How To Fill In Holes In Yard From Dog: Restore Your Lawn

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How To Fill In Holes In Yard From Dog: Restore Your Lawn

Dealing with holes in your yard from your dog can be frustrating. How do you fill in holes in your yard from your dog? You fill them by clearing the hole, adding soil, making the area level, and then fixing the grass by planting seeds or adding sod. This step-by-step process helps repair dog holes in your lawn and makes your yard look good again. It is also important to understand why your dog digs to help prevent new holes later.

Dogs dig holes for many reasons. They might be bored, trying to catch small animals, hiding toys, looking for cooler ground, or just having fun. No matter the reason, the holes can damage your lawn. Fixing these spots quickly helps keep your yard healthy and looking nice. This guide will walk you through how to fill dog holes with soil and other steps to get your yard back in shape. We will also talk about ways to stop dog digging in the yard to prevent this problem in the future.

Why Your Dog Digs Holes

Before we fix the holes, let’s look at why your dog makes them. Learning why dogs dig is the first step to stopping them. If you know why they dig, you can help them in other ways.

Dogs dig for many reasons:
* They are bored: Dogs with lots of energy or those left alone for a long time might dig to pass the time.
* They want to catch things: If your yard has mice, moles, or other small animals, your dog might dig to try and catch them.
* They want to hide things: Some dogs bury bones or toys for later.
* They are too hot or too cold: In hot weather, dogs might dig down to find cooler dirt. In cold weather, they might dig for warmth.
* They are trying to get out: Dogs might dig under fences if they see something outside or want to explore.
* They are scared or worried: Some dogs dig when they are anxious.
* It feels good: For some dogs, digging is just fun!

Knowing the reason helps you pick the best way to stop the digging later.

Getting Ready to Fill the Holes

Before you start fixing the holes, you need to get your tools and materials ready. This makes the work go faster and helps you do a good job. Having everything nearby means you won’t have to stop once you start.

Tools You Will Need

Here are some things that will help you fix the holes:

• A shovel or spade: For moving dirt and making the area ready.
• A garden trowel: Good for smaller holes and working in tight spots.
• A rake: To spread soil and smooth the ground.
• A tamper or a piece of wood: To gently press down the soil.
• A watering can or hose: To water the area after you are done.
• A wheelbarrow or bucket: To carry soil.
• Gloves: To keep your hands clean and safe.

What Stuff to Use to Fill Holes

Choosing the best material to fill dog holes is important. You want something that will help new grass grow and not cause more problems.

The main thing you need is soil. But not just any soil. Good soil helps plants grow.

• Topsoil: This is the best choice. Topsoil is the top layer of soil, rich in things plants need to grow. It drains well and helps new grass roots take hold. Look for screened topsoil to avoid big clumps or rocks.
• Compost: Mixing some compost into your topsoil is a great idea. Compost adds even more good stuff to the soil, making it healthier for grass.
• Sand (Use with care): You can mix a little bit of coarse sand into heavy clay soil to help it drain better. But don’t use too much sand, as it can make the soil too loose or create a hard layer. Pure sand isn’t good for growing grass.

Avoid using soil that is too rocky or has lots of clay. Clay soil gets very hard when dry and holds too much water when wet. This makes it hard for grass to grow.

To cover the hole after filling, you will also need grass seeds or pieces of sod (rolls of grass).

• Grass Seed: This is cheaper if you have many holes or a big area to fix. Make sure you get the right type of seed for your yard and climate.
• Sod: This gives you grass right away. It costs more but gives your yard a finished look faster. You will need small pieces that fit the hole.

Steps to Mend the Yard

Now let’s get to the actual work of fixing the holes. This is the main part of repair dog holes in lawn. We will go step-by-step.

Making the Hole Ready

Before you fill the hole, you need to clean it up a bit.

1. Look at the hole: See how deep and wide it is. Look for anything the dog might have buried.
2. Remove loose stuff: Take out any loose rocks, sticks, or other things from inside and right around the hole.
3. Check the edges: If the edges of the hole are hard or packed down, use your trowel to break them up a little. This helps the new soil connect with the old soil and lets water get through.
4. Don’t make it too big: Just clean the hole itself. Don’t dig up more of your lawn.

Putting in the Soil

Now it’s time for filling dog holes with soil.

1. Get your soil ready: If you are mixing topsoil and compost, do it now in your wheelbarrow or a bucket.
2. Start filling: Use your shovel or trowel to put the soil mixture into the hole.
3. Fill almost to the top: Don’t fill the hole all the way to the top at first. Fill it so the soil is a little bit lower than the grass around it.
4. Water gently: Add a little water to the soil in the hole. This helps the soil settle down and get rid of air pockets. The soil will likely sink a bit.
5. Add more soil: After the water drains, add more soil until it is just a little bit higher than the ground around the hole. This is because the soil will settle more over time. Filling it slightly higher helps the spot end up level with the rest of the yard.

