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What soil do i use under my turf for my dogs toilet area?

Hi! I have one of those real grass potty’s for my dog as I live in a unit and he won’t go on the fake stuff. Just wanting some advice on what soil/potting mix to use underneath the turf that is dog friendly but will help with the longevity of the grass!

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MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Emilyjane1311. It's terrific to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about turf.

Can I just confirm whether your plan is to remove the fake grass and try to grow real grass in that area? The main issue you’ll face is that grass generally doesn’t survive in spots where dogs regularly urinate, as the high nitrogen content in urine burns and kills the grass. Even in a backyard lawn, the patches where dogs frequently go will die off quickly, so unfortunately, it’s not really practical to maintain healthy grass in a small toilet area.

If you do want to give it a try, you can use a good-quality topsoil mix that’s suitable for lawn growth, but expect to replace the turf fairly regularly as it deteriorates.

Out of curiosity, what type of fake grass do you currently have there? Some budget varieties can be quite rough or plasticky, which might be why your pup avoids them. There are premium synthetic turfs that feel much softer and more natural underfoot, and you might find your dog is happier to use those instead. That could be a much lower-maintenance and longer-lasting solution than trying to grow real grass in a confined toilet space.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Emilyjane1311

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/59101#Comment_59101

Hi Mitchell thankyou for your advice.
i have purchased a base for the real grass potty company that you put soil and turf in for them to use. Looking after it the grass last around 2 months and then yes I does need replacing. I have found this is the best option for myself and my dog due to where we live. ATM I have who flung dung under it but was seeing if there was something more suitable for lawn that was also pet safe.
I don’t personally have any fake grass but have been to friends places that use it and he is no interest and will hold on until he gets to real grass outside to use the bathroom. I’m not sure what quality they get.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/91921#Comment_91921

Grass typically grows best in soil or a combination of soil and sand @Emilyjane1311, such as a top dressing mix, which can also be used as the base layer for turf. Whoflungdung, however, is a composted mulch rather than a growing medium, so I’m curious whether you have some of it mixed in with soil or if it’s purely Whoflungdung under the grass. If it’s being used on its own, it probably isn’t the most suitable material for turf growth, even though it’s giving you around two months of healthy grass, which is quite good in your setup. My suggestion would be to swap your current base for a quality top dressing mix instead, as it’s designed to support turf growth, holds moisture well, and is perfectly safe for pets.

Mitchell

Emilyjane1311

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/111989#Comment_111989

I was recommended whoflungdung by one of the workers at Bunnings when I first got the turf and potty. And definitely has not made my grass last long at all haha I guess makes sense as to why now. I will be switching it all on Friday and using the dressing mix and see how we go from there! Thank you for your advice! It’s exactly what I was looking for! Appreciate it!

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