Let’s Connect
Best Artificial Turf for Pets: A Buyer’s Guide
Artificial turf has been a real lifesaver for a lot of us dog owners in Colorado. No more dealing with muddy paws tracked through the house, dead patches from urine, or digging. For dog runs, backyard potty spots, or just high-traffic pet areas, good synthetic grass keeps things clean, green year-round, and way easier to maintain.
We’ve seen plenty of natural lawns get destroyed by enthusiastic dogs, and artificial turf fixes that without the hassle of reseeding or watering. The key is picking something built tough enough for digging, running, and daily use while handling urine drainage quickly and staying hygienic.
What Really Matters for Pet Turf in Colorado?
When you’re shopping, focus on these practical things:
- Blades: Polyethylene for softness and UV resistance (it holds up to our intense sun without fading fast).
- Height: Around 1-1.5” which is comfortable for paws but doesn’t mat down or hold moisture long.
- Drainage: Punched/perforated backing works great here. Our rainfall is low, so you don’t need super-fancy “fully permeable” setups that drain everywhere. Punched holes handle pet urine just fine; often 30+ inches per hour or better, and avoid the downsides.
- Durability: Higher face weight (80+ oz total) and solid thick backing that doesn’t tear when installers stretch it tight.
- Hygiene: Built-in antimicrobial protection to cut down on bacteria and odors.
- Install: Strong backing makes seaming and stretching easier and more reliable, especially with our freeze-thaw cycles.
Addressing “Fully Permeable” Backing: Not Always Better in Colorado
About that “fully permeable” backing hype: It sounds impressive, but in Colorado it’s mostly unnecessary. We don’t get enough rain to justify it, and pet urine drains through standard punched holes without pooling anyway. The downside? Those fully permeable backings are often not as thick, weaker, and more likely to rip during install when the turf gets pulled taut, which can lead to seaming issues or faster wear over time. Stick with proven punched systems for better longevity and simpler installs.
Two Solid Choices from Summit Turf Supply
At Summit Turf Supply, we’ve got options dialed in for Colorado’s dry air, big sun, and active dogs. Here are two that stand out for pet areas.
This one’s a workhorse: versatile and built tough for high-traffic spots like dog runs or mixed pet/family yards. It holds up to digging and heavy play without wearing out quickly, has a dark forest green look with excellent blade strength, and the punched drainage keeps things dry fast. Great all-around pick if your dogs are rough on the yard.
If your pups (or kids) are super active, go for this one. It’s softer and more cushioned underfoot, with resilient fibers that bounce back from play. Around 85 oz total weight gives it serious durability, plus fast drainage, and antimicrobial properties built right in to keep odors and bacteria in check. Perfect for dedicated runs, backyards with energetic dogs, or anywhere you want that extra paw-friendly feel without sacrificing toughness.
Both use high-quality polyethylene for the yarn, include antimicrobial protection, and work well with a proper crushed-stone base for drainage and stability.
Quick Tips for Setup and Care
- Prep a solid base with decomposed granite or crushed rock, best drainage under the turf.
- Get a pro install if it’s a bigger area to handle grading, seams, and stretching right so nothing shifts later.
- Scoop solids as soon as possible. Hose down urine spots (add an enzymatic cleaner if odors linger).
- Ongoing: Brush occasionally to fluff the blades, rinse in hot spots.
Bottom line
In Colorado, you want turf that’s durable, drains reliably, and installs without headaches, not gimmicky extras that don’t help much here. If you’re tired of the mud and ready for a permanent green space your dog can enjoy, swing by Summit Turf Supply. Grab some samples, chat about your yard, or get a quote, we’re local and know what works in our climate.
Give us a call at (970) 236 6480 or check out summitturfsupply.com. Your pup’s paws (and your floors) will thank you.