You may not be aware that your dog could be damaging your lawn every time it goes to the bathroom. Dog urine contains large amounts of nitrogen that's left behind after it evaporates. If your dog decides to pee on your lawn, it can damage your turf and leave behind brown patches. If you're worried your dog will do irreversible damage to your turf, don't worry! There are four ways you can protect your lawn from dog urine. The first method is to spray down the affected area on your turf with a hose to dilute the urine. You can also establish a designated spot that’s not on your lawn for your dog to use the bathroom. Another method is to overseed your lawn with grass resilient to dog urine. Residents in Michigan tend to have Kentucky bluegrass, but ryegrass makes a great alternative which is more resistant to dog urine. Finally, you want to keep a healthy and well-maintained lawn which will ensure your turf is strong enough to resist damage from dog urine.

1. Spray down the area on your lawn with a hose after your dog pees.

Homeowner hosing down dog urine in lawn in Utica, MI.

One way to protect your lawn from dog urine damage is to simply spray the area with a hose after your dog has used the bathroom. This method is perfect if you’re still trying to train your dog to pee elsewhere or if there’s nowhere for your dog to pee besides your lawn. The water from the hose will dilute the higher concentration of nitrogen from the urine and protect your grass from any nitrogen burn.

2. Create a designated spot for your dog to pee that isn't your lawn.

There are plenty of places besides your lawn where a dog can go pee outside. If you have the space for it, one of the best methods to protect your lawn from dog urine damage is by creating a designated spot for your dog to urinate. You’ll want to choose or establish an area on your property with gravel or rock where your dog can pee. Mulch is also great at absorbing nitrogen-heavy urine. If you can train your dog to use any of these designated areas, you can keep your lawn safe from any urine damage.

3. Overseed your lawn with ryegrass.

Ryegrass growing in lawn in Mt. Clemens, MI.

Certain types of grass will be more resilient against dog urine. Perennial ryegrass, for example, tends to be more resistant to the enzymes found in pet waste when compared to Kentucky bluegrass. So, if you don’t have a designated area for your dogs to pee besides on your lawn, you should overseed your lawn with ryegrass seeds. Ryegrass can tolerate your dogs’ activities, so you can continue enjoying a vibrantly green lawn!

Pair aeration with overseeding for better seed-to-soil contact. Aeration will help the grass seedlings establish better root connections in your soil!

4. Keep your lawn healthy and well-maintained.

Maintained lawn in Macomb, MI.

Keeping a well-maintained and healthy lawn is critical when protecting your turf from dog urine. Of course, you always want to make sure your lawn is in good condition, but it’s extremely important if your dog uses your lawn as its bathroom. A healthy lawn will be more resilient to dog urine and bounce back faster from any damage it may incur. The key to healthy turf is to follow good lawn care and maintenance practices. You want to fertilize your grass regularly, mow it often, and water it regularly. By following these three practices, you can keep your lawn in pristine condition so it can resist any damage from dog urine.

Call us today to protect your lawn with our lawn maintenance and lawn care services!

At Big Lakes Lawncare, we can help keep your lawn safe from dog urine with our various lawn maintenance and lawn care services. We can overseed your lawn with ryegrass seeds and help you care for and maintain it with our lawn mowing and fertilization services. If you need to create a designated spot for your dog to pee, then we can help with our mulch installation service too! We service commercial, residential, and HOA properties in the Macomb, MI area, and surrounding areas such as Shelby and Chesterfield. Call us today at (586) 200-0855 to sign up for any of our lawn maintenance and lawn care services!