Why Dog Pee Kills Your Lawn (and How to Fix Your Lawn) - Lawnstarter (2023)

Your hard work has paid off and you can't wait to kick off your shoes and walk on this beautiful green lawn. But there were strange brown patches, surrounded by striking tufts of green grass. What you are seeing could be dog urine damage. In this article, we discuss why dog ​​urine is killing your lawn and how you can fix it.

In this article we cover:

Does dog urine kill grass?

In short, yes. Dog urine is very rich in nitrogen and its associated salts. So when puppies urinate on grass, a high concentration is allowed to sit, form a puddle, and eventually be absorbed by the grass. Dogs are natural carnivores, and this carnivorous diet results in higher levels of nitrogen in the urine. This acts like a concentrated dose of nitrogenous fertilizer and "burns" the grass.

These high nitrogen levels cause injury or even death to the grass, causing it to turn brown. It is a common misconception that urine pH turns grass brown, but it is not.

Lawns are adversely affected by conditions that are too acidic or too alkaline, but a dog's urine hovers between 6 and 8 on the pH scale, falling on the line between acidic and alkaline. This means that your lawn should not be affected by the pH of the urine. It is the nitrates, not the pH, that kill the grass.

What exactly are these urine stains on dogs?The urine stains are brown and about 3 inches in diameter, and are surrounded by lush green grass that grows faster than the surrounding grass. The outer circle gets a smaller nitrogen boost, allowing it to grow rather than burn.

How to fix dog urine stains on the lawn

Before you can maintain a beautiful, vibrant garden, you need a vibrant garden. There are a few ways to do thisanimate your garden.

• remove dead grass: If you notice that the grass has lost its color and died, you must first remove the affected grass.
• Sort or crawl on the floor: To remove dead grass, you need to break up the dirt and grass. Trilling helps aerate the soil to prepare it for new seeds. It's okay if you don't pull all the grass up, as long as there's room for new seeds.
• samen is: Plant new seeds in dead areas or throughout the lawn to encourage new growth.
• fertilize and water: As with any new growth, it is important to fertilize and water the new grass seed. Be sure to stay away from nitrogenous fertilizers, as this is what originally caused the brown spots.

You also canfull of trashthese deadhead in the fall or late spring so they are ready and green for summer.

Avoid stains on the lawn.

Let's say you just reseeded your lawn to get rid of last year's dead spots. The summer season is here and you want to keep your lawn green with no dead spots. Because of this, you need to focus on preventative measures to stop stains before they even occur.

Water spray

One of the most useful and simple preventive tips is to spray or pour water on the area. When your dog goes to the bathroom, keep a watering can, spray bottle, or hose handy. The water can help flush out the harmful nitrogens in your dog's urine and prevent brown spots on your lawn.

Take your dog for a walk

Rather than risk your beautiful green lawn, taking your four-legged companion around the block might be a better alternative. Walking the dog accomplishes three things in one activity. You exercise, your dog exercises, and he gets a chance to use the bathroom without risking grass burn.

Watch where your dog is urinating and water the area well afterwards to keep the grass green.

train your dog

Teaching your dog to urinate in one area can help reduce the number of dead spots on a given lawn. Choose a corner of the backyard for the family dog ​​to relieve himself. Reward the pup for doing business there, and before you know it, you'll only have one damaged area to worry about instead of 20 brown dots.

Pro Tip:Consider creating a dog bathing area if you don't plan on patching or watering the spots later. You can use tall grass, mulch, or dog rock, which soak up urine better than regular grass and don't leave permanent brown stains.

5 myths about dog urine stains

Comyellow spotsOn the lawn, there are many urban legends about dog urine and how it can affect your lawn. It's important to separate fact from fiction when it comes to caring for your lawn and the health of your pet.

Dog urine stains are a common problem on home lawns. "There are a number of urban myths surrounding the cause and cure of blemishes," says Ali Harivandi, a former organic gardening consultant at the University of California Cooperative Extension.

Here are five myths about dog urine on your lawn:

Myth 1: Only dogs stain the lawn

The truth:Female dogs tend to squat when urinating, leaving a small but dense urine stain on the grass. The amount of urine can cause the grass to burn.

While it is true that male dogs generally roam and urinate on the trail and mark trees and shrubs rather than urinate on flat grass, they can still cause spotting. Also, young and older men often squat instead of lifting their legs to urinate, leaving concentrated areas of urine, just like women.

Myth 2: Dog urine stains are more common in certain breeds

The truth:Race does not affect location size or damage. This myth probably originated when a dog owner noticed more spots when owning one breed of dog compared to another breed, says Harivandi.

Some dogs have urine with a higher pH and/or nitrogen content, or their urine is more concentrated. This has more to do with diet, water intake, and general health than any specific breed of dog. Whether it's a Dalmatian or a Dachshund, the X still marks the spot.

Myth 3: Brown spots appear when the dog's urine is alkaline

The truth:While urine pH can affect grass health, dog urine damages grass because of it.high concentrations of nitrogenand salts - not pH.

Dogs are natural carnivores, and this helps make their urine acidic, usually at a level of 6.0 to 6.5. Turf is adversely affected by conditions that are too acidic or too alkaline.

While your lawn loves nitrogen just as much as the next blade of grass, the amount of nitrogen one dog deposits in a small area is too much for the garden.

Urine stains are often surrounded by lush green grass that grows faster than the surrounding grass. This is because the outer circle gets less of a nitrogen boost, allowing it to grow rather than burn.

Myth 4: Dog urine stains can be prevented with supplements

The truth:Dog owners see shelves of dog food, supplements, and other products promoting a solution to spotting dogs. They often work to reduce the alkalinity of your dog's urine or get him to drink more water.

However, as high levels of nitrogen and salts cause more staining in dogs, these products are often useless and can seriously harm your dog's health. Always consult your vet before adding any supplement to your dog's diet.

Myth 5: The damage caused by dog ​​urine can be cured with household products

The truth:Does baking soda neutralize dog urine on grass? Sprinkling baking soda, plaster, dish soap, and other random household products won't remove the yellow from your yard and could cause even more problems.

Here's why: Baking soda and plaster contain salts and can make the problem worse.

Detergent is a surfactant and can help water move through the soil. But other ingredients in the soap can burn the weed, so it's best not to exacerbate the problem.

The real magic ingredient is water. Deep irrigation of the site can dilute nitrogen and salts, allowing them to be released into the surrounding soil.

Frequently asked questions about your lawn and your dog

It helps to see the bigger picture of the lawn.

"The lawn is important. People have families and kids and pets who like that," says Harivandi. "A beautiful lawn is an extension of the family living room, so we need to find a balance." .

Finally, says Harivandi, remember what really matters. “Your dog is getting old and at some point you will have to say goodbye. he lets them have fun You can replace a lawn and re-seed. Remember, a damaged lawn is easier to replace than a relationship with that beloved pet.

If you want someone to cover up those brown spots so you don't have to, reconsider.call a professionalfor all your mowing, planting or lawn care needs. That way, you can spend time with your dog that you would spend in his garden.

Main photo credit:daniel ray/mower