High concentrations of nitrogen in dog urine is what kills grass. Urine consists mainly of water and urea, a form of nitrogen. And when our dogs urinate that excess nitrogen is deposited onto the grass. And while a little bit of nitrogen is good for grass too much will cause damage.
Why does dog urine kill grass? The simple answer is nitrates. If you fertilize your lawn, it already has elevated levels of nitrates, so adding even a little more can kill your grass. Dog urine contains a variety of nitrogen compounds that kill grass.
Why dog poop kills grass. Dog feces kills grass because it contains a lot of nitrogen. Dogs need a high-protein diet, and the process of breaking down all that protein creates nitrogen as a byproduct. The dog then passes that nitrogen in its waste (dog urine has high nitrogen content, too).
Dog's urine ultimately damages your lawn because it is high in nitrogen. Whilst nitrogen is usually a good thing to apply to your lawn, and you may indeed notice your grass get (suspiciously!) green in patches, if not diluted with water it will scorch and burn your lawn.
Dog urine can have a long-term effect on your yard, but there are some simple steps to fix the dead grass.
How to Prevent Dog Urine from Killing Your Grass Naturally (6 Methods
Most of the time artificial grass stink is due to pet urine. This is because when the urine leak through the blades of synthetic turf, it seeps under the turf and consolidate between the bottom of the grass and the weed barrier beneath it. As buildup collects on the grass, the dog's urine smell intensifies.
The most natural and safest solution to stop your dog's pee from killing the grass… is one ingredient… WATER! After your dog pees, saturate the area with water. This will help dilute the nitrogen and stop the brown spots from forming.
This happens because dog urine is rich in nitrogen, which is known to kill grass when concentrated amounts collect over time. The effects of dog urine on your lawn are similar that of a nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer. A small amount of fertilizer makes your yard healthy, but too much will kill your lawn.
There may be grass seed out there that promotes its ability to be resistant to dog urine, but let us assure you, just as there is no such thing as bird resistant seed, there is definitely no grass that won't suffer slightly over time due to dog urine!
Fescue may be the perfect fit. This grass variety is very absorbent and can handle a large dog's urine with ease. Many varieties of fescue are very easy to care for, do not require a lot of attention or nutrients to thrive, and can tolerate shade and drought.
Sprinkle either lime juice or lime powder on the urine spot on the grass or soil. Lime juice helps remove the odor, although it does quickly sink into the ground. Lime powder stays on the top of the grass and soil, deodorizing the area for a longer time.