Dog Runs Next to Picket Fence – What to Plant?

Question

(We are in the Piedmont part of SC near Charlotte – zone 8) I have a Sheltie that loves to run the length of my picket fence that is on top of a hill that steeps down into a natural area/woods. We have Kentucky bluegrass growing well in the yard which backs up to the fence and the grass is supposed to go all the way to the fence, which is irrigated except for the muddy trail that runs the length of the fence created by his running up and down.

We plant new grass every year but it is really now mostly mud in the foot or so space between the woods and where the grass grows beyond his path. We have long needle pine trees just now growing up tall enough (10 year seedlings) behind the fence and beginning to shade and drop pine needles on the area but not enough to fully nauturally mulch it. Should we just keep resodding and trying to grow grass, give up and mulch with pine needles or I have considered planting Monkey Grass next to the fence and putting river rock in front of it to make a permanent runway/path for him. Any ideas? Hate the mud that is being tracked onto my deck from his “trail.”

Answer 1

Resodding every year can be both time consuming and expensive, especially if it's ending up as a lost cause. I like the idea you have with the monkey grass plantings and river rock. Solid pavers, as opposed to mulch or even gravel, are alaways a good choice when creating paths for dogs. Not only does it cut down on mud but can reduce digging, which loose materials may encourage.