May 4th

By Mutt Mulligan

TurfMutt’s tips for responsible, pet friendly landscape {VIDEO}

The real-life TurfMutt (Lucky the rescue dog) made a TV appearance in Washington, D.C., this week to share tips on planting responsible, pet friendly landscape. TurfMutt was on Great Day Washington with his owner, Kris Kiser who’s the president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI).

Here are a few of the of the TurfMutt tips he shared on the show. For more, watch the entire segment.

Choose climate-appropriate plants.
Bermuda grass, for instance, is good for many climates, even those that don’t get much rain. Buffalo grass can be another good choice. Kids can play TurfMutt’s Climate Quest game to learn more about which plants grow best in which climate zones.

Put the right plants in the right places.
Select hardy turfgrass that can withstand the traffic of children and pets. Living lawns help cool your backyard, while at the same time reducing carbon, controlling runoff and producing oxygen. Also, put pet-appropriate, hardy plantings in the path of dogs. Remember, some plants are poisonous to pets! (Use this tool to help you choose.)

Incorporate flowering plants.
TurfMutt isn’t just concerned about his furry friends, he cares about all creatures in the backyard. Pollinators, hummingbirds, insects and other wildlife rely on our living landscapes for food and shelter. Select a variety of plants to help these animals thrive, even in an urban environment.

Avoid plastic grass.
Artificial turf deadens the landscape. Opt instead for a living landscape that includes climate-appropriate turfgrass like Bermuda or buffalo grasses. Plastic grass gets hot. It doesn’t absorb the rainwater, and it certainly doesn’t help with the heat island effect! In fact, it makes it worse.

Learn more about the importance of living landscapes and discover some interesting scientific facts about the green space around you.