How To Prevent Dog Urine Spots
If you do end up replacing your grass completely, be careful of which type of grass you choose, as some will be more likely to burn than others.
Try to stay away from Bermuda and Kentucky Bluegrass, as theyre more likely to burn. Instead, go for Fescue or Perennial Ryegrass.
You can also try these tips:
Control Pests To Reduce Brown Spots
When the dead spots are caused by pests eating the roots of your grass, youll start to notice brown spots of dead grass. Grub worms are a common problem starting spring. If you see these patches, check for lawn grub worms before you think it is Bermuda grass brown patch disease.
Grubs can be killed and prevented using a good grub control pesticide. However, if you keep having the brown patches of dead grass every season, you may want to use a preventative measure.
The timing for grub control is important and should be done to perfection in order to prevent Bermuda grass dead spots the subsequent seasons.
Do Repair The Lawn With The Right Method
First, you have to get the problem under control. Whether a pro diagnoses a disease, a pest, or an environmental concern , you need to address the problem so that it doesnt keep coming back.
Once thats done, then youll need to apply the right method of repair. For the vast majority of cases, aeration and overseeding will restore the dead patches in your lawn.
While there are other more intensive repair methods out there, which tend to be quite costly, even in some of the worst cases weve seen, aeration and overseeding have been effective at repairing dead patches.
Of course, its important to ensure that its performed properly. There is a best time to repair a lawn, which is in the fall when new grass seed will be able to thrive.
Don’t Miss: How To Make My Lawn Care Business Grow
A Healthy Lawn Starts With The Best Turf
To grow a thick, healthy lawn, you need to start with the right turf. Bermudagrass is an excellent variety for the warm, humid summers of the Southeast. But not all Bermudagrass is the same. TifTuf Bermudagrass is the result of years of scientific study and effort, and it is available exclusively from the certified growers of the Turfgrass Group. You can find a grower in your area here.
Treating A Fungal Disease
To treat fungal disease, you first need to know what type of fungus you are dealing with. Many garden stores sell generic fungicides that are meant to treat a broad range of fungi. However, the best treatments require testing to determine precisely which fungus is infecting your lawn. To get your grass tested, take a sample, and bring it to your local extension for testing. You should get results in about ten days to two weeks.
When you take a sample, you need to include both diseased and nondiseased grass. To do this, find the edge of a brown or dead patch. From that edge, use a spade to cut out a 4×4 inch square of turf, being careful to get the whole root without cutting it. Half of your sample should be healthy grass and the other half diseased grass. Once you have the sample, put it in an open paper or plastic bag to keep it from drying out. Keep it out of the heat or direct sunlight, and bring it to the extension as soon as possible. If you cant get the sample to your extension that day, keep the sample refrigerated until you are ready to bring it in. Mondays and Tuesdays are ideal for getting your grass tested. Bringing in your sample early in the weekbut not on the weekendallows the extension to mail the sample to the testing lab that same day, and gives the lab time to process it without delay.
You May Like: How To Keep Mice Out Of My Lawn Tractor
How To Fix Dead Grass Areas: What To Do
Having a lush green lawn that the neighbors envy can make you feel good every time you step outside. It looks great, it boosts your curb appeal, and can really put a smile on your face.
But that may not be what youre seeing outside and potentially the reason you found this article. You could have thought you succeeded in growing a great lawn but are now looking at dead, brown spots. Or, you could just now be realizing your lawn has progressively gotten worse and really needs some professional help.
When you start to see dead spots in your grass, it can completely change your mood. Few things can be more frustrating and you want a solutionfast.
Of course, the last thing that you want to do is make the problem worse. There are definitely certain things that you should be doingand other things you should not.
Thats why weve rounded up a handy list of how to get dead grass to growas well as what to avoid doing.
Problem: Not Enough Nutrients
The soil in your garden might not have the right balance of nutrients for the grass to thrive, causing nutrient deficiencies and poor growth. Nitrogen is one of the most important macro-nutrient, be it for a potted plant or your lawn grass. It is needed for growth and chlorophyll production which gives the plant its green color. A nitrogen-deficient plant is characterized by yellowing leaves first the old leaves turn yellow followed by younger leaves. Older leaves may also die and the grass takes on a yellowish tinge overall. Magnesium, Manganese, Sulfur and Iron are other nutrients which can cause your grass to turn yellow or even make it crinkle and die.
You May Like: When To Aerate Lawn In Pa
How To Fix Dog Urine Spots On Lawns
Sharing your yard with a canine companion can be one of the best parts of having a lawnuntil dog urine lawn spots and other dog damage show up in your carpet of green. By learning how to fix dog urine spots on lawns and prevent other dog-related lawn damage, you and your dog can coexist harmoniously and enjoy a beautiful, lush lawn.
Get your four-legged buddy on board and follow these basics for simple, effective dog urine grass repair:
How To Fix Dog Pee Spots On Lawns
Fortunately, dog urine grass repair is a quick and easy lawn fix with the right information and lawn repair products. It helps to understand the types of urine spots dogs cause on lawns. Two types trouble dog owners most: green spots and brown spots. Dog urine causes both types, but the reasons and remedies are different.
