How Dog Urine Can Burn Your Lawn

If you have a dog, you are probably very grateful that they are trained to urinate outside. However, if you have a yard that is mostly turf, you may find it frustrating that you have unsightly spots of dead grass every time your dog goes to the bathroom. Unless you can diligently train your four-legged friend to do his or her business on mulch or other non-grass areas, this issue will continue to plague you and your lawn. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to reduce the lawn damage from your pet’s urine.

In order to understand how you can prevent burn spots on your lawn, it is important to understand why this happens. It is primarily based on the pH level of your dog’s urine. Dog’s are carnivores; therefore, it is expected that they should have a slightly acidic pH level in their waste. A healthy dog should have a pH of 6 or 6.5. However, if it is higher, it is considered more alkaline and can burn you lawn. A pH that is lower or higher than the suggested range can not only cause lawn damage, but pose threats to your dog’s health. To evaluate your dog’s urine pH, ask your vet for pH test strips or bring in a sample of urine to your vet’s office.

Check Your Dog’s Diet

The most influential factor in your dog’s urine pH is their diet. If you are feeding your canine a lot of dry grains and alkalizing foods, they are much more likely to have a waste output that kills your lawn. In reality, if they are given moisture-rich, grain-free foods that contain more acidic proteins, your dog’s urine should actually act as a fertilizer to your lawn!

Splash Some Water

If your dog’s urine pH is within range and you are still seeing burn spots across your landscape, you can try another quick tip to neutralize the pH before the grass absorbs the urine. Simply carry a water bottle with you when you take your dog out to urinate. After your pup does the job, pour some water on the area to dilute the urine.

At Pannone’s Lawn Pros & Landscaping, we want homeowners to be able to enjoy their dogs without sacrificing their beautiful lawn. For more tips on how to protect your grass from your dog’s bathroom habits, please call one of our professionals today. We are happy to help!