What kind of grass do you use in your yard? Did you think about your pooch when making the decision? Have you experienced any particularly difficult challenges? Lawns in shade are best fed in autumn, just before trees lose their leaves. Autumn lawn feeds are rich in potassium (K), which isparticularly beneficial to grass in shade. Once the grass is established, only water when needed and know when to water grass. 'Overwatering grass can lead to its demise and therefore grass should be watered during the cooler time periods and only once a week. When watering grass you are looking to water deeply to ensure there’s enough water to see through a drought, 'add the experts at Marshalls.

As a rough guide, a patch of around 3x3 feet (1x1 metre) should need about 15-30 seconds of water every 2-8 hours, depending on how warm the weather is.’ Some owners opt to train their dog to only pee and poop in one specific spot to limit some of the damage done. While this is certainly a great strategy, it may take some effort to teach your dog the new potty game plan, and some sections of your lawn will still get ruined. Prepare the ground to be planted by removing stones and debris, and raking over the area to ensure it is as even and finely textured as possible.

How the What's The Best shopping experts selected the best lawn seed:

Browntop Bent isn’t as commonly found in hardwearing grass seed mixes, but it can make be included because it helps make lawns fine and soft. A small percentage of Browntop Bent, such as the 5% found in the GBW 1 kg Grass Seed, will add some finer, short grass to your lawn. Turf-type tall fescue creates a lush greensward that copes with foot traffic and requires less mowing and watering than some turf grasses. It also has a good growth rate and loves open, sunny ground. Digging holes not only damages the grass blades and rips up the roots, but it does a fair bit of damage to the underlying soil too. Exposing the soil to the air like this can dry it out, and your dog’s repetitive pawing may compact the soil, making it difficult for the grass to recolonize the area. Running Identifying what grass currently grows in your lawn will give you a great indicator of what likes to grow there,’ says Hedges Gower. ‘Choosing the same variety makes success far easier in the long run.’

Spreaders Spreaders are a great way to evenly distribute seed and fertiliser. A variety of different types are available.’ Lily Anderson is a writer at Bauer Media, where she tests products for titles such as Heat, Closer, What’s the Best and Mother&Baby According to All Creatures Healthcare, "The reason that grass seeds can be dangerous for dogs (or even cats) is that they can easily penetrate their outer skin in multiple areas. If left untreated, this can be incredibly painful – in worst-case scenarios, the internal damage it may cause can even be fatal." Noah James, a professional landscaper and owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance says, "Sowing seeds that thrive in specific climates and conditions means an early start for a lush, healthy lawn. From arid to temperate to tropical climates, there are grasses that can thrive, no matter where you call home. Sun or shade? Sandy or clay soil? Warm temperature or cold? These are all important questions, and knowing your environment is the first step in finding the best grass seed for your needs." TypeWhen to plant: Texas Tough is a warm season forage grass, utilized for grazing or haying. Plant Texas Tough during spring and summer, when soil temperatures are consistently above 65 degrees F. The optimal soil temperature for germination and root growth of Bermudagrass is 75 to 80 degrees F.

Texas Tough wears its name on its sleeve, but don't think this blend is only optimum for the Lone Star State. It will take its drought-resistant, insect-resistant qualities to any state in the American South, where Bermudagrass is known to grow. In these kinds of optimal conditions, the grass can be seen to germinate in around seven days, although it really does depend on the weather – if the temperatures drop, it can take as long as two weeks to notice germination, and if the soil temperature is below 9°C, there is a chance it won’t germinate at all. If you are looking to breathe new life into your garden, here at What’s The Best, we have a simple solution for you – the best grass seed. In addition, know how to aerate a lawn to improvea lawn'soverall health, and try to keep pets off the grass as their urine is high in nitrogen, which can easily scorchlawnswhen undiluted. What is the easiest way to plant grass seed?For areas that get fewer than three hours of direct sun, use a shade-tolerant ground cover, such as myrtle or pachysandra,’ says Peter Landschoot, Professor of Turfgrass Science at Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences.