Stop Dog Pee From Killing Your Grass

Having a dog and keeping a pristine lawn can be a challenge. After all, a dog’s got to go somewhere and it’s usually on the lawn. Unfortunately, pet urine acts as a fertilizer that over doses the lawn with nitrogen, burning the grass and killing the turf.  Typically dog spots will resolve themselves on their own, but if there are several dog spots and they are grouped together, you may need to reseed the area to fix it. 

Related: The Self-Fertilizing Secret to a Green Yard

How to Identify Pet Damage

Identifying pet damage can be a challenge given that there are various pests and fungal diseases that can also cause brown spots. Dog spots typically look like brown or yellow patches that are about 3 inches in diameter. These spots typically have a ring of lush green grass around them that receives a lower dose of nitrogen that boosts growth. 

How to fix grass have pet urine damage

Fortunately, pet urine kills grass. Usually these spots are small enough that the turf will fill it in without any need for intervention from you. However, if your pet has been going in the same general area, these spots may coalesce, creating a larger dead zone that your turf will have a tough time filling on its own. If that happens, you’ll need to take action by reseeding:

1. Mow the grass. You won’t be able to mow the area around the spot for a few weeks after you plant new seed, so make sure you trim the grass first. 
2. Remove the dead grass. Use a rake or garden claw to remove any dead or yellow grass. 
3. Water the area. Water the area liberally to dilute the high nitrogen content in the soil. 
4. Treat the soil. Start by aerating the soil using a lawn fork then amend it with gypsum or lime, which will help to neutralize the nitrogen in the soil. You can also use a dog spot repair product like Sunday Pet Patch to treat the soil. 
5. Prep the soil. Loosen the top layer of the soil with a rake, then add a high quality grass seed. 
6. Water. Water the soil three times a day for 5 to 10 minutes each until the grass begins to sprout. Reduce watering to once a day for 10 to 20 minutes until the grass establishes itself, then return to your regular watering schedule of once or twice a week. 

How to Prevent Pet Urine Damage to Your Lawn

1. Water the area: the best way to prevent damage from pet urine is to water the affected area as soon as possible after your pet pees on it. This helps dilute the nitrogen content. 
2. Train your dog to go in one area: Place a dog pee post in a designated area in your yard. Pee posts have pheromones in them that encourage your dog to pee near them, limiting the damage to one part of your yard. 
3. Fertilize less: Dog urine kills lawns largely because the nitrogen content in the urine is too much for the lawn. Fertilizing your lawn only adds to that. Skip the fertilizer in areas where your dog pees to avoid overloading it with nitrogen
4. Feed your dog a dietary supplement: Add a dietary supplement to your dog’s food, such as NaturVet  or Pet Honesty Grass Green. These supplements safely balance the pH of your dog’s urine to make it safe for your grass. 
5. Use a specialized lawn treatment: Purchase a lawn treatment that’s specifically designed for this problem. These lawn treatments contain enzymes and soil cleansers that flush salt out of our other root zone. 
6. Plant a urine resistant grass: Plant a urine resistant grass in the area where your dog pees. Perennial ryegrass is most resistant to dog urine. Other grass types, such as Bermudagrass and Kentucky bluegrass, self repair quickly. Tall fescue has deep roots that help protect it while zoysia creates a dense canopy that prevents urine from reaching the soil.