Because your dog’s urine is naturally high in nitrogenan essential plant nutrientFido’s favorite spots can become greener than the surrounding grass. This happens primarily on grass that hasn’t had enough nitrogen from fertilizer.4 Your whole lawn could be that same rich color if it had the extra nitrogen it needs.
To determine if your grass lacks available nutrients due to soil pH or other reasons, take a soil sample and have it tested. Correct low nitrogen in your lawn by applying Pennington UltraGreen Lawn Fertilizer 34-0-4 every 60 to 90 days through the growing season, or as recommended by your soil testing lab. This fertilizer increases drought tolerance, which is very similar to tolerance to urine salts, while boosting nutrient uptake for a lush, green lawn.
Recommended Reading: How To Start Your Own Lawn Mowing Business
Will Grass Grow Back After Dog Urine Damage
If youve been struggling to deal with the unsightly effects of dog urine killing grass, this question might be in the back of your mind. And for good reason!
If youre putting in all this effort to limit the nitrogen compound concentration in your dogs urine and taking care of your lawn with your solution of choice, youre hoping your grass will grow back and that it wont be for nothing.
The good news is that with some patience and consistent use of your home remedies, you should be able to grow your lawn back without any trouble.
Make sure you follow all of the instructions on your home solutions to a T, as with proper lawn care depending on your method of choice!
Grass burn happens especially in times of drought and high temperatures. To make sure your lawn can grow back, make sure the roots dont die by adequately watering your lawn.
As long as the roots dont die , your grass will grow back just fine!
Which lawn treatment worked best for your pets? Wed love to hear your feedback and suggestions in the comments below!
How Do You Reseed Bare Patches In A Lawn
Reseeding bare patches is quite easy, and it wont take too much of your time.
The first thing you need to do is to assess the damage and rake the patchy area.
Then loosen up the soil either by using a cultivator or a sturdier rake. Cover the area with compost and mix it up with the ground.
Then grab the seeds and sprinkle generously over the bare patch. Use the rake once again to cover the seeds with the soil.
Then continue to water the area for the next two weeks.
Do your best to maintain the moisture if the temperatures are too high.
You May Like: Will Lime Get Rid Of Moles
Also Check: What To Do With Old Lawn Mower
How To Fix Dead Spots In The Lawn
Summer is rough on a lawn. Patchy dead grass spots can come from all sorts of directions, including fungal diseases such as brown patch and rust, animal digging, grub damage, dog urine and plain, old heat and drought. Whatever the cause, late summer through early fall is prime time to patch the patchiness.
Grass seed germinates well in those cooler, damper conditions. Then the young roots get off to a good start in soil thats still reasonably warm for growth. Early spring is also a good time to patch, but youll need to pay more attention to watering as the weather turns hot and dry. Young grass plants are more vulnerable to heat and drought stress than established grass.
Especially in hot areas, early-fall lawn-patching is best because that gives young grass 6 or 7 months of potential root growth before hitting its first test in the summer oven.
How To Fix Dead Spots In Lawn:
1.) Clear out any dead, matted turf and other debris. Grass will germinate and root best when it comes into contact with soil.
2.) Loosen the soil. At least scratch the surface, or better yet, dig and loosen the top 2 or 3 inches. If the soil is particularly poor, work in a little compost or similar organic matter. Dont just toss seed on top of hard ground.
4.) Fertilize. Get new growth off to a good start by scattering a small amount of lawn fertilizer specially formulated for new grass.
Easily Getting Rid Of Dead Spots On Your Lawn Effortlessly
With one easy and pet safe item, you can get rid of dead brown dry spots on grass caused by pet urine. Read on for the big surprise!
Beer! – it can be hot or cold, fresh or flat. Use a regular beer. Not light beer, malt liquor or a wine cooler. Beer has lots of fermented sugars and nutrients. A dead patch will absorb the sugars and nutrients thus helping the soil below. The beer acts as a fertilizer and provides nutrients to new grass growth. The beer will strengthen the grass and neutralize the nitrogen in pet urine. Beer eliminates fungi, as well. Continue on to see how it’s done!
Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Four Leaf Clovers In Lawn
Chemical Fertilizer Or Gasoline Spill
If brown spots quickly and mysteriously appear, look for possible soil contamination. Dead grass from fertilizer and chemical spills can be flushed with water, just like dog spots, but gasoline or other petroleum spills are trickier. These cant be flushed through the soil, so you may have to dig out the contaminated soil and replace it before reseeding these spots.
How To Avoid Dead Grass In The Future
Once you have revived your dead grass, keep it looking great with these tips:
- Irrigate the newly restored patches daily to keep the soil moist, but not soggy, for the next two to three weeks. Gradually reduce the frequency of watering as the new lawn establishes itself.
- Mow about once a week to maintain grass thats a few inches long.
