Why Do These Spots Happen
Understanding why dog pee spots happen will help to stop them from showing up in the future. Scientists are still figuring out what specifically in dog urine causes grass to die. We do know certain chemicals commonly found in dog urine contribute to killing your grass. As your dogs liver breaks down toxins, compounds like urea and lactic acid are formed. Urea contains high levels of nitrogen, and lactic acid burns. The more concentrated dog pee is, the more of these compounds it contains. Typically, concentrated dog pee even gives off a stronger scent.Water in your dogs urine evaporates soon after your dog pees on your grass, leaving strong chemicals behind. These chemical compounds mean that when your dog does their business on your grass, it can be like dousing your lawn with ammonia. If left unaddressed, urea and lactic acid can kill grass down to its roots. At the same time, nitrogen can actually fertilize the grass at the outer edges of the spot where levels are less concentrated. This is what gives dog pee spots their signature circular appearance of brown grass with a ring of bright green around them.
How To Repair Patches
If the patches are verygreen:
Use a quick release fertiliser such asour QUICK RELEASE: Spring / Summer onthe rest of the lawn toachieve one uniform colour on the lawn
Apply at a rate of 70g per m2, andensure to water the fertiliser in until it is dissolved
Keep pets off the lawn duringapplication and until the granules are dissolved
If the patches are yellow/ brown:
Firstly, mow your lawn as you won’t be able to while thenew grass is establishing
Scarify the area to remove as much of the damaged grassas possible, aiming for bare soil
Rake the patch so that the soil is fine, loose and level.If it is not level to the rest of the lawn, fill in with top soil and rake tolevel
Use our QUICK RELEASE: Pre-Seed toaccelerate growth, apply at a rate of 70g per m2 and ensure to water thefertiliser in until it is dissolved
Keep pets off the lawn duringapplication and until the granules are dissolved
Once the granules are dissolved,overseed with our FAMILY: Kids and Pets mixfor fastest results sowing at a rate of 35g per m2
Keep the patches moist by wateringdaily for the first 6 weeks after sowing. Avoid if there is prolongedrainfall.
You can mow the patches alongside the rest ofthe lawn when the blades are hitting 5-7cm and have been established for atleast 6 weeks
How To Stop Dog Urine From Killing Grass Naturally
On top of the maintenance and repair aspect, a big part of the battle is prevention, made possible when you train your dog. There are a number of factors that contribute to how much nitrogen your pet produces and how their habits can affect the health of your grass. With the proper nutrition, you can dilute the urine your dog produces so that it does not harm your green grass.
With the proper nutrition and hydration, you can dilute the urine your dog produces so that it does not harm your green grass.
According to our expert, the main grass type in Edmonton and Alberta is Kentucky Bluegrass. This type of grass is the worst in terms of bouncing back after the turf has been damaged, so preventing damage in the first place should be your main priority
Lets look at a couple of factors that can contribute to lawn stains.
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Myth : Dog Urine Spots Are More Common With Certain Breeds
The Truth: This myth was probably started when a dog owner noticed more spots when owning one breed of dog in relation to another breed, says Harivandi. The truth is that the breed doesnt have any say in the size or damage of the spot. Some individual dogs have urine with a higher pH level and/or nitrogen content, or their urine is more concentrated. This has more to do with diet, water intake, and general health than with a specific breed of dog. Whether it is a dalmatian or a dachshund, X still marks the spot.
Tips To Prevent Dog Urine Spots On Your Lawn
If you have a dog, then chances are you also have brown spots on your lawn. This happens because dog urine is rich in nitrogen, which is known to kill grass when concentrated amounts collect over time.
The effects of dog urine on your lawn are similar that of a nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer. A small amount of fertilizer makes your yard healthy, but too much will kill your lawn. To prevent burns, you need to reduce the amount of nitrogen that comes into contact with your grass.
Follow these seven tips to a greener and healthier lawn:
Fertilize your lawn less, or not at all, in areas where your dog urinates.Fertilized lawns may already have as much nitrogen as they can handle. Even a small amount of nitrogen in dog urine may be all that is needed to burn the lawn.
Spray areas where your dog urinates with water.Pouring water on the area after your dog urinates will help to dilute the urine and lessen the effects of the nitrogen on your lawn.
Encourage your dog to drink more water.The more your dog drinks, the less nitrogen will be concentrated in the urine and the less damaging it will be to your lawn. It will also be healthier for your dog as well.
