Home Solutions for Brown Spots on Lawn From Dog Urine

The family pet can damage a beautiful lawn.

Ugly brown spots on your grass can tarnish an otherwise beautiful lawn. If you have a dog, urine may be the cause of brown or dead spots in your lawn. Before blaming Fido, be sure the spots are in the area he or she uses to urinate, as there are other causes of brown or dead spots. When you have determined that dog urine is the culprit, take these steps to reduce or eliminate the brown spots.

Identification

Determine if stained or brown areas of the lawn are urine spots by attempting to pull up some of the dead grass. If it does not pull up easily, you are most likely dealing with urine spots. If it comes away easily, you may have a grub problem or other lawn disease. Dog urine contains nitrogen, which serves as lawn fertilizer, which is why you may sometimes see accelerated growth in spots of your lawn. An excess, however, will cause brown spots and, over time, dead zones. The goal is to reduce the concentration of nitrogen.

Watering

Neutralize the nitrogen by applying several cupfuls of water to the spot when your dog urinated. This will help the nitrogen dissipate. Encourage your dog to drink more water to dilute the urine before it hits the lawn. Watering the lawn within eight hours helps to reduce the concentration as well.

Feeding

Feeding your dog a high-quality dog food also may help. Such foods generally have a better quality protein that is better digested with less nitrogen waste eliminated. There are also supplements to give your dog to neutralize the nitrogen. According to Rick Rosen in "The Dallas Morning News," feeding your dog tomato juice, vinegar or baking soda is not recommended by veterinarians as they may cause problems with the urinary tract and organs. Always check with your vet before altering your dog's diet.

Training

Train your dog to use another area of the lawn that is not as noticeable, if you do not wish to give your dog supplements or change her diet. Using a motion sensor sprinkler will discourage her from using certain areas. Fencing a special area is an option to teach your dog where to urinate.

Grass Treatments

Fertilizing less frequently or using a fertilizer with a lower nitrogen content helps to reduce nitrogen contentration. Watering more frequently will dilute the nitrogen as well. In the event of severe damage, cut out the dead area and replace the grass. Replace sod with urine-resistant grasses such as rye and fescue. If the sod is replaced, you will still need to intervene to prevent the problem from re-occurring.

References

• Pet Education: Lawn Burn: The Cause and The Cure
• Dallas News: Brown Spots in Your Lawn Could Be Disease or Dogs