How to Keep Your Lawn Looking Good if You Have Dogs

If your dog is turning your lush green lawn into a field filled with brown or dark green circular spots, it may be time to take action. While you may choose to train your dog to do his business in a different location in your yard, there are things you can do to reduce damage your dog can do to the grass. Dietary changes as well as lawn care changes can make a difference.

  1. Urine and the Lawn

    • Urine is the culprit for making those dead zones in your turf. Typically, female dogs cause more lawn damage because they squat and drain the bladder in one location while male dogs tend to mark in many locations. Urine of either gender contains large amounts of nitrogen. When your dog urinates on the lawn, this nitrogen hits the grass and enters the soil. The brown patches are where high nitrogen concentrations burn and kill the grass. As the nitrogen spreads out from the inner circle, it has the opposite effect -- instead of killing with potency, the diluted substance serves as a fertilizer, causing rapid grass growth in patches.

    A Little Extra Water Goes a Long Way

    • One way to treat the excess nitrogen your dog deposits into the lawn with every bathroom break is simple water. After your dog urinates on the grass, follow with the hose and flush the area with fresh water. This helps to dilute and spread the nitrogen, minimizing the potential damage. The sooner you flush the area the better chance you have of preventing damage to the grass.

    A Good Excuse for Moist Food

    • Increased water in your dog̵7;s diet helps to dilute the nitrogen concentration in the dog's urine. But getting extra water into your dog does not mean just offering a bigger water bowl. While dogs should have access to water at all times, making them drink more than they already do is not easy. Other options for increasing fluid intake include feeding moist foods or adding water, broth or gravy to dry foods. While this may seem like a small measure, the extra moisture intake may be enough to dilute the urine and prevent grass burning.

    A Doggie Bathroom

    • If all else fails, it may be time to design a doggie potty in the backyard or consider regular walks around the neighborhood for potty breaks. Pea gravel, mulch or rock gardens make decorative yard options that provide an area for your dog to use. It may take a few weeks to train your dog to use this new area. In time, your lawn will thank you.