Replant affected areas with a more urine-resistant grass.Ryegrass and Fescue are the most urine-resistant type of grass, while Kentucky Bluegrass and Bermuda are the most sensitive.
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Two: Apply Garden Lime
The reason why your lawn dies after your pet has urinated on it is that the ammonia in the urine is exceptionally acidic. Your grass doesnt like this and dies as a result. Even by removing the grass, you are not able to achieve growth while the soil is still acidic. Therefore, you need to go to a garden store and purchase a bag of garden lime.
Take note of how much damage there is so you know what bag to buy. However, theres no harm in having some left over for lawn care and maintenance later on down the track. Once youve purchased the lime, put your gardening gloves back on, grab a handful, then spread it over the lawn bald spot. Ensure that you cover the entire area evenly to balance your soil and promote growth.
Why Does Dog Urine Kill Grass
Most people assume that urine kills grass because of its low pH level, but thats actually not the case. The truth is a little more complicated, and you have to examine the chemical makeup of dog urine to get the full story.
Looking at the main components of dog urine, youll find urea basically an ammonia-rich byproduct created when your dog metabolizes proteins.
Because dogs are carnivorous, their urea is full of nitrogen.
While nitrogen is important for a plants growth, too much nitrogen will harm the plant and eventually kill it. This causes the patches of brown you may notice on your lawn.
If you examine a brown patch, you may notice a bright green halo where the perimeter seems healthier than the rest of the lawn. This is because the grass absorbed some of the beneficial nitrogen but not enough to cause plant death.
Another common misconception is that only female dog pee kills grass, which also isnt true. This concept is due to the fact that females squat to do their business, causing a more concentrated deposit of urine in one area, therefore upping the risk of grass damage.
In other words, its the way your doggo unleashes a tinkle torrent that harms the grass it has nothing to do with the urine coming from a male or female dog. Plus, many males squat to relieve themselves too!
Certain types of grass are particularly sensitive to the components of dog urine.
Check out our article about the Five Best Grasses for Dogs to learn more!
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How To Fix Dog Urine Spots On The Lawn
Dogs are creatures of habit, and when they pee in the same spot a few days in a row, they can create spots on the lawn. Most will be yellow or brown, and the dead grass may even spread. However, not all dog urine spots are bad some are a darker green. Heres how you fix dog urine spots on your lawn to make a healthy, consistent space.
Will Baking Soda Neutralize Dog Urine On Grass
A natural way to repair yellow spots in the grass caused by the dogs urine is to dissolve a cup of baking soda in a gallon of water and pour on the affected area. The baking soda neutralizes the high nitrogen concentration, and it will also deodorize the area so the dog wont recognize the spot and go there again.
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How Do I Fix Brown Spots In My Lawn
Damage can be repaired at any time, though fall is best. To repair existing brown spots, rake the affected area to remove the dead grass, then applying Scotts® EZ Seed® Patch & Repair for small areas or Scotts® Turf Builder® Grass Seed for larger areas. With all of these products, be sure to follow label directions.
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Why Does Dog Pee Kill Grass
You’re probably wondering why your pet’s urine is wreaking so much havoc on your poor lawn. Well, dog pee contains a variety of nitrogen compounds. Dont worry, its totally normal, as nitrogen is present in all amino acids and is a by-product of protein digestion.
When proteins are broken down and synthesized, they produce both urea and ammonia, two common nitrogen compounds that must be excreted through the kidneys. Depending on your dogs diet, genetics, and environment, they may produce more nitrogen compounds than other dogs.
High concentrations of nitrogen can be threatening to your yard, causing the dreaded yellow spots that you see from dog urine killing grass.
You may be thinking, Wait a minute, isnt nitrogen the main component of lawn fertilizer? Why do I end up with burnt grass from dog urine?
You’re right, it is. It may seem odd to say that the thing that is damaging our lawns, is the same thing that we use to regrow it, but too much a good thing can be bad.
In the correct amounts, nitrogen will help your grass grow strong and healthy, but high levels of nitrogen from your pets urine, especially when its concentrated into a small area, will burn the grass and cause that classic dog pee grass look.
Pro tip: if youre seeing way more green spots than yellow, it could be a sign you need some pet-friendly lawn fertilizer help. Your soil might be low in nitrogen!
