Need ideas for landscaping my backyard

[TripleAAA]

I bought a new home recently and am now pouring a concrete patio in the backyard and then getting ready to landscape the rest. Right now, its just dirt, but I've been wanting to get a dog and want something back there that it's not going to tear up.

I don't really want grass, unless there is a variety that is dog friendly. From my research on the internet thus far, wood chips aren't great and although pebble/gravel would be a good choice, I think that's sorta tacky and ugly.

Is there some other kind of ground covering that looks good, is fairly low maintenance, and is dog friendly?

 

[PingSpike]

Dog-friendly? Well, I guess that rules out my pit of spikes idea.

 

[AFB]

Where do you live ?

 

[Fausto]

It's a PITA, but you could do dwarf mondo instead of grass. It'll take a while to get it established, but I seriously doubt even big dogs would tear it up unless you had them on a lead or something where they were pacing the same area over and over. Grows very well in shade to boot.

 

[cremator]

just get sod + a fence, maybe some pebble stone or something but have it edged properly.

 

[Fausto]

What kind of sun does your yard get?

 

[TripleAAA]

Originally posted by: amdfanboy
Where do you live ?

Good question...should have mentioned that. I live in the central valley near Sacramento in CA. So right now it's almost 100 degrees. Doesn't get extremely cold in the winter, but can reach the 30's on occasion.

 

[TripleAAA]

Originally posted by: Fausto
It's a PITA, but you could do dwarf mondo instead of grass. It'll take a while to get it established, but I seriously doubt even big dogs would tear it up unless you had them on a lead or something where they were pacing the same area over and over. Grows very well in shade to boot.

Dwarf mondo...hmm...never heard of it. Do you have to water it a lot? I'll have to look it up.

 

[TripleAAA]

Originally posted by: Fausto
What kind of sun does your yard get?

Shade for the first half of the day as it's a two story with the front door facing east.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: TripleAAA

Originally posted by: Fausto
It's a PITA, but you could do dwarf mondo instead of grass. It'll take a while to get it established, but I seriously doubt even big dogs would tear it up unless you had them on a lead or something where they were pacing the same area over and over. Grows very well in shade to boot.

Dwarf mondo...hmm...never heard of it. Do you have to water it a lot? I'll have to look it up.

It's usually used for decorative edging and such, but you can put it down like regular grass and mow it. It's unbelievably tough and will spread to fill any bare spots over time. Also doesn't really need watering unless you live in Arizona or something.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: TripleAAA

Originally posted by: Fausto
What kind of sun does your yard get?

Shade for the first half of the day as it's a two story with the front door facing east.

Full sun the rest of the day?

 

[TripleAAA]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: TripleAAA

Originally posted by: Fausto
What kind of sun does your yard get?

Shade for the first half of the day as it's a two story with the front door facing east.

Full sun the rest of the day?

For the most part, yeah, mostly full sun.

 

[TripleAAA]

Bump...need more ideas if possible.

 

[DrPizza]

dog friendly? regardless of the type of grass, put in an automatic sprinkler system... in the shape of.......



a firehydrant!