Dog-Friendly Backyard with Artificial Turf in North York

About this project

The rear yard started as packed dirt and loose debris, with no lawn left and water sitting on the lot. The owners wanted a clean, secure space they could use as a personal doggy day care, so the yard had to drain properly, hold up to daily paw traffic, and be closed in on all sides. We stripped out the existing bedding and aggregate and disposed of it, including old lilacs and cinder blocks, then regraded the rear lot to redirect water toward the side of the property. A 52 linear foot Garden Lock retaining wall, two rows plus cap, was set along the garden edge, backfilled over landscaping fabric and topped with non-toxic mulch. A 15-gallon silver maple was planted with fresh soil prep. Across the main yard we laid 810 sq ft of K9 PRO pet-rated artificial grass with antimicrobial infill. The property line was closed in with 59 linear feet of hardware mesh fence, 2" x 4" grid in 12.5 gauge on pressure-treated posts and framing, with wire panel sections where ground obstructions prevented digging, plus two 3 ft 6 in gates forming a 7 ft opening. A pressure-treated U-shaped staircase with a landing and 2x2 railing was built off the second-storey deck, giving direct access from the house down to the turf. The finished yard drains away from the centre, stays green year-round, and is fully enclosed for the dogs.

Before & after

Before

After

Scope of work

• Removal and disposal of existing bedding and aggregate, including old lilacs and cinder blocks
• Regrading of the rear lot to redirect water to the side of the property
• 52 linear ft Garden Lock retaining wall, two rows plus cap, backfilled over landscaping fabric
• Non-toxic mulch garden bed behind the retaining wall
• Supply and planting of a 15-gallon silver maple with soil preparation
• 810 sq ft of K9 PRO pet-rated artificial grass with antimicrobial infill
• 59 linear ft hardware mesh fence, 2" x 4" grid 12.5 gauge, on pressure-treated posts and framing, with two 3 ft 6 in gates
• Pressure-treated U-shaped deck staircase with landing and 2x2 railing, 3 ft wide

Results

• Rear lot regraded so water is directed to the side of the property
• Bare dirt yard replaced with a pet-rated turf surface
• Yard fully enclosed with hardware mesh fencing and two gates
• Direct access from the second-storey deck to the yard by new stairs
• Garden bed defined by a segmental retaining wall and non-toxic mulch

Project gallery