As mentioned in a previous post, we have sold and moved into a new house. The yard is very small, but we have two female Mini Aussie’s and their urine is sooo hard on it. Has anyone used Soya grass in the South (Tennessee). How is it, I need a pee proof yard. So tired of the spots dying. Suggestions, you can find out just about anything here!!!!!
Thanks to all in advance.

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Originally posted by sybo:
As mentioned in a previous post, we have sold and moved into a new house. The yard is very small, but we have two female Mini Aussie’s and their urine is sooo hard on it. Has anyone used Soya grass in the South (Tennessee). How is it, I need a pee proof yard. So tired of the spots dying. Suggestions, you can find out just about anything here!!!!!
Thanks to all in advance.

It's Zoysia, not soya. There's no such thing as pee proof grass, but at least Zoysia will fill in bare spots on its own.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: houndawg,

Spread out gypsum. (either the powder or the agricultural type, which is pellets and less dusty)

The salt in the urine (female dogs have a higher content BTW) is what is killing the grass. The gypsum help leech the salt away faster and, has the advantage of amending the soil.

Nothing will be an overnight fix.

If you have access to a natural area, teach your dogs to use it instead of the grass.

We've done that with all our dogs and it's been wonderful!

quote:

Originally posted by sybo:
As mentioned in a previous post, we have sold and moved into a new house. The yard is very small, but we have two female Mini Aussie’s and their urine is sooo hard on it. Has anyone used Soya grass in the South (Tennessee). How is it, I need a pee proof yard. So tired of the spots dying. Suggestions, you can find out just about anything here!!!!!
Thanks to all in advance.

I don't know if TN's climate will support it, but here in AZ we have Bermuda grass (a small plot, 1000 sq ft circle). The dogs (1 male, 2 females) all seem to want to pee on the grass, and we never get brown spots from their urine.

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Originally posted by henryaz:

quote:

Originally posted by sybo:
As mentioned in a previous post, we have sold and moved into a new house. The yard is very small, but we have two female Mini Aussie’s and their urine is sooo hard on it. Has anyone used Soya grass in the South (Tennessee). How is it, I need a pee proof yard. So tired of the spots dying. Suggestions, you can find out just about anything here!!!!!
Thanks to all in advance.

I don't know if TN's climate will support it, but here in AZ we have Bermuda grass (a small plot, 1000 sq ft circle). The dogs (1 male, 2 females) all seem to want to pee on the grass, and we never get brown spots from their urine.

Yes, TN's climate will support Bermuda. Bermuda is a common grass used for southern golf course fairways. It fills in fairly quickly, but is harder to control than Zoysia. It will invade areas you don't want it in. On golf courses they often use Zoysia for the fringe to keep the Bermuda from invading the greens since Zoysia isn't as invasive as Bermuda.

TN appears to be mostly in agricultural hardiness zone 7. Bermuda and Zoysia will survive in zone 7 but will be dormant (brown) 7-8 months of the year. So you'd be trading the occasional brown spot in the yard for an entirely brown yard most of the year. Zoysia also grows so thickly that it is hard to mow, drags on the deck of the mower. Best to mow twice a week when it isn't dormant. Note that golf courses with Bermuda fairways mow every day.

Talk to your county extension agent, they want to help you. They will test your soil, usually for free, and make specific recommendations for grass selection and lawn care options to minimize your problem. In my experience, these are lonely guys who crave human interaction in their area of expertise, and who are delighted to get inquiries from the public. Take them samples of your turf and weeds and they will pee their pants in excitement.

quote:

Talk to your county extension agent, they want to help you. They will test your soil, usually for free, and make specific recommendations for grass selection and lawn care options to minimize your problem. In my experience, these are lonely guys who crave human interaction in their area of expertise, and who are delighted to get inquiries from the public.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This. Our county agent is happily married but glad to help. He has several female assistants who are very well informed.

Thanks guys!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by houndawg:
Yes, TN's climate will support Bermuda. Bermuda is a common grass used for southern golf course fairways. It fills in fairly quickly, but is harder to control than Zoysia. It will invade areas you don't want it in.

I can attest to its desire to spread. I just finished digging up the Bermuda that had spread outside our 1,000 sq ft circle. Some of the runners, originating from inside the circle, were a couple of feet long.

We have a place down on the northern neck of Virginia and when we built it there was no lawn at all, just under brush. We planted Zoysia grass. It filled in very nicely and quickly. It does spread rather quickly. Our neighbor thanked us for reducing his lawn mowing requirements after the Zoysia took over his yard too. Does not get tall and mowing requirements are easy.

Zoysia is a good grass. Slow growing but tough. Shade tolerant in some cases. Best performance will be from laying sod.

Bermuda is a good all-around candidate for any lawn in the south that gets some sunshine.

No such thing as a pee-proof lawn. Walk your dogs more often perhaps....

This is the only place I've ever read anything positive about Zoysia Grass besides the ads in the old Parade Magazines that used to come in the Sunday Star Newspaper. All I ever remember hearing about is your neighbors will be pissed off because it will take over their lawn too. And it stays brown 2/3 of the year

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Originally posted by phil in indy:
This is the only place I've ever read anything positive about Zoysia Grass besides the ads in the old Parade Magazines that used to come in the Sunday Star Newspaper. All I ever remember hearing about is your neighbors will be pissed off because it will take over their lawn too. And it stays brown 2/3 of the year

There are different varieties of both Zoysia and Bermuda that stay green longer. Zoysia is preferred in many instances because of its carpet like texture and the fact that it chokes out weeds. In my area, before high schools started going to artificial turf for their football fields, Zoysia was the grass of choice. The main problem with Zoysia is thatch. Many people burn their lawns every few years to get rid of the thatch. I don't think I'd want to do that because of the obvious dangers.

If I had a nicely manicured and well cared for Bluegrass lawn that I put a lot of time and money into, I'd be pissed if the neighbor's Zoysia invaded my yard. If I had a huge lawn (as I do), was constantly reseeding patches with fescue, and fertilizing and weed prevention multiple times per year would cost a fortune, then that patch of Zoysia slowly spreading in the backyard would be welcome.

If you get it in those square sheets, scored into 1 inch plugs, don't plant them upside down like I did.