- Fertilize every four to five weeks through the fall. After the first year, fertilize your lawn once in the spring and again in the fall.
- Aerate and dethatch every couple of years to help the soil breathe.
- Keep dogs off the lawn. Some dogs have acidic urine that kills grass. If you have no other choice, dilute the spot with water after your pets relieve themselves.
- Move above-ground swimming pools and waterslides around the yard so one patch of grass doesnt suffocate all summer long.
Maintaining a green lawn all summer long can be tricky. If you dont have the knowledge, tools, or time to revive your dead grass, leave professional lawn maintenance to The Grounds Guys®. We provide a full range of lawn care services, from mowing and trimming to aerating and fertilization.
Contact us today for a free job estimate. Then, consider that your grass might be struggling due to a lack of water. Installing a hose spigot with services from Mr. Rooter ® may help.
Did you know? The Grounds Guys is a Neighbourly company. Learn more about Neighbourlys community of home service experts at GetNeighbourly.ca.
Categories:
Recommended Reading: How Can I Make My Lawn Greener
More On How To Prevent Fungal Diseases
The fungi that cause fungal diseases are always present in your soil. So there is no way to treat, kill, or remove all of the offending fungi. Instead, you need to use appropriate cultural practices to reduce the likelihood of latent fungi becoming a fungal disease. Fungi can lay dormant in your lawn for months or years, and they will only become a problem under the right conditions.
Fungi take advantage of two conditions: high nitrogen and lots of water. To avoid fungal infections, you need to prevent these two conditions. Dont over-fertilize. Using too much nitrogen fertilizer will do nothing for your grass, but it will feed the harmful fungi. Also, be sure not to overwater your turf. The best time to water is in the morning, so the grass has time to dry during the heat of the day. Avoid watering in the evening or at night. Also, make sure to let the ground dry out between waterings. It is better to water less frequently and deeper so that the soil does not remain saturated, and the roots are encouraged to grow deep to access more water. Aim to water no more than once a week. The soil should be moist five to seven inches deep after watering.
How To Plant Grass Seed In Bare Spots
Perhaps you are already familiar with how to seed your lawn. However, reseeding dead spots in a lawn calls for added attention to detail. We have outlined the steps on how to plant grass seed in bare spots for your next lawn repair.
Before you start seeding the brown patch, remove any leaves or debris from the area to avoid damage. This removes any obstacles in distributing the seeds evenly among the dead grass. If the brown patch in your lawn was caused by urine or chemical spills, thoroughly rinse the area several times before reseeding to dilute any harmful chemicals.
- Break up the Soil
Refresh the soil of the brown patch by taking a rake or a garden cultivator to till the ground in your summer yard. This will help ensure that the soil is loose and ready to take in the new seed.
Using compost is a great way to add nutrients back into the soil. Add a 2 to 3-inch layer of compost or loamy soil and use the rake again to mix it with the existing soil.
- Even out the Surface
Use the top of the rake to make a flat and even surface to start sprinkling the grass seed.
Evenly distribute a thin layer of grass seed over your brown patch.
- Protect the Seeds
If you choose to sprinkle the seed on top without pre-mixing it in the soil, place a thin layer of straw over the area to prevent birds from eating the seeds. Once the grass starts to bud, remove the straw.
- Keep the Area Lightly Watered
- Lightly Fertilize
Read Also: Harbor Freight Mosquito Fogger
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Gophers In My Lawn
Fungal Or Brown Patch Disease
If youre noticing brown patches on your lawn, one obvious culprit could be brown patch disease. While the name sounds like a broad description of a symptom, brown patch disease is actually a specific type of fungal infection. Other fungal infections can also cause brown, dead patches in your lawn. If youre facing a fungal disease in your lawn, you will need to treat it with the right fungicide for your disease. To do that, you need to know what disease you are treating. Well talk more about testing for disease later.
Human And Animal Damage
Unfortunately, its very easy for us to damage lawns. Some common causes of brown spots include:
Dull Mower: Dull mower blades tear your grass, causing damage and gradual death to the grass.
Remedy: Sharpen your blades in fall and spring. After mowing, examine your grass to see if the mower is cutting cleanly.
Scalping: If your mower blade is set too low or there are lumps in the lawn, it can cut the grass too short and cause damage.
Remedy: Practice proper mowing techniques by raising your mower blades, and smooth out high spots by digging up the sod, removing some of the soil underneath, and replacing the sod.
Chemicals: Gasoline, fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides can cause dead spots if spilled. If fertilizer is applied unevenly or incorrectly, it can burn the grass. Even insect repellents can burn your lawn when sprayed on the grass blades.
Remedy: Pour chemicals, fuels, and sprays on your driveway, not on your lawn, and follow application directions.
Animal Urine: Dogs are the most common culprit, but large birds and other animals can cause urine spots, too. Urine usually causes your lawn to turn yellow in spots, sometimes with a bright green ring around the edges where the diluted nitrogen in the urine acts as a fertilizer.
You May Like: How Much Do Lawn Mowing Companies Charge
