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CONTENT COURTESY OF METRO Dogs love spend- ing time outdoors. Dog owners with yards know that dogs benefit greatly from some ex- ercise in the backyard. While that time might be great for dogs, it can take its toll on lawns. Dog urine and feces can adversely affect the look and health of a lush green lawn. Ni- trogen is essential to healthy soil, but only at certain levels. When those levels are ex- ceeded, the result can be lawn damage. Ac- cording to The Spruce Pets, an advisory site that offers practical tips and training ad- vices to pet owners, this is what happens when pets frequently urinate on grass. Urine is naturally high in nitrogen, so when pets urinate on lawns, the grass might turn yellow or brown due to the ex- cess nitrogen content. Nitrogen also is pres- ent in lawn fertilizers, further exacerbating the problem for pet owners who fertilize their lawns. In addition to urine damage, dogs can trample frosted grass, contributing to problems that may not become evident until spring, and get into areas like gardens where they wreak ad- ditional havoc. Pet owners who want to let their dogs run free in the yard but don't want damaged grass may be tempted to put their pooches in diapers or confine them to crates when letting them outside. But such an approach isn't nec- essary. In fact, some simple strategies can be highly effective at preventing dog-related lawn damage. • Speak with a landscaper about planting new grass. Certain types of grass, such as Bermuda grass, can withstand dog damage better than others. Local climate will dictate which types of grass are likely to thrive in a given area, so speak with a profes- sional landscaper about the viability of planting new grass. • Install fencing. Pet owners with expan- sive yards can install fencing that allows dogs to spend time exercis- ing outdoors without granting them access to the entire prop- erty. Large dogs will need more room than small ones, but try to build fenced-in areas that allow dogs to run freely and get the exer- cise they need to stay healthy. • Work with a dog trainer. Dog trainers might be able to work with dogs so they only urinate in certain areas of the yard, greatly re- ducing the damage they can cause to a lawn. Trainers also might help curb digging and clawing behaviors that can damage lawns as well as gardens. • Consider hard- scaping. Hardscaping might be most effective for pet owners with small properties. Hard- scaping does not in- clude grass and can add visual appeal to a prop- erty while saving pet owners the headaches of dealing with dog- related lawn damage. Dogs need time out- doors, and homeown- ers can take various steps to protect their lawns from dog-related damage. Simple ways to prevent dog-related lawn damage CONTENT COURTESY OF METRO When asked to think of modern homes, many people might think of minimalism, neutral colors, open concept floor plans, and large windows without treat- ments. While each of those features are components of modern homes, just what quali- fies as "modern" is ever- changing and often a reflection of what buy- ers are looking for. And lately, many buyers are looking for all-electric homes. A 2015 study by the U.S. Energy Informa- tion Administration found that the number of all-electric homes had increased over the previous decade. In fact, the EIA study found that 25 percent of homes in the United States used only elec- tricity. All-electric homes are generally considered more envi- ronmentally friendly because they lessen homeowners' carbon footprint by reducing their need for fossil fuels like natural gas. Electric heat pumps, induction stoves and electric fireplaces are just some of the tech- nologies that can be found in all-electric homes. Though the design style of all-electric homes needn't be mod- ern, there's no denying that the growing popu- larity of such homes makes them an option for homeowners with modern sensibilities. The rise in all-electric homes Homes | Advertising Supplement 001 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP H3