Besides wear and tear caused by dogs running and playing, dog urine is largely responsible for lawn damage seen at homes with dogs. Burns on a lawn from dog urine are one of the most common problems that we deal with. When dogs urinate on grass, they can cause damage over time. It is worse when the dog is female as they squat, depositing their urine in one spot underneath them.
Dog urine can cause scorching of the turf because the urine contains a high amount of nitrogen, which causes grass growth to accelerate.
Products are available to help combat scorching, although their effectiveness varies. If you have dogs, and you do not want any damage to occur on your lawns, the best solution is to sadly keep them off the lawns. However, by following the advice below, you can help prevent significant lawn damage from dog urine.
If your dog urinates on the lawn, the best thing you can do to minimise damage is to empty a bucket of water in the area as quickly as possible to dilute the urine and wash it through the soil. Be particularly vigilant during hot weather when the grass is dry and already under stress.
To aid repair, keep a tub of mixed compost and seed somewhere dry, ready to lightly spread over any scorched areas and keep the area moist.
Train your dog to go to the toilet in a particular area in the garden to prevent damage across the entire lawn. This will also reduce the amount of water and compost needed afterward, as you will know where they've been and only have one area to treat.
A strong, healthy lawn is better able to withstand pet damage. When mowing your lawn, don't cut your grass too short. It is recommended to keep the grass height between 2.5 and 4 centimetres for a domestic lawn.
Regular, professionally-applied lawn care treatments help keep your lawn in good condition all year round. Lawn Master ensures lawns are in the best condition for the whole family. All of our treatments and applications are pet friendly. Learn more about our standard treatment programme here.
Written by Steven Brymer, Lawn Care Operative & Lawn Master Franchise Owner
View Profile312+ Lawn Care Professionals Employed Nationwide
