If you're tired of your dog's pee killing your grass, you're not alone. Urine can be very damaging in high concentrations, leading to yellow spots and areas of dead grass. That said, with added awareness and a little know-how, you can take steps to reduce lawn damage and repair dead spots in your green grass.
What causes urine lawn spots?
Urine burn, also known as "dog spots" or "urine spots," in your grass is caused by the high concentration of nitrogen in pet urine. Animal urine on grass can essentially "burn" the grass roots and healthy blades, leading to brown spots and dead patches. Some lawn care specialists cite that the boost of nitrogen in urine is good for the lawn, even causing green spots of health, but while nitrogen levels are important for plant health, plants can only require a small amount. Concentrated urine is far too nitrogen-rich for most lawn grass to handle.
Some types of grass species are more resilient than others. For example, more drought-tolerant or nitrogen-efficient grass varieties can be less affected. Additionally, the overall health of the grass can influence its ability to recover from urine damage. Lush, healthier grass lawns can tolerate pee damage better than weak, damaged lawns with poor soil conditions. Well-draining soils are also more resistant to urine burn.
Is female dog urine more damaging?
It's a myth that female dog urine is stronger. It has just as much nitrogen content as male urine, so, why does it seem more damaging to the grass? It has to do with the nitrogen concentration levels. Female dogs tend to squat and pee in one place, soaking a small area, while males tend to cover a wider area which distributes the overall concentration. Also, males aren't usually aiming for the lawn. Their urine might be targeted to trees, plants, rocks, or other vertical objects. Can your male dog make urine burn in your lawn? They sure can.
That said, the dog's food intake and diet, dietary supplements, hydration level, and overall health can also influence the severity of urine burn in the grass, regardless of its gender.
How to Fix the Grass
"The best way to protect your lawn from urine damage and brown spots is to immediately dilute the area used by your canine friend with 1-2 gallons of cool water," shared Dr. Roger May, TruGreen’s director of technical operations. Pouring a bucket of water is helpful when you see it happen, but you might not always know where the fresh pee spots are in your lawn, especially if you have a sidewalk and curb frequented by foot traffic. In those instances, committing to a deep watering schedule and hosing the grass can help reduce the chances of pet urine killing your green lawn.
If you weren't able to dilute the urine fast enough, patching the area is the next best option. "To repair animal urine damage, the best remedy is to remove the dead area and replace it with a patch of grass from a healthy area of your lawn. You can also spread grass seed on the lawn, " May explains. "Some naturally spreading grass types will heal over time as levels of nitrogen dissipate. But really, the key to eliminating and curing brown spots is diluting the excess nitrogen by keeping the entire lawn watered."
As a long-term fix, consider using positive reinforcement to train your furry friend to relieve themselves in a designated area of the yard. That way, the concentrated nitrogen that leads to grass death is contained in a specific area, and it won't destroy the whole lawn or other plants.
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