Is Your Dog To Blame For Your Lawns Brown Grass Spots
Before blaming it on your dog, first confirm that he is indeed the culprit, says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Association of Landscape Professionals.
Several brown spots surrounded by dark green grass is one indication that the damage is caused by dog urine, she says. To check your lawns health and help determine the cause, gently pull on the discolored turf to see if the roots are firm.
If the root system remains secured, then you can take action to reduce issues caused by dog urine. However, if you can easily pull back large amounts of grass, you might be dealing with a lawn disease, Henriksen says. If that is the case, she recommends that you seek a lawn care professionals help.
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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Simple Solution Pee Post
This post uses a simulated pheromone scent that tells your puppy to “go” here. Just push the stake into the ground, leaving only the cap showing.
Get your puppy started by taking him to the pee post every time you let him outside, and rewarding him when he pees in the vicinity. Eventually, your puppy will build a habit of going to this area and the pee post will no longer be needed. Your lawn will be able to grow green again!
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Removing Indoor Pet Odor & Stains
If your problem isnt limited to the outdoors, be sure to read our article on how to get dog pee smell out of carpet. This article gives you many handy tips on removing wet and dried urine stains, as well as several effective products that you can use to rid your carpet and floors from odors and stains.
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Feed Your Dog A Species
Dogs are naturally carnivores, and their bodies are designed to subsist primarily on meat.
As a result, their urine is acidic.
As long as the pH is normal, dog pee will fertilize the lawn and shouldnt cause any problems.
However, if a dog is fed a diet with more grains or carbohydrates , the pH balance shifts and the urine becomes alkaline.
Alkaline urine will damage the grass, so one of the best ways is to feed your dog a diet of fresh or canned food and reduce or eliminate dry dog food with potatoes, grains, or other carbohydrates.
This will ensure their urine is more acidic and less likely to cause burn spots.
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Why Does Dog Urine Cause Spots On The Grass
Dog urine has a high-level concentration of nitrogen that makes it stain or burn the grass, leading to yellow spots. Although nitrogen is essential for healthy grass growth, high amounts cause damage. Note that dogs like urinating in the same area, making the yellow patches larger.
Many dogs eat a high amount of protein in the diet. When protein is processed through the body, it gets converted by the kidneys into nitrogen. The nitrogen exits the body in urine form. Dog urine also has high concentrations of salts and acids that contribute to the problem.
What Is The Best Grass For Dogs
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.
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Install A Dog Run With Artificial Grass
A dog run with artificial grass is a dedicated, fenced area of the yard just for Fido to run and play.
One of the most common residential artificial turf applications is in dog runs and designated dog potty areas.
Many homeowners make a dog run along the length of a fence, giving the dog a long space to run and burn off energy.
Dog runs are ideal for dogs that are escape artists, or for owners who enjoy entertaining outdoors, but want the pup contained.
A dog run with artificial grass also provides a dedicated space for your dog to urinate in one area without threatening the health and beauty of your yard.
There are a number of options for the ground cover in a dog run:
- Artificial Grass
Of all of these options, artificial grass is the lowest maintenance it doesnt need mowing, fertilizing, or watering.
Its 100% permeable backing allows the urine to pass through, and it also matches the natural, green grass of the rest of the lawn.
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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.
Fix Yellow Spots On Lawn Caused By Urine
Nothing is more beautiful than a lush, green lawn unspoiled by weeds, bare patches, or the telltale signs of dog spottingthose yellowish-brown areas where dogs return over and over again to relieve themselves. Dog urine contains rich amounts of nitrogen compounds and salts that, when concentrated in a small area, result in turf discoloration and death. Although grass does require some nitrogen to thrive, it cannot cope with the excessive nitrogen found in puddles of dog urine soaking into the same spot of lawn repeatedly and burning grass.
Fences Dont Work
Some people consider protecting their lawns from roaming dogs by erecting a fence around their lawns. Unfortunately, you would have to establish a very tall, deeply embedded fence to completely prevent dogs from urinating on your lawn. Not only are dogs great jumpers but they are also efficient diggers. If a dog wants to mark his territory by urinating on your lawn, he or she is going to find a way to do it, regardless of a little obstacle like a fence!
Changing a Dogs Diet?
Giving your dog food that advertises reduction of alkaline levels in the urine wont prevent your lawn from suffering urine blight. Remember, its not the acidity of canine urine but the high concentration of nitrogen that kills grass. In fact, feeding your dog this kind of food may cause kidney and bone problems because it interferes with amino acid production.
Curing Dog Spots with Cleaning Products
Water!
Advantages of Irrigation Systems
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Myths About Dog Urine Spots
With yellow spots on grass come many urban legends about dog urine and how it can affect your lawn. Its important to separate fact from fiction regarding lawn care and your pets health.
Dog urine spots are a common problem for home lawns. There are several urban myths surrounding the cause and the cure of the spots, says Ali Harivandi, former environmental horticulture adviser at the University of California Cooperative Extension.
Here are five myths about dog urine on lawns:
Train In A Designated Area
Training your dog to go in a designated area can take time but can also save your lawn. You might want to consider creating a pile of gravel as the pee spot or choose an area of the lawn thats not so visible. You could also put a pee post in your yard, like the Lulind Dog Fire Hydrant Garden Statue or the Simple Solution Pee Post thats infused with pheromones to attract your dog.
