Dog urine on lawns

Symptoms

When dogs urinate on lawns, it scorches the grass, which causes circular brown patches to appear.

Find it on: lawns

Time to act: all year round

Problem categories

Overview

Dog urine contains a very high concentration of nitrogen. While nitrogen can produce a fertilising effect that promotes growth, large amounts in a concentrated area can result in dead patches of lawn. Bitches in particular cause the greater damage, because they tend to urinate in one spot, rather than dogs who tend to mark many spots and pass small amounts.

Solution

When dogs urinate on lawns, it scorches the grass, which causes circular brown patches to appear.

Organic

The most effective solution is to simply spray the affected area with copious amounts of water as soon as possible, to neutralise the urine. You could also try adding horticultural lime or powdered gypsum to the water, as this will neutralise the acid, their high alkalinity restoring the pH level. Finally, try to prevent the problem by encouraging your dog to urinate in a designated area of the garden.

Discuss this problem

Talkback: Dog urine on lawns

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lisaravana 24/11/2011 at 15:27

I have a better solution: put your dog on Lawn Guard or Green Ums. Both are dog treats which neutralize your dog's urine. My dog has to urinate repeatedly on a plant over several months to affect it.

TimHodgkins 24/11/2011 at 15:27

I have tried both of these and also in the process of trying DogRocks (from PetsAtHome).

The problem now is what to do about the patches that already exist. Is there a way to bring these back to life?

Tim Hogkins
www.gardenmachineryonline.co.uk

jossgarvey@hotmail.c 24/11/2011 at 15:27

I solved the problem of patches on the lawn by adding Tomato Jiuce to my bitches food (she had dried food), She liked the Tomato Juice - being a labragor cross she would eat anything - and it solved my problem. I never had another brown ring although I did have the odd lush piece of grass!

lizbanj 24/11/2011 at 15:27

can you tell me how much tomato juice to use & also what can we do about the brown patches on our lawn it is a new lawn only a month old thankyou

playbox 24/11/2011 at 15:28

I have same problem now having just got a rescue bitch dog,Did the tomato juice work if so how much did you give?

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