Purge those pesky puppy pee patches once and for all
Has the arrival of your new pooch coincided with unsightly dead spots dotting your once-verdant lawn? Dog urine is killing your grass, but it doesn’t have to be the end for your picture-perfect lawn. If dog pee is ruining your lawn, here’s what you need to know about the causes, as well as 10 easy solutions for restoring your grass to its former glory.
If your dog’s pee is behind the brown patches in your yard, you might notice dreaded, patchy grass when you're preparing the grill for summer alfresco dining—this is no coincidence. Dog pee is high in nitrogen, and the stream directly on your grass is akin to shining a magnifying glass on the grass and scorching the earth.
The sun doesn’t help, either. On those hot, summer afternoons, its rays cause the water in the pee to evaporate faster, leaving behind an overabundance of nitrogen. Since your grass is under greater stress when the weather is hot and dry, it practically stands no chance against your dog’s urine.
Though grass needs nitrogen to stay green and vibrant, too much can destroy the root system. When the plants’ tissues burn, this creates an invitation for lawn diseases like the dreaded brown patch or another disease called Pythium.
Though nitrogen is the cause of grass death by dog urine, several factors increase your yard’s chances of dying from it. The main factors behind dog pee killing your grass include:
Size of your dog: A larger dog typically urinates larger amounts than a small dog.
Sex of your dog: Female dogs may cause bigger brown patches because they squat to pee, while male dogs spray an unsteady stream.
Your dog’s diet: A dog with a high-protein diet who doesn’t drink enough water will have a higher concentration of nitrogen.
Type of grass: Fescue, Zoysia grass, and perennial ryegrass have high tolerances for dog urine, while Bermuda grass and Kentucky bluegrass are more susceptible to urine damage.
Having a dog doesn’t mean you have to forgo having the yard of your dreams. Follow these 10 tips to keep dog pee from killing your grass for good.
With some patience and consistency, you can train your dog to only pee in a designated spot in your garden—whether that’s a gravel or bark mulch area, a patch of artificial grass, or a section of grass more out of sight.
Initially, you’ll probably have to put them on a leash to help keep your pup off the grass you want to salvage and encourage them to “go potty” in the spot you have in mind. Whenever they do this, immediately reward them with abundant praise and their favorite treats and repeat this process until they’re reliably peeing in that same spot.
Alternatively, you could fence off the lawn so your dog only has access to hardscape areas or other places where their pee won’t cause any damage.
How often you water your lawn can also help minimize patch development. If you hose down the urine spot straight after your dog has gone there, it's more likely to be effective, and it saves you from having to water the whole lawn, especially if you’re trying to conserve water. Regular watering also strengthens your grass, and the brown patches may not be so severe.
Another way to keep dog pee from ruining your lawn is to dilute your dog’s urine before it hits the grass. Dogs who eat a dry diet and don’t drink a lot of water are likely to have more concentrated urine. This can also be more noticeable on hot days and after a lot of exercise.
You could try adding water to their kibble, feeding them wet food, or encouraging them to drink more water by making it a non-salty broth. As well as possibly helping your lawn, it’s good to make sure your dog stays well-hydrated. Of course, it means your pooch might have to take more trips outside.
No ground cover is entirely resistant to dog urine, but some are hardier than others. Clover and carpet bugleweed are good options that are less susceptible to yellowing. If you're reseeding your lawn, consider warm-season Bermuda grass or cool-season tall fescue grass.
If your lawn isn’t too big and your yard space needs a makeover anyway, why not ditch the grass in favor of low-maintenance hardscaping or artificial grass? While swapping several acres of grass for artificial turf isn’t likely, this option works well for side yards, patios, and small yards.
There’s no scientific evidence to show it works, but some dog owners and landscapers report positive results from treating lawns with pet-safe gypsum pellets. Although they might not neutralize the dog urine as claimed—the calcium sulfate helps improve soil drainage, meaning less urine may stay on the grass.
If you’re using a fertilizer high in nitrogen, your dog’s routine bathroom break is only going to compound the problem with scorch marks. Opting for a dog-friendly fertilizer that’s lower in nitrogen or considering whether your lawn needs additional nutrients in the first place might lessen the severity of the yellowing patches and keep dog pee from ruining your lawn.
It’s also a good idea to test your soil to discover the balance and status of your lawn. A soil test will tip you off to your soil’s pH level. A professional soil testing service near you can also help you determine what course of action to take.
By allowing your grass to grow slightly taller instead of mowing it down regularly, the increased opportunities for photosynthesis often result in a healthier lawn and better moisture retention. Consequently, summer scorch marks from dog urine may be less severe.
The right height for mowing your lawn depends on whether you’ve opted for warm-season or cool-season grass.
To save your lawn from becoming a patchwork quilt of scorch marks, keep on top of reseeding the damaged grass. It’s as simple as raking out the dead grass, pricking the soil surface with a fork, treading the seeds into the surface, and then watering regularly for at least a fortnight. Ideally, you’ll want to keep your dog from peeing on that spot while the seeds establish.
There are a wide variety of supplements available aimed at balancing the pH in a dog’s urine to help keep pee from ruining your lawn. However, there are mixed reports regarding results, especially given that it’s the nitrogen levels and not the urine pH that causes problems for the grass.
Also, be aware that products containing DL-Methionine are risky for dogs with pre-existing liver and kidney problems. Natural dog rocks are also available to add to water bowls. These claim to filter out impurities such as nitrates rather than adjusting the urine pH.
You might have read that offering your dog tomato juice or adding vinegar or baking soda to their diet helps. Again, this is based on the misleading theories that adjusting the pH levels in the urine helps with lawn burn. Plus, feeding these in excess can lead to urinary problems, including bladder infections and stones.
Be sure to consult your vet before adding any supplements to your pet’s diet or adding any products to your pet’s water or food. If you’re still having problems with dog pee ruining your lawn, consult a lawn care service in your area for professional help.
Gemma Johnstone contributed to this piece.
Yes, in most cases, grass will return after your dog urinates on it. But without preventative measures, there’s always a chance your dog will pee on the grass again, leading to brown patches come summer. This aside, even if your grass is dead in patches, simply reseeding the dead spots should help restore your lawn.
If you choose not to reseed your lawn, unaffected grass surrounding the dead patches will spread over any dead spots. But be prepared for this option to take longer—you likely won’t be able to grow grass fast.
Your dog’s diet plays a major role in the amount of nitrogen in the dog’s urine. A high-protein diet leads to higher nitrogen levels because digesting proteins break down the protein and form nitrogen as a result.
You should also ensure that your dog is drinking plenty of water. Staying hydrated naturally helps dilute nitrogen concentrations in urine—not to mention, it’s better for your dog’s health.
A quick search online may recommend that you give your dog apple cider vinegar to help decrease the pH level of your dog’s urine. This method won’t help your yard, though. Most turf grasses thrive on slightly acidic soil, so apple cider vinegar won’t make much of a difference.
The main cause of grass death by dog urine isn’t the pH level anyway—it’s usually the excessive amount of nitrogen that kills your grass.
