It is a problem that has dogged lawn-owners for decades: manicured turf left scorched by beloved pets using grass as their toilet.
Now, says Johnsons Lawn Seed, this bane of gardeners’ lives will be consigned to history with the launch of a mix of ultra-tough grass seed scientifically proven to resist urine damage.
Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance is a unique new product exclusively introduced for 2020. With an estimated 9.9million dogs in the UK and 26% of UK adults owning a dog*, lawns across the country have been blighted by dog urine damage.
Dog urine, in particular female dog wee, can result in extensive grass damage. Often, pet fouling will leave unsightly yellow or brown circular patches on lawns, with damaged areas displaying bright green edges. While gardeners have traditionally been advised to immediately water affected areas to minimise the impact by diluting acidic urine before it burns the grass, remedial action is rarely carried out in time to save the appearance of turf.
Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance contains naturally tolerant grass species that won’t turn yellow when drenched with dog urine. Even if slight discolouration occasionally occurs, grass will recover. Pet-owners can relax in the knowledge that lawns will remain lush, green and patch-free – while there is no longer any need to change a pet’s diet or behaviour to prevent damage to turf.
Johnsons Lawn Seed’s Guy Jenkins said: “For decades, gardeners have toiled to repair and re-seed affected areas, but the launch of Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance will consign this job to history. At last, families need no longer worry about dogs damaging their sward, and gardens that are home to pets can boast a bowling green-style lawn that’s the envy of the neighbourhood.”
Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance was developed in Denmark by DLF Seeds, the parent company of Johnsons Lawn Seed. Scientists carried out 672 tests using 168 varieties of grass, simulating the effects of various concentrations of dog urine in a bid to find out if any types were resistant to damage.
After 18 months of trials, researchers discovered the holy grail of lawncare – grass varieties that didn’t just resist urine damage, but formed lawns that are also tough enough to cope with the wear and tear of regular family use. As a bonus, lawns sown with Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance have remarkable stamina, standing up well to low temperatures and snow, with excellent drought-resistance.
In line with the current trend towards greener gardening, the new blend of dog patch-resistant fine-leaved dwarf perennial ryegrass is a natural product, containing 100% grass seed and nothing else.
Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance can be used for overseeding in spring and autumn to gradually introduce improved levels of dog urine resistance into existing lawns.
Small areas of dog urine damage can be patch repaired with Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance.
SRPs are £4.15 (250gm pack), £7.25 (500gm), £16.99 (1.5kg) and £44 (5kg).
*Dog ownership statistics from pets charity PDSA.