Johnsons Lawn Seed discovers the holy grail of lawncare – grass that doesn’t turn yellow due to dog urine damage

Introducing Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance, the super-tough new grass seed that dog-owners would be barking mad not to try!

It is a problem that has dogged lawn-owners for decades: manicured turf left scorched by beloved pets using grass as their toilet. Now, in a UK first, this bane of gardeners’ lives is set to be consigned to history with the launch of an ultra-tough grass seed mix that’s scientifically proven to resist urine damage.

Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance is a unique new product that’s being exclusively introduced for 2020 by the UK’s oldest grass seed company, Johnsons Lawn Seed. With an estimated 9.9million dogs in the UK and 26% of UK adults owning a dog*, lawns across the country have been blighted by dog urine damage – until now.

Dog urine, in particular female dog wee, can result in extensive destruction of grass. Often, pet fouling will leave unsightly yellow or brown circular patches on lawns, with damaged areas displaying bright green edges. While gardeners have traditionally been taught to immediately water affected areas to minimise the impact by diluting acidic urine before it burns the grass, remedial action is rarely carried out in time, ruining the appearance of turf.

Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance contains naturally tolerant grass species that won’t turn yellow when drenched with dog urine. Even if slight discolouration occasionally occurs, grass will recover. Pet-owners can relax in the knowledge that lawns will remain lush, green and patch-free – while there is no longer any need to change a pet’s diet or behaviour to prevent damage to turf.

Johnsons Lawn Seed’s Guy Jenkins said: “Nothing is as quintessentially British as a well-tended lawn. Our gardens are the envy of the world, and lawns remain the backbone of our horticultural pride and joy. The lush, green appearance of healthy turf is, however, all too often spoilt by ugly yellow patches and dead grass – the result of dogs using lawns as their toilet. For decades, gardeners have toiled to repair and re-seed affected areas, but the launch of Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance will consign this job to history. At last, families need no longer worry about dogs damaging their sward, and gardens that are home to pets can boast a bowling green-style lawn that’s the envy of the neighbourhood.”

Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance, available at good garden centres now, was developed in Denmark by DLF Seeds, the parent company of Johnsons Lawn Seed. Scientists carried out 672 tests using 168 varieties of grass, simulating the effects of various concentrations of dog urine in a bid to find out if any types were resistant to damage.

After 18 months of trials, researchers discovered the holy grail of lawncare – grass varieties that didn’t just resist urine damage, but formed lawns that are also tough enough to cope with the wear and tear of regular family use. As an added bonus, lawns sown from Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance have remarkable stamina, standing-up well to low temperatures and snow, with excellent drought-resistance, too.

In line with the current trend towards greener gardening, the new blend of dog patch-resistant fine-leaved dwarf perennial ryegrass is a natural product, containing 100% grass seed and nothing else, ensuring that it is safe for family use.

Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance has an SRP of £4.15 for a 250gm pack and £7.25 for 500gm. A 1.5kg pack has an SRP of £16.99 while a large 5kg pack has an SRP of £44.

Find out more

To find out more about Johnsons Lawn Seed products please visit http://www.johnsonslawnseed.com/product-range.aspx

[Pull-out box] How to use Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance

·     Sowing and establishing a new lawn using Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance requires no more effort that sowing any other type of lawn from seed. It is a one-off job that will quickly result in a robust new lawn.

·     To sow a lawn from scratch, remove old turf and eliminate perennial weeds before digging or rotavating the soil, incorporating well-rotted organic matter if the soil is poor. Remove stones and debris then tread the area level, before raking. Apply general-purpose fertiliser, rake the area level again and you’re ready to sow.

·     Sow Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance seed evenly then lightly rake the new seed into the soil surface. Gently water, so as not to disturb the seed, and remember to keep newly germinated lawns watered while they establish, if conditions are dry.

·     Where gardeners are not in a position to replace an entire lawn, Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance can be used for overseeding in spring and autumn.

·     Overseeding will gradually introduce improved levels of dog urine resistance into existing lawns, which will steadily gain the benefits of improved resistance over time.

·     Where gardeners only have small areas of dog urine damage present in lawns, Tuffgrass with Dog Patch Resistance can be used to repair patches.

*Dog ownership statistics from pets charity PDSA.

ENDS

Words: 797

For more information, interviews or images please contact:

Kimberley Hornby      Tel: 07851610573      Email: kimberley@hornbywhitefootpr.co.uk

Marc Rosenberg       Tel: 07931645170     Email: marc@hornbywhitefootpr.co.uk

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Editors notes

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