Why Does Dog Pee Stain Grass?

You’re trying to take care of a beautiful lawn, but you start to notice random splotches of dead grass. After a bit of investigating, you discover the culprit… Your dog’s pee! Keep reading to find out why Fido’s urine stains your grass and how you can fix your lawn!

How does urine ruin grass?

When our pup pees on our lawn, the urine can puddle on the grass for a long time. As the urine sits, it burns and kills the grass underneath it. This causes the grass to turn an unsightly brown, leaving abnormal splotches all over your lawn. A urine stain is often 3-4 inches in diameter, surrounded by lush grass.

Why does urine kill grass?

While there’s a common misconception that canine’s acidic pee messes common species of grass, there’s actually a much simpler reason. Due to their carnivore diets, canine urine is made of many natural chemicals. Two chemicals, nitrogen and salt, are found in dog pee. High concentrations of these chemicals can burn and even kill grass and other types of fauna.

How to fix dead grass stains.

While these splotches of dead grass can be unsightly, there are many ways to fix and prevent these stains.

Prevention

A simple way to prevent these stains is to regularly hose off your lawn after your furry friend does his business. You can also teach your pooch to pee in a specific spot in your yard. If this is becoming a chronic problem, switch to dog-friendly grass!

Solutions

First, you need to remove the dead grass by trilling the lawn. Next, prepare the grass for fertilization by raking the soil. Then, plant new grass seeds in the affected areas. To cultivate new growth, continue to water and fertilize your lawn. Finally, enjoy your fresh new lawn! As you enjoy your beautiful landscaping, think of planting other dog-friendly plants.

These dead grass patches can be annoying. But you now know the cause of these pesky little splotches. Next time you notice these spots, here are our tips to prevent and fix your beautiful lawn!