Encouragement or a reality check

Possibly? But the thought just grosses me out so much. I don’t know why I feel that dirty real grass is better that dirty plastic grass but…

Can the soil be renourished? Is it possible? I admit, before I came here, I was thinking that, worst case scenario, I could just dump better soil on top, since the grass was perfectly willing to grow in a shallow plastic container with holes drilled in the bottom. I now understand that that’s not actually possible. But I haven’t worked out my alternative options yet!

I have googled, and seen some teeny, tiny fairy circles of lawn, in gardens as small as mine, which gives me hope that, in a sort of wavy pattern, it might be manageable, and even make the garden look bigger. I can sort of see it in my head, and in my head, it looks ok, if I can bring it off!

 

A dog and a small patch of grass won't work. It will be, in effect, a dog toilet. The grass will get trampled and if a bitch pees on grass, it dies.
As your dog is still a pup, you have time to 'toilet train' it . Find a suitable corner spot that you can keep reasonably clean and train it to use that spot.

 

Oh well. At present, I feel stubborn about trying this, but thankfully, it’s such a distant part of the project, that I’ll have a lot of thinking time - and my dog will grow up a lot. We’ll see how I feel when I arrive there. I’m sure I’ll end up making some kind of mistake that warrant a speedy redesign later, in any case, it’s all part of the learning process.

(She is only a tiny puppy, and not fully trained even to go outside, just yet. She’s clever and she’ll learn, but for the sake of my sleep and my carpets, I’m not going to complicate it more than, “outside, not inside”, right now!)

 

I am loving the fact you even have a grass litter tray rather than a regular one.... and that you purchased a rotary hammer on next day delivery! have you had a go yet.....?

If your neighbours have grass, I don't see why you can't, maybe not straight away (and also a lot of work) but never say never, and if it doesn't work it would be the end of the world. I know dog owners that have a reserved spot of grass for their dogs only, my neighbour has a circular patch in the top of their garden which is surrounded by a wall of plants so also as little disguised. I will ask if about when I see them next.

 

Of course I have had a go! Thank goodness for it, tbh. I don’t know if I would have finished the job with an ordinary chisel and hammer. Probably, due to stubbornness, but it would have taken ages!


I am here, but currently dealing with a silly puppy who has absolutely no problem with the sound of a rotary hammer, but a huge, huge problem with a spade and bright blue rubble bags, apparently. I started trying to clear some of it up, and she freaked out, so currently, I have her cuddled up to me in the sofa with some empty rubble bags with dog treats on them, on the floor around us. Just to encourage a touch of bravery…

 

This may be for you.:
Sika Brick and Patio Acid Based Cleaner - 5L | Wickes.co.uk

 

Yes, you will have to swill the grass with water every time your puppy pees as it will scorch the grass. Especially if you do not have her spayed. One of the regular dog walkers I meet has just moved to the village, they have a female dog and Astro turf which they hose down regularly, (non gardeners) it seems to work well. Would it be worth buying some Astro turf to lay on top of the decking temporarily, to train her to use it with training pads. You could move it around as you work, she should follow the smell from the pads. I know the pads are supposed to be for house training, trying to think outside the box. I knew someone who taught their dog to use a specific piece of their garden as a toilet area.
I was also going to suggest practicing repointing your wall behind the shed but someone beat me to it. Great minds think alike!
Good luck with the hammer, be careful! Goggles, etc. No chips of mortar in eyes.

 

If you have the recommended base under plastic grass, the water you squirt on to dilute the pee or the odd loose motion has nowhere to go and sits under the turf. You're better off with some arrangement whereby the water etc can soak into the ground or better still a hard surface that can be kept clean.

 

Ha! I ordered some yesterday, after some googling! I really couldn’t get the chisel under those last scraping of cement, without going into the brick, and I was worried I was going to have to re-render it after all, if there was no way to get those bits off. I ordered a wire brush attachment for my drill, too, for after the acid. Hopefully the acid will mostly work, and I can get the rest with the brush.

Thanks both! I’m feeling very stubborn about the grass in a way that reflects badly on my character! I do this sometimes - dig my heels in and ignore good advice, and often (though not always) regret it later. So, I’m putting the entire question of grass or no grass aside entirely, for the moment. Hopefully, when I come back to it, I will have developed a bit of common sense, and can take in all actual arguments for and against. (Right now my argument is mainly, “but I want it!”)

 

P.S. I have just seen your pics. Well done! Looking at your wall, I reckon if you give it a firm brush down with a stiff bristle brush/broom it will come up a treat and may well not need repointing. Maybe just sealing to preserve. Keep going, you are really doing well.

Puppy looks adorable. The world can be scary when you are a baby, especially flappy things. It is amazing what can be achieved with treats. He is now almost bomb proof now when I drop a metal pan on my tile floor he doesn't bat an eyelid. I taught my newly acquired 6 years old boy to come to the whistle within a couple of weeks. His recall was non existent when I took him on. I made a game of it, hid in rooms indoors when he wasn't looking, blew the whistle and when he came and found me he was rewarded with a treat. He will do almost anything for a treat. I still reinforce it when walking him and he goes some distance from me, several dogs he meets regularly have also latched onto when they hear my whistle, they come and sit in front of me with him, waiting for a treat! I feel like the Pied Piper.

 

Yes, I’m so lucky that Nina is extremely food motivated. She’s getting there with recall (still struggles when other dogs or people are around - it’s all too exciting!), and she’s nearly there with toilet training but just not totally reliable. Especially when outside is becoming strange and different and scary… I’m going to have to keep a careful eye on her for this whole project, I think!

 

Nina is adorable!!!

the work you have done already is great and the wall you have revealed is pretty alright… good on you Lucy.

 

Thanks! Today’s work has just been cleaning up the rubble. I really should have put a tarp down. But, before I thought of it, there was already rubble everywhere and covering it up seemed like a trip hazard!

I’ll get the rest of this up and bagged, and then do the wise thing!

 

Sounds about right!

We love and learn girl….and we all become wiser. I’m actually quite jealous that I don’t have the blank canvas you have. So much opportunity to make the space exactly like you want it. You can see your dream garden and it will come albeit slowly…. A lot of patience needed but jealous all the same.

 

I've just come across your thread, Lucie, and I'm impressed. I love your enthusiasm. I hope it all works out well for you and your adorable Nina.

As I read through I was itching to suggest some things but they have all been said already so I will wish you luck and I look forward to seeing more photos of your progress. I'm glad the wall is brick!