Making the Ground Flat

After putting in the soil, you need to make the surface flat. This step is part of leveling dog damaged lawn.

1. Spread the soil evenly: Use your rake to spread the soil smoothly across the filled hole. Make sure there are no bumps or low spots.
2. Gently press down: Use a tamper or a flat piece of wood to gently press the soil down. Don’t stomp on it hard; just press enough to make the surface firm. This helps prevent the soil from sinking too much later. The surface should be firm but not like concrete. You still want water and roots to be able to move through it.
3. Check the level: Look at the spot from the side to see if it is level with the ground nearby. Add or remove soil as needed, then press gently again. The goal is to have the filled area match the height of the surrounding lawn.

Getting Grass Back

Once the soil is in and level, you need to get grass growing again. This is part of patching grass dog digging. You have two main choices: planting seeds or using sod.

Planting New Seeds (Reseeding Yard After Dog Digging)

Reseeding is a common way to fix holes.

1. Choose the right seed: Use grass seed that matches your lawn. Check the box to see what kind of grass it is.
2. Spread the seeds: Sprinkle the grass seeds evenly over the filled area. Use the amount the seed package tells you, or slightly more. Don’t put too many seeds in one spot, as they won’t grow well if they are too crowded.
3. Cover the seeds lightly: You can gently rake the seeds into the top bit of soil (about 1/4 inch deep). Or, you can cover the seeds with a very thin layer of compost or peat moss. This helps keep the seeds wet and safe from birds. Peat moss is often used because it holds water well and is light.
4. Water gently: Water the area carefully so you don’t wash the seeds away. Use a watering can with a sprinkler head or a hose on a gentle setting.
5. Keep the soil wet: This is very important! For seeds to sprout, the soil must stay wet all the time, especially the top layer. You might need to water the spot two or three times a day, depending on the weather. Don’t let it dry out.
6. Wait for grass to grow: It takes time for seeds to sprout and grow strong enough. Keep people and pets off the spot as much as possible until the new grass is growing well.

Using Grass Pieces (Sod)

Using sod gives you grass right away and can be a good option for fixing dog holes in garden areas or lawns where you need a quick fix.

1. Get sod pieces: Buy or cut pieces of sod that are slightly bigger than the hole you filled.
2. Shape the hole for the sod: Place the sod piece over the filled area and use a knife or spade to cut the soil underneath to the exact shape of the sod piece. Make sure the soil level is right so the sod will be level with the rest of the lawn when you put it in. The soil should be slightly lower than the surrounding grass, just enough for the sod thickness.
3. Place the sod: Lay the sod piece carefully into the shaped area. Make sure the edges of the sod meet the edges of the old grass tightly.
4. Press the sod down: Gently press the sod down with your hands or feet to make sure the bottom of the sod touches the soil underneath. This helps the roots grow into the new soil.
5. Water well: Water the new sod right away until it is very wet.
6. Keep the sod wet: Just like seeds, new sod needs lots of water to get its roots to grow into the soil below. Water it every day, maybe even twice a day in hot weather, for the first week or two. After that, you can water less often as the sod roots in.
7. Stay off the sod: Try not to walk on the new sod for a few weeks so the roots can grow strong.

Taking Care of the Spot

Whether you used seed or sod, the repaired area needs care to grow into a strong part of your lawn.

• Watering: Keep the area consistently moist, especially in the first few weeks. New grass (from seed or sod) needs water to live. As the grass gets stronger, you can water less often but more deeply.
• Mowing: Don’t mow the new grass until it is tall enough (usually about 3-4 inches high). When you do mow, make sure your mower blades are sharp and mow when the grass is dry. Only cut off about one-third of the grass height at a time.
• Fertilizing: After the new grass is growing well (a few weeks for sod, a month or two for seed), you can give it a light feeding with lawn fertilizer to help it get stronger. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer bag.
• Keep pets away: Try your best to keep your dog from digging in or running on the repaired spots until the grass is fully grown and strong. You can use small fences or other barriers if needed.

Keeping Dogs From Digging More

Fixing the holes is one thing, but stopping new holes is key for yard restoration after dog holes. Prevent dog digging yard involves figuring out why your dog digs and finding ways to help them. This is a major part of fixing the problem long-term.

Learning Why Dogs Dig

As we talked about before, finding the reason helps a lot. Spend time watching your dog in the yard.
* When do they dig?
* Where do they dig?
* What do they do right before or after digging?

Answers to these questions can give you hints. If they dig when you leave, they might be anxious. If they dig by the fence, they might want to get out. If they dig under bushes, they might be looking for animals or cooler spots.

