A dog is one of the most intelligent and loyal friends you can have on earth. If you love dogs, you should be ready to potty train them and have them pee outside. One of the unusual behaviors of a dog is peeing on a favorite spot on the lawn. But does dog pee kill grass?
When your dog pees on your grass, it will turn yellow and die with time. This is because the urine contains urea, a form of nitrogen from the proteins they eat. When a little of the Urea gets on your grass, there would not be much effect. But if your dog continuously pees on a specific spot, your grass will burn and dye.
If you’ve noticed a section of your grass die in an area your dog frequents, it could be pee. This guide will help you understand how to save your grass from drying up.
Will Grass Grow Back After Dog Urine?
Grass can grow back after the urine damages your dog’s favorite pee area. This is after you water and reseed the brown spots. Alternatively, you can let the surrounding grass grow and cover the dead zone.
However, a small amount of a dog’s urine will make your lawn healthy as the nitrogen in the urine will act as fertilizer, boosting the grass growth. This is because the right amount of urine (nitrogen)will not cause any effect. But too much concentration after your dog keeps coming to relieve its bladder on the grass.
Tips To Help Your Grass Grow Back After Dog Urine
To help your grass grow back after urine burns it out, use the following tips;
- Spring Clean the Area
One of the easiest methods to have your grass grow back and create an even lawn is by spring cleaning the area after winter. First, you should power rake the grass, do core aeration, and then apply enough fertilizers. But you shouldn’t add fertilizer to the already damaged grass as this will worsen the situation because fertilizer has high nitrogen content. You can use a dog-friendly fertilizer with less nitrogen content.
- Show Your Dog the Right Place to Pee
You should also consider training your dog to pee in a certain area within your compound where the urine won’t cause damage. It can also be a given spot within the lawn you prefer and not a place you’ll see easily. You can opt for the fencing part of the lawn for potty breaks and train your dog to go there anytime he wants to relieve himself.
- Plant Urine Resistant Grass
If you can’t get your dog away from their favorite peeing spot, replanting resilient grass is the best way to stop the grass from dying. You can replant ryegrass or fescue on the existing grass. Alternatively, you can opt for ornamental grass or clover, which is durable and resistant to a dog’s pee. You will also not have to water them frequently, reducing your workload. But let your choice be safe for your dog or any animal you have within your home.
- Create A Plant Free Zone
You can also act smart by introducing gravel or mulch to your dog’s favorite pee area. Excess pee won’t reach the grass when any of these components cover your grass. When little urine goes into the grass, it will help boost their growth instead of damaging it.
Alternatively, you can cover the area with stones or bark. This might not allow your grass to grow in this area but will prevent spreading the damage all over the lawn. Ensure the stone’s texture is suitable for your dog’s claws and won’t injure them as they walk over them.
- Wash The Area
You can make it a routine to be washing your dog’s favorite pee zone with a hose. The water will dilute the urea on the grass, reducing its effect on the lawn. You can make this your routine care to help your grass maintain its sheen. Water the grass immediately after your dog pees on the grass and ensure enough water reaches the soil to reduce the effect of the urine.
- Patch The Area
Another better way to reduce the urine effect on your grass is to patch that area. Use premium potting soil, grass seed, and sand. First, rake the affected area before you start working on it. After removing the thatch and loosening the soil, combine the potting soil, seeds, and sand. Then water it and prevent your dog from accessing this area as the new sod will get damaged by the urine within no time.
Will Baking Soda Neutralize Dog Urine on Grass?
If you don’t want the urine to kill your grass, you can use natural methods to stop the effects. One of the methods you can use to do away with the urine on the grass and reduce the yellow spots is baking soda.
Mix a cup of baking soda with water, then pour it on the affected spot. Baking soda will help neutralize the nitrogen level on the grass and reduce the urine’s bad smell. When the urine scent vanishes, your dog won’t be able to trace the area and will stop coming there to solve your problem.
Other Techniques to Stop the Urine Effects on The Grass
Apart from using baking soda, you can also opt for other natural remedies to help solve your problem. You can do that by;
- Watching Your Dog’s Diet
What your dog eats contributes to the amount of nitrogen in their urine. To stop this, you should inspect your puppy’s diet so that the urine has less nitrogen concentration. Remember, higher protein levels in the dog’s food will lead to higher nitrogen in their urine.
Watch the quantity and quality of the protein your dog feeds on. You should ensure your canine friend feeds on high-quality, fresh, and less processed animal proteins. Such a diet will result in lower nitrogen quantity than lower quality feeds. You can feed your dog fresh raw foods, leading to low waste production since their digestibility is higher.
Before changing the diet, you can consult with your veterinarian to ensure all their feeding needs are met in the new food. Remember, the less nitrogen on the waste, the less damage on your lawn.
- Keep Your Dog Hydrated
You will also be able to reduce the nitrogen level on your dog’s waste if they keep hydrated. So, after they eat dry foods all day, give them enough freshwater to reduce urine concentration. If you spot your dog producing darker urine, that’s a sign of dehydration, and you should act very fast.
- Opt For Nitrogen Trapping
Scientists have developed a formula where the nitrogenous compounds are filtered through the large intestines. They do these using probiotics or prebiotics. This will activate the gut bacteria, helping remove nitrogen from the foods your dog eats and then let it combine with your pet’s stool instead of the urine.
Doing this will help reduce the nitrogen in the urine and its effects on the grass. You can add these supplements to your dog’s food and see the wonder on your grass.
Bottom Line
Your dog’s pee-killing your grass can be disheartening after mercifully taking care of the lawn. You can potty train your dog or water the area to avoid this. Alternatively, you can use baking soda or watch their diet to reduce the nitrogen levels.
Read More About Grass: How Long Can Grass Seed Go Without Water?
