How to Prevent and Repair Dog Urine Damage to your Lawn
We all love our furry friends, but there is one thing that they leave behind in our yard that we don’t love as much – urine spots. Your pet’s urine contains high amounts of nitrogen, and just like too much fertilizer, too much urine can burn your lawn and cause unwanted brown spots. Check out more tips on how to prevent and repair urine damage in your yard.
Try these tips to keep your lawn spot-free and free from your pup’s frequent bathroom breaks:
Train
Does your dog have a habit of soaking the same area in your yard? Train them to urinate in different areas — and even better, somewhere other than the lawn — to ensure certain sections aren’t getting overly soaked day in and day out.
Random fact: Some think a female dog’s urine is more potent than a male’s, but it’s simply the fact that female dogs are more likely to “squat” (allowing for the urine to concentrate in one single area) while male dogs tend to lift their legs in various areas around the yard.
Dilute
Fill a bucket of water and have it ready to go when nature calls. Immediately after your dog does their business, neutralize the spot by pouring water over the area. This will dilute the urine and help prevent the burning of the grass. Just keep in mind: The larger the dog the bigger the puddle, which means the bigger the bucket you might want to keep nearby.
Aerate
When it comes to addressing the damage that’s already been done, some recommend scraping away the top layer of soil underneath the dead grass — but this can be risky to do without professional help. Our lawn care experts recommend an aeration treatment as a safe, worthwhile solution. Aerating will help damaged grass caused by dog urine by stimulating root growth. It will also help air, water, and nutrients penetrate the soil underneath.
Reseed
Dog urine not only kills the existing grass … it keeps new grass from growing. Once you aerate, it’s highly recommended to reseed your lawn. This helps new grass grow back quicker and fuller, and ensures a lush, healthy lawn going forward.
Hydrate
By hydrating, we’re talking about your dog. Make sure he or she has regular access to fresh water throughout the day. This will keep your pup from becoming dehydrated, which can cause urine to become more concentrated and potentially more deadly to your lawn. Plus, it’ll keep Fido feeling healthy and happy — which is a win-win.
If you’re still concerned that your pup’s habits are ruining your lawn,give us a call at 317-251-6800 and we’d be happy to talk through further strategies.