Ways to Stop Digging

Once you have an idea why your dog is digging, you can try different things to stop dog from digging.

Give Your Dog Other Things to Do

Boredom and too much energy are big reasons for digging.

• Exercise: Make sure your dog gets enough exercise every day. Go for walks, play fetch, or run around in the yard with them. A tired dog is less likely to dig.
• Playtime: Spend time playing with your dog in the yard. This makes your presence a fun part of being outside and gives them something else to do.
• Toys: Give your dog toys to keep them busy when they are outside alone. Puzzle toys that give treats can keep them busy for a while. Chew toys are also good.
• Training: Teach your dog new tricks or commands. This uses their brain and energy. Obedience training can also help you teach them not to dig when you say “no.”

Make Digging Spots Less Fun

You can make the places your dog likes to dig less appealing.

• Bury smelly things: Put things that dogs don’t like the smell of in the holes before filling them. This could be citrus peels, coffee grounds, or even your dog’s poop (just a little bit!). This makes the spot less attractive to dig in again.
• Place rocks: Put large, smooth rocks in the filled hole before covering them with a thin layer of soil. This blocks the dog from digging deep in that exact spot.
• Change the smell: Some people use pet-safe repellent sprays around areas they don’t want the dog to dig. The smell or taste can keep dogs away.
• Make the ground harder: In favorite digging spots, you could place chicken wire or netting just under the surface of the soil before you put grass back. The dog’s paws will hit the wire if they try to dig, and they won’t like it. Make sure the edges are tucked down so the dog doesn’t get hurt.

Check the Yard

Sometimes, dogs dig because of things in the yard.

• Look for animals: If your dog digs for animals like moles, try to deal with the animal problem in a safe way.
• Provide shade or shelter: If your dog digs to cool down, make sure they have a shady spot and plenty of fresh water outside. A small dog house or a cool mat can also help.
• Hide things: Don’t leave toys or tasty treats buried in the yard where your dog might try to dig them up later.

Train Your Dog

Training is key to stopping unwanted behaviors like digging.

• Catch them in the act: If you see your dog starting to dig, interrupt them with a firm “No” or a loud noise. Then, redirect them to something they are allowed to do, like playing with a toy in a different spot.
• Create a digging spot: Some people make a special place where the dog is allowed to dig. This could be a sand pit or a certain corner of the yard. Bury toys or treats there to encourage them to dig only in that spot. When you see them digging there, give them praise!

Bringing the Whole Yard Back

Fixing a few holes is one thing, but sometimes you need a bigger plan for yard restoration after dog holes, especially if there are many spots or the damage is large. This might involve leveling dog damaged lawn over a wider area or reseeding yard after dog digging on a bigger scale.

Fixing Many Spots

If your dog has made many holes, patching grass dog digging one by one might take too long. You can follow the same steps for each hole (clean, fill with best material to fill dog holes, level, reseed/sod), but it might be helpful to work on one section at a time.

• Focus area: Pick one part of the yard with the most holes.
• Do all steps: Go through cleaning, filling, leveling, and seeding/sodding all the holes in that section before moving to the next.
• Larger patches: For spots where many holes are close together, you might treat it as one large damaged area instead of many small holes.

Making the Lawn Even Again (Leveling)

Heavy digging can make parts of your lawn bumpy or uneven, beyond just the holes themselves. Leveling dog damaged lawn is important for a smooth surface.

1. Identify low spots: Look for areas where the ground is uneven or where water collects.
2. Use a soil mix: Prepare a mix of topsoil and sand (about 70% sand, 30% topsoil is common for leveling mixes, but check with a local garden center for advice based on your soil type). This mix is good for spreading in thin layers without hurting the grass that is still there.
3. Spread a thin layer: Lightly spread the soil mix over the low areas. Use the back of a rake or a special leveling tool to work the mix down to the base of the grass plants. Don’t cover the grass blades completely.
4. Water: Water the area gently after spreading the mix.
5. Repeat if needed: For very low spots, you might need to add more layers of the soil mix over time. Let the grass grow through the first layer before adding another.

This process helps make the lawn surface flat again over time without killing the existing grass.

Planting Seeds Again (Reseeding)

If large parts of your yard are damaged from digging, you might need to reseed bigger areas. Reseeding yard after dog digging on a larger scale follows similar steps to patching, but requires more planning.

