WHAT DID MY DOGS DO TO MY LAWN?!
Yeah, sorry to say, it’s true. Dogs and lawns don’t mix. And no, I’m not talking about those darn holes your furry friend digs in the backyard.
I’m talking about….
That’s right, those brown spots. We spend so much time and money invested into our lawns only to have these brown spots marks appear. Didn’t know it’s from your family pet? Yup, it certainly is. Dog urine is very high in nitrogen. The brown spots are “nitrogen burn” left by your dog’s urine. Female dogs have higher counts of nitrogen, but don’t be fooled, male dogs can do this as well. Although not as bad, but your dogs waste will cause this too! Did you know 1 single pile of dog waste can contain over 3 MILLION fecal bacteria? To prevent sickness and contaminants to humans, it’s always best to clean up after your dog. Especially if you are looking for a green lawn.
There are many tips and tricks, chemicals, or old tales that claim to work. I’ve heard everything from giving your dog a cup of tomato juice everyday, giving them chemical treats from pet stores or applying lime to your lawn to reduce the PH level. The treats are 100% safe, and the lime will reduce the soil PH but how well do they work and will you remember to keep up with it?
There is only 1 tried and true method- dilute the urine with water and/or train Fido to go in an area where there isn’t any grass. To dilute the urine, just grab a garden hose or bucket of water and rinse the area where the urine is. To fix brown patches, this is much easier than you think. Rake out the brown patch and remove as much of the dead grass as possible. Sprinkle some grass seed on the bare area, cover with dirt or topsoil, and water frequently until your new grass is ready to be mowed.
One of the most common questions we get is “our lawn has brown spots, why is it doing that?” Our question before even seeing the property is….”Do you have a dog?”
Here are a few different products that can help prevent those annoying brown patches. As always, it’s a good idea to consult with your Vet before giving your pet any of these products that they need to consume.
- NaturVet GrassSaver For smaller dogs, these chewable tablets can work. Larger dogs require more tablets, which can be costly.
- Dog Rocks These are great, each rock lasts about 2 months.
- Lawn Star This is grass paint and not something your pet will consume. It also will not fix the brown spot, it just paints the brown spot green to make it blend in with the rest of the grass. It’s a great quick fix but the area would need to eventually be reseeded.
- Nutri-Vet Like other chewable tablets, larger breeds require more tablets.
- Spotless Lawn In a liquid form, this attaches to your garden hose and is sprayed into your lawn.
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