaces with a
rough sand.

I'm assuming that you have grass nearby that you want to mow, so you
don't want to use gravel. Mulch that dogs travel on also travels and
makes a mess. You could use something else, but I wouldn't want to use
anything that's going to get thrown by the mower...

You could use Astroturf but it's going to look unusual. Unless you live
in an area like Las Vegas, where they actually use that... or your name
is Bradey.

I have an inground pool, 30x15' currently surrounded by grass, but now
mostly mud that three regulars and my granddog have trashed. Pavers would
be around 20-25k. Have you or anyone else had luck/experience with a good
turf grass that grows well in shady, swamp-like conditions? Could use
something that grows sturdy and fast as it's quite impossible to keep the
pack from out of their backyard wihile grass would grow.

A pool in the woods...what was I thinking?

Kind regards,

(the)duckster

On 2008-03-23 15:57:06 -0400, "\(the\)duckster" said:

Have you or anyone else had luck/experience with a good
turf grass that grows well in shady, swamp-like conditions? Could use
something that grows sturdy and fast as it's quite impossible to keep the
pack from out of their backyard wihile grass would grow.

heh. Didn't realize you were talking about serious space!

alt.home.lawn.garden or alt.home.repair might put you on to somebody
who knows turf.

"montana wildhack" wrote in message
news:2008032319071143658-montana@wildhackcominvalid...
On 2008-03-23 15:57:06 -0400, "\(the\)duckster"
said:

Have you or anyone else had luck/experience with a good
turf grass that grows well in shady, swamp-like conditions? Could use
something that grows sturdy and fast as it's quite impossible to keep
the
pack from out of their backyard wihile grass would grow.

heh. Didn't realize you were talking about serious space!

I was a complete idiot when I insisted we dig that hole. I thought for
every year we were married I needed a 1,000 gallons of water. Now I have a
20,000 gallon cement pond with a surrounding moat in the spring that makes
King Arthur's castle look like a bathtub.

alt.home.lawn.garden or alt.home.repair might put you on to somebody
who knows turf.

Excellent, thank you. I'll subscribe right away.

Kind regards,

(the)duckster

In article UZMGj.4528$Ew5.3307@trnddc04,
"\(the\)duckster" wrote:

I was a complete idiot when I insisted we dig that hole. I thought for
every year we were married I needed a 1,000 gallons of water. Now I have a
20,000 gallon cement pond with a surrounding moat in the spring that makes
King Arthur's castle look like a bathtub.

OK, this obviously means that the pool needs to be built much earlier in
the marriage. Thank goodness you didn't wait until your golden
anniversary!
--
boss, sometimes i think * * * * * |* kevin michael vail
that our friend mehitabel * * * * |*
is a trifle too gay * * * * * * * |
* * * * -- archy* * * * * * * * * |* wotthehell wotthehell

(the)duckster wrote:

snip

I have an inground pool, 30x15' currently surrounded by grass, but now
mostly mud that three regulars and my granddog have trashed. Pavers would
be around 20-25k. Have you or anyone else had luck/experience with a good
turf grass that grows well in shady, swamp-like conditions? Could use
something that grows sturdy and fast as it's quite impossible to keep the
pack from out of their backyard wihile grass would grow.

A pool in the woods...what was I thinking?

Kind regards,

(the)duckster

Does it have to be a lawn? There are some shrubs that like wet
conditions. Blueberries and witch hazel come to mind. However I don't
have any experience with wet areas in the yard, so you should check in a
gardening book. With the slopes in my yard, pooling water is not my
problem.

"William Clodius" wrote in message:

Does it have to be a lawn? There are some shrubs that like wet
conditions. Blueberries and witch hazel come to mind.

Blueberries won't do well in shade, and witchhazel can't tolerate standing
water. There are a few shrubs/trees that would like the conditions
described, but as far as I know, there isn't anything along the lines of
turf grass or groundcover that would do well with shade, wet and dogs.
Especially if the area can't be closed off to allow them to get established.

Suja

Suja wrote:

"William Clodius" wrote in message:

Does it have to be a lawn? There are some shrubs that like wet
conditions. Blueberries and witch hazel come to mind.

Blueberries won't do well in shade, and witchhazel can't tolerate standing
water. There are a few shrubs/trees that would like the conditions
described, but as far as I know, there isn't anything along the lines of
turf grass or groundcover that would do well with shade, wet and dogs.
Especially if the area can't be closed off to allow them to get established.

Suja
I checked on the mobot plant
finder,http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/p...der/Search.asp
and there is nothing for part shade and wet. However for part shade to
full shade and wet there are three carexes (sedges), a cceratopteris
(water fern) and a cyperus (umbrella plant). I believe they are
perennials not shrubs or grasses. How well they would do with dogs is
another matter. The details of duckster's yard may affect the choices.