The Ultimate Under-drain System for Dog Kennels and Large Dog Runs Installed Over Concrete

Artificial grass has been around for decades, originally it was nothing more than what we now know as indoor/outdoor carpet. Modern synthetic grass is now generations away from indoor/outdoor carpet. Modern synthetic grass is composed of a durable backing that is perforated to allow for drainage. It has thinly sliced "yarn fibers", generally made of polypropylene, to mimic the look and feel of real blades of grass and is generally one to two inches in height. Also, most modern artificial grasses come with "thatch", consisting of curly fibers that help to keep the synthetic blades of grass standing upright.

In the last couple of years, artificial grass has come in to its own as a true dog run alternative to natural grass for both homeowners and pet care facility owners. Synthetic grass dog runs have many advantages over the more traditional types of dog runs such as natural grass, cement, dirt, mulch or pea gravel. First, and most importantly, synthetic grass will not irritate, cut or get stuck in dog's paws. Secondly, synthetic grass won't turn yellow or die due to urine exposure. Additionally, dogs won't bring dust, dirt or mud into your home or facility. Also, almost all dogs gravitate towards synthetic grass and use it as if it were the real thing.

There are also numerous environmental advantages to synthetic grass. There is no need to mow or water which helps to conserve water and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Also, synthetic grass needs no fertilizers or pesticides. Additionally, quality, American-made synthetic grass will contain no lead or other heavy metals.

Synthetic grass can be installed inside or outside, as well as over ground or over concrete. To install over ground the existing grass/vegetation must be completely removed. Next a 3" base of smooth and graded crushed rock is installed. Then the artificial grass can be rolled out (artificial grass comes in rolls just like carpet) over the base and trimmed to size. There are two options for securing the artificial grass around the perimeter of the area. The first is to nail non-corrosive spikes around the perimeter every foot or so, and the second is to create a wooden perimeter using 4" x 4"s and then nail the artificial grass to the underside of the wooden perimeter to discourage dogs from digging at the edges. There is very little chance of a dog being able to dig through middle area of a high-quality artificial grass with a double backing. The last step is to evenly spread sand over the entire area and brush it to the bottom of the artificial grass. The sand acts as a ballast to keep the artificial grass from shifting, and it also keeps it from wrinkling if the artificial grass is exposed to rapid and extreme temperature and humidity changes.

When installing over concrete a drainage blanket is highly recommended. A drainage blanket is a thin, channeled layer below the artificial grass and above the concrete that will collect and dispose of urine and liquids that drain through the perforated holes in the backing of artificial grass. The drainage blanket then directs the liquids to a predetermined, permanent drainage area.

Cleaning feces is actually easier on artificial grass than natural grass since the grass "blades" are stiffer than the real thing. At times, especially during hot summer months and times of drought, the artificial grass will have to be attended to due to odor. There are a couple of options for odor control. The first is to rinse the dog run area at least once a day. If this doesn't control the odor there is Odor Eradicator™ spray that literally eats the odor-causing bacteria left over from pet waste. Another option is to mix Absorbify™ specialized deodorizing granules together with the infill sand and/or the crushed rock base. Some manufacturers mix antimicrobial agents in the yarn during the manufacturing process, this can be effective for a while but it also adds significantly to the cost of the product. Additionally, yarn that uses built-in, antimicrobial agents will have compromised long-term integrity and longevity.

There are some important considerations when choosing artificial grass. Make sure that the grass will be dense enough to handle all the anticipated paw traffic. Artificial grass density is measured in ounces per square yard. A 40 oz. artificial grass product would work fine on a small dog run area used by one or two small dogs, but would not be ideal for a commercial dog run. A product with a density of at least 60 ounces per square yard is recommended. Additionally, choosing a shorter pile (grass blade length) closer to 1" in height will help keep the artificial grass from being matted down due to heavy paw traffic.

It is also important to choose the right artificial grass company. There are a handful of established artificial grass companies in the industry, it is best to choose one that manufactures their own grass (like ProGreen) instead of reselling another company's product. Also, make sure to choose a company that guarantees that their product contains no heavy metals such as lead or other caustic materials. It is also of paramount importance to choose a company that has been in business for at least as long as the warranty that they offer on their product.

Hundreds of pet care facilities have opted to install artificial grass in the last 5 years. Current and potential clients appreciate that artificial grass dog runs are easy on their pets' paws and help to keep their dogs clean. Artificial grass is more expensive than natural grass, but when one considers landscaping fees, water bills and re-sodding an artificial dog run area will generally pay for itself within 5 years and will more than likely bring in a substantial amount of new clientele.