With synthetic turf becoming more and more popular, we have gotten numerous pet-specific queries from those who have furry loved ones. Take a look at some of the most frequent questions we get regarding synthetic grass for dogs in Austin.
IS IT SAFE FOR DOGS?
Yes! Artificial grass is safe for pets — canine and feline alike. Pet turf is created to be much more durable than both natural turf and traditional artificial turf. You won’t need harsh pesticides or fertilizers, either, so you won’t be exposed to those chemicals like you would with organic grass. Your pooch can be allergic to grass pollen, so when you make the shift to artificial, you might even see Fido experience fewer allergies, too.
HOW DO YOU DISPOSE OF PET WASTE?
Pets can use the grass as their bathroom like they instinctively know how to do — the real difference here is the cleaning process is easy for you. It is much easier to remove pet waste off artificial turf, and the turf won’t fade or become stained from dog urine or feces. Southwest Greens pet turf is manufactured with an advanced backing system under its surface that helps urine and other fluids to drain more efficiently than natural turf. For solid waste, simply let it dry a little before removal for best results. If you’re left with marks, a quick spray with the hose will take care of any residual waste.
WILL IT SMELL BAD FROM DOG URINE?
Artificial turf has no scent, so if any smells do occur, it’s probably caused by dog urine specifically. Many dogs favor to use one particulara particular area of the yard to do their business, so sometimes, a little odor can build-up. Southwest Greens turf system is antimicrobial, which tends to decrease the smell, but there are things you can do to make sure no smells ramain. We advise you use a solution of one-to-one parts water and vinegar to spray Fido’s favorite bathroom area. Let it dry to destroy any dawdling odor.
CAN DOGS DAMAGE SYNTHETIC TURF?
Because synthetic turf is designed to stand up to heavy, recurring use, it makes it very difficult for dogs to destroy. Digging is almost impossible for them on artificial grass. Long gone are the days of muddy paw prints being tracked into your house as well!
DO FLEAS AND TICKS LIVE IN ARTIFICIAL GRASS?
Because synthetic turf is manufactured from and inorganic material, it is extremely challenging for fleas, ticks, and other pests to live in the turf. While there is no guarantee that your lawn will be 100% flea-free, you can be assured that they will be mostly eliminated. Because there’s no soil to sustain their nesting, but you must watch out for any piling of leaves or debris that might be suitable for a good breeding environment for fleas and ticks. As long as you clean your artificial yard regularly, there will be barely any pests.
HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN SYNTHETIC TURF FOR PETS?
Make sure to remove feces as soon as possible to stop any stink. To keep everything neat and looking great, we recommend you hose the grass down every week. This will help keep your lawn odor free. Dispose of any leaf or other loose debris to keep your lawn unhinibatblefor fleas and ticks.
HOW MUCH DOES ARTIFICIAL TURF COST?
This will heavily depend on your specific project, so it’s hard to give an accurate estimate. A few factors that might affect the price are:
- Size/dimensions of the space being transformed from regular grass to artificial
- Inticracy of design and layout you want to install
- Type of artificial grass products you're thinking of purchasing
- How much work needs to be done (removing old turf, leveling surface, etc.)
Be cautious with contractors who provide you a fixed price for a project, in spite of how much work it involves. This is usually a tell-tale sign that they aren’t using high-quality materials.
HOW LONG WILL ARTIFICIAL TURF LAST?
Pet turf is estimated to last somewhere between 10-20 years, depending on use. Southwest Greens's oldest installations are 20 years old and have maintained the healthy green color and texture of genuine turf. Our UV-resistant synthetic grass products look and function like new because they are engineered to endure heavy traffic, extreme climate conditions, and temperature fluctuations for all-year use. All installations come packaged with a one-year workmanship warranty and a manufacturer's warranty that covers fading.