Is Dog Urine Killing Your Grass? Try This! | Ep. 60

Published On

April 13, 2023

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Poodle urinating on the grass in the front yard — Dog urine is one of the top causes of dead grass, but there’s something you can do about it. **(DepositPhotos)**

On this Week’s Podcast: Dog’s Urine Killing Grass

Homeowner Cathy has a problem that many pet owners face. She says her two dogs are doing their “business” right off the steps of her deck. This is a big concern because the dog urine is killing the grass in her backyard and she’s tired of it.

And that’s not all — Cathy’s ground slants toward the deck, adding another issue to the dog mess. Now, she’s wondering what can be done about it.

Dogs are one of the biggest culprits of causing a lawn’s brown spots, and their urine often is responsible for killing the grass. That’s because urine usually causes a lawn to turn yellow in spots, and sometimes it has a bright green ring around the edges where diluted nitrogen in the urine acts as a fertilizer.

So, what can Cathy do about this? We suggest purchasing some pavers! If she installs pavers at the bottom of the deck, it will create an unpleasant spot for the dogs. In other words, they won’t want to do their ‘business’ there.

In addition, installing pavers provides an opportunity to change the slope from the deck to the backyard. This will create a new way to flow the mess away from the deck.

Installing a Paver Patio

Laying a paver patio can make a great DIY project, and it can go a long way toward preventing your dog’s urine from killing the grass.
Here’s how to do it:

First, choose the area that the patio will cover and pull strings to mark the borders. Allow for about 1 inch of slope away from the house for every 8 feet of the patio. That way, water will drain.
Next, dig out the soil 5 inches deep and factor in the thickness of the pavers from the desired finished height of the patio. For instance, this will allow for 4 inches of the base material, 1 inch of sand and the pavers. Use a plate compactor (available for rent at home centers) to compact the soil and prevent settling.
Add 4 inches of the compactable base material, such as crushed limestone, to the excavated patio area. Then pack down the base material using a plate compactor. Mist the area with water while compacting the base material to reduce the dust and aid the compaction.
Lay straight 1-inch-thick steel pipes on top of the base material on each side of the patio; these will act as guides for leveling the sand. Then pour 1 inch of sand on top of the base material and use a straight 2-by-4 on edge as a screed on top of the pipes to level the sand to a consistent thickness. Remove the pipes and fill in the void left behind.

This has been quite a bit of work, but don’t worry! We’re now at the easy part, and before you know it, you’ll have some beautiful hardscaping that prevents your dogs’ urine from killing grass.

Start at one corner of the patio and lay the pavers on top of the sand, being careful not to step on the sand. Use a concrete saw or wet saw (available for rent) to cut any partial pavers to size. (Wear an approved dust mask or respirator if dry-cutting pavers).
Pour concrete halfway up the thickness of the pavers around the outer edge of the patio to secure the paver border in place. After the concrete has set, cover it with dirt or grass to hide the concrete.
Sweep paver sand into the joints between the pavers to fill them.

More Solutions for Dog Urine on Your Lawn

Water your lawn: The best way to reduce damage to your lawn is to dilute the urine by saturating the spot with water. This approach also works if you accidentally spill fertilizer on your yard.
Water your dog: Make sure your dog is well hydrated to dilute the urine’s strength. Adding some canned dog food, or moistening dry food with a little water, is another way to add water to their diet. Many dietary additives make your dog thirstier (usually by adding salt), leading to more water consumption.
Train your dog: Train your dog to urinate in a designated space away from the main lawn. While this may sound like a daunting task, dogs really can be trained to go in specific places on command. Make sure the area has mulch or pea gravel that is easy to replace and keep clean.
Plant resistant grasses: Fescues and ryegrass are more resistant to urine burns than grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and Bermuda.

Remember:

A healthy, maintained lawn can withstand the occasional overdose of nitrogen better than a stressed lawn.
Your local pet store likely has a variety of products claiming to bind and neutralize dog urine, and prevent it from killing your grass. Results on these products are not proven, so consult your vet to make sure they are safe before using them. Generally, it’s better to use solutions that work with biology and nature, rather than trying to alter it.

Also in this week’s podcast:

• A strange smell in your home can be alarming. We discuss 7 household smells that could signal danger.
• Learn about a product that will give your furniture a distressed, antique look.
• Do you want to remove wallpaper? Try this formula!
• A homeowner is having a hard time finding the right paint to repair and refinish the cabinets — here are our suggestions
• Follow Joe’s Simple Solution to create a homemade disinfectant.

Question of the Week

Tom from Virginia writes, “I want to install carpet. I have laminate flooring now, and I was told the laminate had to come up before the carpet was laid. What are your thoughts on this project?”

DIY Project of the week

How to Install a Dimmer Switch

Hand adjusting dimmer switch slider — Dimmer switches cannot be used with CFL bulbs unless the package states otherwise.

Replacing a standard wall switch with a dimmer switch is a great way to improve your home’s atmosphere.