1. Prepare the soil: Rake the area to remove dead grass and break up the top layer of soil. You can add a thin layer of compost to improve the soil.
2. Spread seeds: Use a seed spreader for even coverage over the larger area.
3. Cover lightly: Rake the seeds in gently or add a thin layer of peat moss.
4. Roll (optional): For larger areas, you can gently roll the seeded area with a lawn roller (partially filled with water) to make sure the seeds have good contact with the soil.
5. Water, water, water: Keeping a larger area consistently wet until the seeds sprout is very important and might mean setting up sprinklers.
6. Protect the area: Try to keep foot traffic and dog activity off the reseeded area until the grass is well established.

How to Stop Digging for Good (Prevention)

Stopping dog from digging permanently is the best way to protect your yard. This goes beyond just fixing holes; it’s about managing your dog’s behavior and environment. Prevent dog digging yard strategies need to be ongoing.

Think about a few key areas:

• Exercise and Mental Work: Is your dog getting enough? Daily walks, playtime, and training sessions can use up energy that might otherwise go into digging.
• Supervision: Don’t leave your dog in the yard alone for long periods, especially if they are known diggers. Check on them often.
• Safe Space: Make sure your dog feels safe and comfortable in the yard. Provide shade, water, and shelter. If they are digging near the fence due to anxiety about things outside, consider blocking their view or spending more time with them outside.
• Redirect Behavior: Be ready to stop digging immediately and offer a better option (a toy, a game, going inside).
• Make the Yard Less Interesting for Digging: Use the smell or texture ideas mentioned before in areas prone to digging.

Fixing dog holes in garden beds follows the same process but you might need to be careful around other plants. Use the same steps: clean, fill with good soil (maybe mixed with compost suitable for the garden), level, and then replant grass or cover with mulch depending on the garden area.

Yard restoration after dog holes takes effort. It involves both fixing the physical damage and working with your dog to change the behavior. Be patient. It might take time for the grass to grow back and for your dog to stop digging. Consistency in training and prevention is key.

Using the best material to fill dog holes and following the steps for leveling dog damaged lawn and patching grass dog digging correctly will give your lawn the best chance to recover. Reseeding yard after dog digging or using sod helps cover the bare spots and makes the yard look whole again. But the most important part of long-term yard restoration after dog holes is successfully putting into practice ways to stop dog from digging.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Holes

Here are some common questions people ask about fixing dog holes in their yard.

Q: How long does it take for grass to grow after I reseed?
A: It depends on the type of grass seed, the weather, and how well you water. You might see sprouts in 5-10 days, but it can take 4-6 weeks or longer for the new grass to be strong enough to look like part of the lawn and handle walking on it.

Q: How often should I water new seed or sod?
A: New seed needs the top inch of soil to stay wet constantly until it sprouts. This might mean watering 2-3 times a day in warm weather. New sod needs deep watering right after putting it down and then daily watering for the first week or two to help roots grow. After the first week or two, you can water less often as the grass gets stronger. Always check the soil moisture.

Q: Can I just fill the holes with sand?
A: No, don’t just fill holes with pure sand. Sand does not have the nutrients grass needs to grow well, and it can make the soil hard over time. It’s best to use good topsoil, maybe mixed with a little compost. If your soil is heavy clay, mixing in some coarse sand with the topsoil can help drainage, but pure sand isn’t good for growing grass.

Q: Will the filled spot sink over time?
A: Yes, soil usually settles after you fill a hole. That’s why it’s a good idea to fill the hole slightly higher than the ground around it. Watering after filling helps the soil settle some right away, but more settling can happen later. You might need to add a little more soil and grass seed/sod later if it sinks too much.

Q: Is there anything natural I can use to stop my dog from digging in a spot?
A: Yes, some natural things dogs dislike the smell of include citrus peels (like oranges or lemons), coffee grounds, or vinegar (used with caution, as too much vinegar can hurt plants). Placing these in or near the digging spot before filling can sometimes discourage digging. Always make sure what you use is safe for your pet and your plants. Some people also use cayenne pepper, but this can irritate a dog’s eyes and nose, so many prefer safer options.

Q: My dog digs under the fence. How can I stop this?
A: Dogs often dig under fences to get out or reach something interesting outside.
* First, figure out why they want to get out (boredom, seeing other animals, anxiety).
* Make the area less easy to dig: Bury chicken wire or large rocks along the bottom of the fence line.
* Block their view: Add a privacy screen to the fence.
* Give them other ways to use energy.
* Supervise them when they are in the yard.

Q: Can I use the dirt the dog dug out to fill the hole?
A: You can use the dirt the dog dug out if it is good soil, free of rocks or roots, and hasn’t been mixed with things like gravel from a path. However, it’s often better to use fresh topsoil because it’s usually higher quality for growing grass and ensures you have enough material. Mix the dug-out dirt with fresh topsoil or compost if it seems okay.

Fixing holes from dog digging takes time and work, but by following these steps and working to prevent new holes, you can enjoy a healthier, better-looking yard.