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Only Female Dogs Cause Spotting In Lawns
FALSE. Dog spotting in lawns is most often caused by dogs that squat when they urinate, thus depositing a large volume of concentrated urine in a small area. Most squatters are female dogs, but some males do this as well, especially in their own yard. Many male dogs tend to mark vertical objects in the landscape , which presents problems for \ landscape plants.
Dead Patches From Urine Burn
If youre reading this because the damage is already done then hopefully the above helps with reducing future damage. Existing dead urine burn patches, less than two inches across will more than likely grow over in a month or two. If the patches are bigger or you want to speed recovery in smaller patches:
- Rake out the dead grass
- Prick the soil surface about 1cm deep with the garden fork
- Lightly sprinkle in grass seed that matches your existing lawn about 10 20 seeds per square inch, no more
- Tread the surface to firm
- Water lightly and at least daily for the first 2 weeks
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Why Does Dog Urine Burn The Grass
Your dogs urine burns the grass because it contains a high amount of nitrogen.
Nitrogen is the waste in urine and its the result of protein breaking down through your dogs normal body processes.
One myth is that people that have female dogs have more urine spots because they squat whereas male dogs lift their legs and pee on something.
Ive never had a female dog but have at least 20 urine burns on my grass right now.
Its called some male dogs squat and some short dogs lift their leg on anything.
How To Repair Dog Holes And Other Lawn Damage
Dogs, especially puppies, have a lot of energy that they often devote to digging. They may dig for entertainment, to try and escape, or to hunt prey such as moles.3 It can take some time to train your dog to stop digging once they develop the habit, so intervene earlywith attention, training and praiseto stop digging problems right away.
Step in with quick lawn repairs to fix digging holes as soon as they appear:
For other lawn areas hit with doggy damage, turn to Pennington Lawn Booster. This all-in-one product combines premium Pennington Smart Seed, professional-grade fertilizer and soil enhancer. It’s guaranteed to grow quicker, thicker, greener grass in just one application.
Pennington, One Step Complete and Smart Seed are registered trademarks of Pennington Seed, Inc.
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Easy To Use 3 Step Instructions For Year
1. Initial Application 2. Follow Up 3. Protect
Note: If you have multiple dogs or a very small area that gets a lot of use, you can apply heavier, perhaps twice as often or double the above rates without worry.
SALT DAMAGE TREATMENTS For road salt, ocean salts or other salt damage treat at 10 oz per 1000 sf and follow up at the 5 oz rate in two weeks. Continue monthly if there is an ongoing salt issue.
Can I Prevent It
You may not be able to prevent your dog from using your lawn as a bathroom but you can lessen the effects of their urine on your lawn by simply watering the spots they have used. If you have watered theses areas enough at the time, youll notice in the following days these spots will become very green. If you havent, the grass will go yellow and start to die. There are alternative methods you can try, or products such as Dog Rocks that can help to neutralise the nitrogen within your dogs urine however, make sure to consult a vet before using these.
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How To Stop Dog Urine From Damaging Your Grass
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The Spruce / Almar Creative
If you’re a dog owner who takes pride in a beautiful lawn, it can be frustrating to look at your yard and see dead grass where your dog has peed. Dog urine can create unsightly brown or yellow spots of dead grass. Some dog owners believe that it’s just part of living with dogs, but this doesn’t have to be the case. There are steps you can take to prevent your dog’s urine from ruining your grass.
How To Keep Your Lawn Lush And Green
The most effective way to prevent dog urine spots is to water the area immediately after your dog urinates. If you have easy access to a hose or a rain barrel, give the area a quick dousing. I also have a tub in my sink that I use to catch excess water when Iâm at the sink instead of letting it go down the drain, I collect it and use it to water my plants. This idea could be used to water the lawn as well, while remaining mindful of the environment.
The kind of grass you put in your yard also determines how well it will tolerate dog urine. So, if youâre planting â or replanting â a lawn, choose your grass type with that in mind. Fescue and perennial ryegrass are the most urine tolerant, while bluegrass and bermudagrass seem to be the most sensitive.
There are also several species of taller grasses that are salt tolerant and fairly urine resistant including: Zoysia, Paspalum, and Distichlis. A tall meadow is a natural alternative to a traditional lawn. But you could also consider another lawn substitute like white clover or OâConnorâs strawberry clover, both of which are easy to maintain. Another plus: They require less water and, being nitrogen-fixing themselves, require less fertilization. Speaking of fertilization, if you fertilize your lawn, be sure to use a reduced nitrogen fertilizer.
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