Fall is here, and for many parts of the country, that means grass planting season. If you have a cool-season lawn, the combination of warm soil and cooler air can make fall an especially useful time to seed, overseed, and repair the damage your yard picked up over summer.
If you have dogs, there’s probably a little extra damage to deal with.
Natura hybrid turf works as a ground cover with or without established grass, but many users enjoy the hybrid experience of natural grass growing right through Natura. The perforated design allows vegetation to grow through while helping protect the plant crown and separate paws from exposed soil and mud.
So, we wanted to extend a little grass-growing know-how to help you get the yard you’ve always dreamed of. First things first: what should you plant?
Start by finding out whether your yard is composed of warm-season or cool-season grass. But what’s the difference?
While both types of grass have similar basic needs, their active growing seasons don’t coincide. That means how you treat your yard in the fall depends largely on what type of grass you have and where you live.
Warm-season grasses do most of their active growing when temperatures are warmer, generally from late spring through summer. As temperatures cool in the fall, many warm-season grasses enter dormancy and turn brown.
Common warm-season grasses include:
If your yard contains warm-season grass, fall generally isn’t the ideal time to establish it from seed. Your grass may instead be preparing for dormancy.
It’s also worth noting that not every warm-season grass is commonly grown from seed. St. Augustine grass, for example, is typically established using sod, plugs, or sprigs.
Cool-season grasses thrive during cooler parts of the year and typically experience strong growth during spring and fall. During periods of intense summer heat, some cool-season lawns may slow their growth or enter dormancy, particularly without sufficient water.
Common cool-season grasses include:
For many cool-season lawns, late summer into early fall can be an excellent time for seeding and repairing thin or worn areas. Exact timing depends on your location and the grass you’re growing.
This map gives you a handy idea of what type of grass is probably growing in your region, but what matters is what’s actually in your yard.
Much of the United States also falls within the aptly named transition zone, where neither warm-season nor cool-season grasses have absolutely perfect conditions year-round. Grass selection can be more complicated here, so don’t rely on geography alone.
If you want to get specific, we can help you determine which turfgrass varieties perform best in your area.
Let the map serve as a handy starting point, then take a closer look at your lawn.
Think back on how your grass has behaved throughout the year. Does it thrive during the summer before turning brown after temperatures drop? Or does it struggle during the hottest part of summer and come roaring back when cooler fall weather arrives?
You can also look at how the grass grows, although this can be harder to identify if you aren’t a grass expert. Many warm-season grasses spread outward using runners along or beneath the ground, known as stolons and rhizomes. Many cool-season grasses tend to grow in more noticeable clumps or bunches. There are exceptions, so consider this a clue rather than a foolproof test. For example, Kentucky bluegrass is a cool-season grass that spreads through rhizomes, which is one reason it can recover from wear better than some other varieties.
When buying grass seed, ideally you’ll match the seed to the grass already growing in your yard. A grass identification guide or local garden center can help if you’re not sure what you’ve got.
And if you can’t identify the exact cultivar growing outside your back door? We don’t judge.
When you have a dog, your yard undergoes some added stress from paw traffic, digging, and potty breaks. Naturally, you want grass that can handle life with your pup.
But there’s another side to consider: certain grass-like plants and weeds can present hazards to dogs.
Grass awns are sharp, bristly seed structures found on certain plants. Their shape can allow them to become lodged in a dog’s paws, skin, ears, nose, or other areas. Because of their barbed structure, they can be difficult to remove and may migrate farther into the body.
Examples of plants associated with potentially troublesome awns include:
These shouldn’t be confused with the common turfgrasses you intentionally plant to create a lawn. The concern is typically unwanted grasses and weeds growing in or around areas where dogs spend time.
If you find an awn embedded in your dog or notice persistent licking, swelling, sneezing, or other unusual symptoms after outdoor play, contact your veterinarian.
If you want grass that can better handle your pawed pal’s playtime, durability and recovery are worth considering alongside climate.
On the cool-season side, Kentucky bluegrass spreads through rhizomes, which gives it an ability to repair damaged areas when growing conditions are favorable. Tall fescue is another popular option for dog yards because of its durability and deep root system.
For warm-season lawns, Zoysia produces dense turf and can tolerate considerable wear once established. Bermuda grass is another durable option known for spreading and recovering relatively quickly during its active growing season.
But here’s the important part: there isn’t one “best grass for dogs” everywhere.
A durable grass planted in the wrong climate, poor soil, deep shade, or inadequate sunlight still isn’t going to perform at its best.
And even a well-established lawn has its limits when your dog runs the exact same route along the fence 20 times a day.
That’s where Natura hybrid turf can help.
Natura can be installed over seeded soil, sod, or an existing lawn to reinforce the ground and help protect the plant crown from repeated paw traffic. Grass continues growing through the perforated surface where conditions support it, while Natura provides coverage at ground level.
If you have cool-season grass, fall can be one of the best times to reseed thin and bare areas.
Warm-season grasses are generally better established during warmer parts of the year when they’re actively growing, so don’t assume fall is the right planting season simply because you’re repairing a bare patch.
For a cool-season lawn, the basic reseeding process looks something like this:
One of the nice things about Natura is that you can also overseed after it’s already installed. Spread seed across the hybrid turf so it can fall through the perforations and reach the soil below, then care for it according to the seed recommendations.
Reseeding isn’t the only thing you can do for your lawn this fall. A little maintenance now can help your grass recover from summer and prepare for the months ahead.
And yes, clean up the shed or storage space and put away your summer lawn equipment properly. When spring rolls around, you’ll thank yourself.
Fall lawn care is about more than getting new grass to grow. If you have dogs, you also need to think about protecting what you’ve grown.
Grass becomes particularly vulnerable to wear when it isn’t actively regenerating. Dogs, unfortunately, don’t go dormant.
Natura hybrid turf helps protect the plant crown from paw traffic while allowing water, air, and vegetation to move through the perforated design. If grass goes dormant and turns brown during winter, Natura remains in place, helping reinforce the ground until active growth returns.
It can also help keep paws separated from exposed soil in areas where grass is thin or struggling, which means less opportunity for a worn patch to become a muddy mess after rain or snow.
Armed with a trusty rake and a little more grass knowledge, you’re ready to give your lawn some attention this fall. Choose grass suited to your climate, seed when your particular grass is ready to grow, and protect the areas your dogs put to the test every day.
Visit our products page to find the right Natura hybrid turf for your dog yard.
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