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How To Fix Dog Urine Spots On Grass
One way to fix dog urine spots on grass is by using a mixture of water and white vinegar. Pour the mixture over the spot and make sure to saturate it. Let the spot sit for about 15 minutes, then use a hose to rinse it off. Repeat as necessary.
-Turf builder or other lawn fertilizer -Rake -Watering can or hose
- If the spot is still wet, pour some water on it to dilute the urine and then blot with a paper towel
- Sprinkle baking soda over the spot and let it sit for about 15 minutes
-Water the spot. This will help to dilute the urine and make it easier to clean.-Apply a detergent. A detergent will help to break down the proteins in the urine and make it easier to clean.-Use a wet vacuum. A wet vacuum will help to suck up all of the urine and water, leaving the spot clean.-Repeat as necessary. If the spot does not seem to be fully cleaned, repeat these steps as
Petigreen Dog Urine Damage Prevention
About: PetiGreens Dog Urine Damage Prevention Solution combats pee damage by fortifying your lawns health with a natural, pet-friendly formula. Apply every six weeks for best results.
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- Bottle attaches to the end of your hose for easy application
- Every 16-ounce bottle covers up to 4500 square feet
- Creates a healthier, greener lawn over time
- Pee mark prevention seen after 4 to 6 months of use per the manufacturer
PROS
Ease of application wins a tail wag of approval since you can hook the bottle onto your hose to treat a large area quickly. It helps your grass grow stronger, too, which can help with other wear and tear effects of doggo life, like damage caused by daily squirrel chasing.
CONS
This can be pricey if you have a large area to treat. It also takes time to work, which isnt the best solution if you need a quick fix for an upcoming event.
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Taking Your Pet Outside
Like people, most of the time an animal has certain behaviors or body language that tells you that they need to go.
Pay attention to these signals, and when the animal needs to go take them outside on a leash to the designated pee spot.
Stay in that spot and wait for them to go.
Make sure that you do not yell or scold the animal when they are doing their business, even if they miss the spot or do something wrong,
It is important to make peeing in that spot a positive experience for them.
Once they are done, give them a treat and let them know that they did a good job.
Make sure you are consistent.
At night, dont open the door and let them pee wherever they want to, this will send mixed messages to the animal.
Litterbox Training
If you have a cat, place the cat on their litterbox as soon as it is set up so they can explore and get used to its scent.
Right after a cat eats, or whenever they wake up from a nap, place the cat on the litterbox.
Give the cat treats or some other reward whenever you notice them using the litterbox.
Start Giving the Pet More Freedom
Once you think your pet has gotten used to peeing in one spot, start taking them outside without a leash, but stay close to make sure they pee in the correct area.
Do not yell or loose your temper if they do not pee in the right spot.
It might mean that you need to continue with the leash for a few more days or weeks until they can get more used to peeing in the right spot.
Can You Repair Brown Grass Spots After The Fact
Jones says lawn soil can be restored by neutralizing salts from the dogs urine with gypsum-containing products such as NaturVet GrassSaver gypsum soil conditioner.
To do this, get a small bag of gypsum, add a few tablespoons to the soil and water in gently, then cover the spot to stop the dog from peeing there. After a few days, scratch up the soil and apply some good quality grass seed. Again, keep the dog away. Just repeat the process as necessary, he says.
Jones notes that you will need patience and must be vigilant about training your dog to keep away from the areas under restoration. Additional watering will also help revive the dead spots, says Henriksen.
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Can You Train Your Dog Not To Pee On Your Lawn
The best way to prevent these brown grass spots is to train your dog to pee somewhere else, Smith says. We recommend creating an area out of gravel or mulch in your backyard for your dog to urinate on, and train them to pee there, she says. Or train them to urinate in a less visible area of the lawn if the concern is about unsightly spots.
Training your pet to pee in a particular spot is a good approach, but the training can be challenging, and it takes patience, especially if he has had free rein in the yard, notes David Jones, owner of Bio Tech Pest Controls of Westerly, Rhode Island.
Henriksen suggests consulting a landscape professional to help design an outdoor space specifically for your dog to do his business. By creating areas lined with mulch or rocks, professionals can design spaces that are both beautiful and comfortable for your dog, while protecting your lawn from damage, she says.
Wrapping Up How To Prevent Dog Urine Spots From Ruining Your Lawn
While there are numerous ways to mitigate the damage dog urine can do to a well-kept lawn, most require a significant ongoing investment of time and energy.
If youre looking for a hassle-free way to prevent dog urine spots for good, installing a dog run and/or artificial pet turf is your best bet for a long-term solution.
Artificial turf holds up to the chemical impact of dog urine, no matter how many dogs you have or if they go in the same spot every time.
As an added bonus, because you dont have to mow, fertilize, weed, or water synthetic grass, youll have more time and money to spend on your favorite four-legged friend.
If you and your pooch would benefit from an artificial grass installation in your Texas yard, get a free estimate today!
Well ensure that you have a dog run or artificial grass pet area that your family and beloved dog will enjoy for years to come, from the best artificial grass company in Texas.
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