Also known as lawn burn, this happens when dog urine kills grass. Perhaps you have gotten a new dog and are noticing small brown patches in your yard and are left to wonder, “Does dog urine kill grass?” The answer is yes, it can.
Why does dog urine kill grass? It is due to the nitrogen present in dog urine. To prevent lawn burn, you need to try to reduce the amount of nitrogen that the grass is coming into contact with. According to Doctors Foster and Smith, there are several contributing factors to this scenario.
Factors That Contribute to Dog Urine Killing Grass
Females void their entire bladder in one location, instead of marking like males. So these larger puddles don’t help the situation. Logically, the larger the dog, the more urine. Dogs who are fed a diet very high in protein have more nitrogen present in their urine. Lawns that have fertilizer applied to them already have extra nitrogen, so the dog’s urine can just push the nitrogen content over the edge. Conversely, if the lawn is dry or diseased, or newly sodded or seeded are more likely to get lawn burn.
How to Keep Dog Urine From Killing Grass
- Use a watering can to saturate the urinated spots with water.
- Feed your dog a high-quality food that doesn’t have an excessive amount of protein.
- Provide plenty of fresh water for your dog to drink at all times. This will dilute the urine.
- Train your dog to urinate in a specific area that is less visible, such as a corner of your yard.
- Keep in mind that perennial rye grasses and fescues are more urine-resistant than others. Bermuda grass and Kentucky bluegrass are more likely to be affected by dog urine.
- Try feeding your dog a supplement that helps bind the nitrogen in their waste.
- Apply a product to your lawn such as Spot Gone Repair & Recover.
- Frequently water your lawn.
Dog Killing Grass Home Remedy
You may have heard several stories of do-it-yourself tricks for getting rid of the telltale brown spots in your lawn caused by dog urine. These include items such as baking soda, gypsum and dishwashing detergent. According to Colorado State University, none of these will work. They state that the only thing that can neutralize the negative effects of dog urine is water. In addition, they advise that the only sure solution to the problem is to train the dog to select a location in the yard that is covered in mulch or gravel.