Need a little help...

[VirgoWolf]

I am looking for a non toxic (to dogs) perrennial ground cover that can withstand heavy foot traffic... Can anyone help? Thanks in advance!

[Jerry]

we love to help, but knowing your zone will help a lot!  Welcome to "AP"

[VirgoWolf]

Hey, sorry about that... I'm in SE Michigan... If I remember correctly, it's Zone 5.

Thanks for the warm welcome, I used to be a member of another pond forum who had some server trouble and seems most of the ponders came here, so I have been lurking on and off for some time, I thought I had registered, but I guess not. Glad I finally got around to it.

[VirgoWolf]

OK, sorry to post after myself, but I double checked and remembered why I was confused... We are zone 5, but are surrounded by zone 6, so were like zone 5.5 LOL.

Also, now that I have a little more time to respond... I am looking for something grass/moss like that is low maintenance (IE won't need fertalizers or get more than 4" or so) and my dogs will be spending alot of time in this area, so it has to be something that if they decide to have salad for dinner, it's not going to make them seriously sick. Also since the dogs will spend alot of time here, it's going to get trampled, so it has to hold up pretty well.

I was browsing through some of my books and I found Zoysia tenuifolia (Korean Grass) which seems to fit the bill in every aspect except the book does not mention how well it holds up to foot traffic, nor does it say if it is pet safe or not. So if anyone knows, I would really appreciate it if you could fill me in. Anything similar would be great also.

Thanks! 

[Mikey]

Glad I finally got around to it.

I wish I could help but I'm in Z-10...  However, I do have a round toit.... 

[VirgoWolf]

I think I found something... Perennial Ryegrass. It sounds perfect for what I need based what I can find online... Anyone see any problems with it? Think I could find it pretty easily?

[Jerry]

The locaL GARDEN COLUMNIST TOLD ME PERRENIAL RYE WAS GOOD.  mUCH BETTER THAN ANNUAL RYE.
i like the korean grass too.  There will be more suggestions

[Mikey]

Have you tried asking people on the GardenWeb who live in your area?  http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/grtlks/  I have planted a native sedge in my garden paths and it takes a lot of foot traffic.  You likely have something native in your area as well that will take a beating but only locals will be able to supply you with that info.

[VirgoWolf]

Thanks, we ended up getting the perennial ryegrass this morning, going to let it take root and stabalize before we expose it to the torture of the dogs, so if anyone knows any reasons I shoulden't use it around the dogs, please let me know. Kinda sounds too good to be true, but I was sold when I read that it is highly digestable, rugged, thick, and soft... perfect for the dogs.

Thanks for all the help... hopefully we have a winner, but if anyone has any answers about the Korean Grass or any other words of advice, I am still very interested. Thanks.

[LeeAnne151]

Perennial Rye is a lawn grass. It won't hurt the dogs.