Dog urine lawn repair | How to repair a lawn damaged by dog urine?

You love spending time with your pet on the lawn but you are tired of seeing pee stains on your lawn? You do your best to maintain your lawn but your dog loves to make a mess?  

Don't worry, you're not alone! Fortunately, this damage can be repaired. In this article, we offer you some solutions to combat the ravages caused by dog urine. 

How to recognize the effects of dog urine? 

Yellow spots

For dog owners, it is not at all uncommon to find yellow spots surrounded by a green stripe in the lawn. These spots are caused by dog urine, especially during dry periods. It depends, of course, on the dog you have, but this phenomenon is especially common for female dogs or large dogs.

They are round spots that are 10 to 20 cm in diameter with dead grass in the middle surrounded by dark green grass. You can easily see those stains in the spring because they contrast with the grass that is turning green.

The cause

Dog urine is rich in acids, salts and nitrogen, which causes the grass roots to dry out or burn. The more concentrated the dog's urine is and the more acidic its pH, the more obvious this damage is likely to be on your lawn.
Nitrogen, the main agent involved, is a mineral found in fertilizers that promote grass growth. However, if your pet defecates on dry soil, the undiluted nitrogen contained in urine will cause yellow patches with a green outline to appear.

How to deal with yellow spots?

If you have a pet and your lawn is suffering the consequences, here's how to clean up the patches it leaves behind:

1. Water cleaning

The easiest, but a little tricky, trick would be to follow your dog and pour water as soon as he finishes relieving himself. It's as simple as that, no need to add other products. The water will be used to dilute the nitrogen so that it is no longer harmful to the lawn! But it's not always easy to run after your dog as soon as he puts his paws outside!

2. The seed

For areas that have only turned yellow, watering is usually sufficient. It will be used to dilute the caustic urine in the soil. If after a week of watering, the grass does not regain its greenness, it is definitely dead and will have to be replanted:

• Scrape the soil to remove dead grass in the affected area.
• Add a layer of about one centimeter of new soil
• Plant new seeds or sods
• Keep the area moist for two weeks

You will see the grass grow back and immediately regain its green color.

Prevention is best

Set up a small corner for your pet

The second option would be to create a small corner for your pet. You can create a small space for him in gravel, stone dust or mulch. And then, little by little, encourage and get your dog used to relieving himself in that corner to keep the rest of your lawn healthy while guaranteeing your dog the right to play outside.

Water your lawn

Always watering your lawn, especially during dry periods, will keep the soil constantly moist. This moisture will dilute the nitrogen and help prevent damage. So water your dog's favorite areas thoroughly.

Fertilization

Also consider using fertilizers that contain nitrogen, which will make your lawn greener. This practice should be favored especially in the spring and will serve to revive the color of your lawn and hide urine stains.

Keep your dog hydrated

In addition to watering the lawn, a little attention to your pet's diet could be as beneficial to his health as it is to the health of your lawn. Like any living creature, your dog needs to hydrate. Be aware that the more your pet drinks water, the more diluted its urine will be. The optimal pH level for dog urine varies between 6 and 6.5, which you can measure.

Hemp, for the well-being of your dog and your lawn.

Hemp-based food promotes your dog's hydration and helps to balance the pH of his urine.

Hemp seeds

Hemp seeds are rich in fatty acids that reduce inflammation in your dog and help reduce the symptoms of arthritis. They are also rich in proteins and vitamins that stimulate the development of his muscles.

Hemp oil

This oil promotes healthier cell growth of your dog's skin. It helps fight skin problems and promotes hair hydration. Simply add a few drops of hemp oil to his meal to add fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. His skin and hair will be smooth and moisturized and his urine will be more alkaline.  

His body will absorb these proteins and his urine will be low in nitrogen, which will cause less damage to your lawn. Hemp is the best solution to take good care of your pet and your lawn at the same time.

Pay attention to the products you use

The tips we have just mentioned are generally sufficient to fight against yellow patches while respecting the well-being of your pet and the health of your lawn. You will be able to find products that neutralize urine, but be aware that it is the excessive concentration of nitrogen in the form of ammonia that causes the grass to turn yellow. Therefore, these products do not guarantee any effectiveness.

Maintaining a lawn often requires a lot of time and energy. If you need advice on how to better maintain your lawn, Vertdure, with its 30 years of experience in the treatment of green spaces, guarantees quality service and accessible packages. You can contact us now and our team will be happy to meet all your needs.