Hi,

I have the issue of my garden having loads of brown patches at the moment from where the dogs have weed.

Any recommendations on what to do?

Google Patch Magic this will do the job if you are talking about 'repairing' the areas.

Just wait. It'll sort itself out and the grass will grow back even greener. Mine does anyway. :-)

I use dog rocks during the grass growing season and I really rate it.

I also re seed the worst patches.

Mines the same, but I must say, it never bothers me, and by the time summer kicks in, it's grown back.

Oh right! I didn't realise the grass would grow back again! A but of patience is needed then :)

Ours is patchy all year round. Hubby tries reseeding but it doesn't seem to get anywhere much. I might have to try that Patch Magic....

I'm in Italy,and for years persevered with my English lawn...two kids and  a few dogs later think we have found the answer.    I've flagged my grassy areas with a pretty pink flag,then, put a good metre wide border for hardy ornamental bushes and climbing roses,jasmine etc...I've dotted pretty ceramic vases around for geraniums etc..all out of dog reach ...I'm happy ,the dogs are still free range and we have a pretty garden. YES you can have dogs and keep the garden very nice.

Bellamia, I NEED pics!! My garden is the bane of my life.  I love my dogs dearly but I'd love a nice patio area to sit out too.  They destroy any pots/planters and are eating their way through my evergreen hedge as we speak!!

As for OP, cover the entire lawn and put down stone chips or paving stone!!lol  My garden was as you describe and I tried to get it back but it just got worse and muddier by the day.  Cut my losses and put down chips and paving slabs.  Looks horrible but cleaner and tidier and much easier to pick up poo.

A compromise is to ahve a dog section adn non dog section, dogs only allowed in non dog section by invitation and supervised.

Dog section paved or gravelled, with perhaps tubs, if dogs mature enough to not kill the plants.

Ours went brown and dead from dog wee - to prevent it happening the only thing we found that worked was to water, and I mean really water, the patch they have weed on to dilute it.  I think some dogs must produce more ammonia than others as there was NO chance of our lawn coming back to life.  We patched the grass with new turf and have just been extra vigilant since.  I appreciate this is a whole lot easier with just a single dog!!

Hmmm, yes, but the problem is, mine need to pass through the 'non-dog' area to get to their area which means I need to supervise all the time in the garden.  The patio area is not big enough for a fence big enough to keep the dogs out either. :(  I would like somewhere nice to sit in the summer that's not all chewed up.  Maybe some nice flowers? 
We tried to have planters around last year but the dogs would climb in and eat the flowers.  Bandits!!

cracar, you might be interested in this website--a breeder of welsh springers who also maintains an NGS garden and has lots of advice on her website http://www.barhi.net/

Hi, Becky!

My grass was the same.. eventually i gave up chasing after my 2 pups and they ruined my lawn... a friend told me about the astro turf stuff they use on football pitches these days. Sounded mad but after some googling i askd for some samples from a site i have used before, called Ornea Gardens Direct...

I eventually decided on a style, fitted it as soon as it arrived (heavey work but easy to do). 6 months on and it looks great... i just hose it down and give it a brush once a week and it saves me so much time and bother.