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What Causes Lawn Burn And How You Can Prevent It
If your dog does her business in your backyard, you may have noticed yellow patches of dead grass appearing across your green lawn. These “lawn burns” are caused by your pup’s waste, mainly her urine. Before you line your yard with puppy pads, here are some tips to repair those burn marks and restore your lawn to one you both can enjoy.
- Nitrogen is the main culprit linked to lawn burn, according to a report on the Turf Resource Center and Lawn Institute. Reducing the concentration of nitrogen on your lawn will help prevent and treat burns. After your dog eliminates, water the area thoroughly with a hose. Not only will it help dilute the urine, but the extra water can benefit new growth. If your dog has access to your yard when you’re not at home and you have a watering system, set the timer to water your lawn several times a day for about 5-10 minutes at a time.
- You can safely dilute your dog’s urine by adding canned food to her diet or moistening her dry food with water. Just remember that adding more water to her diet may cause her to urinate more often. Avoid home remedies that claim to prevent lawn burn like fruit juices or tomato juice, says PetSmart vet expert, Dr. Robyn Jaynes. There is no proof these remedies actually work and the salt and acidity in these juices can cause health problems for dogs.
- Feed your dog a premium pet food. Premium foods contain higher quality proteins which are easier for her to digest and reduce the amount of nitrogen in feces and possibly urine. They can also reduce fecal size making for easier clean-up. There are also many varieties of biscuit-like supplements on the market that promote lawn burn prevention. Consult your vet before changing or adding supplements to your dog’s diet.
- Feces also contains nitrogen and can cause burn marks if left to dissolve on your lawn. Regularly removing feces will prevent burns and reduce odor. There are many “pooper scooper-type” products on the market that help make this job less unpleasant by putting plenty of space between you and your pup’s waste. There are also disposal units you can place in your yard that use enzymes to breakdown solid waste, preventing odor in your trash can.
- There are many products on the market that treat lawn burns and accelerate the breakdown of nitrogen. Most are simple to use – you only need to point and spray the product on the burn spot. Before you apply the product, read the label to make sure it is safe to use around your pup. Consult your vet before using any chemicals.
- Most burn marks do recover over time, but if you’re looking for a quicker solution, seed or sod the burnt areas.
Once you’ve treated the burn spots, you can help prevent them by walking your dog to a local dog park or designating a special area in your yard for your dog to do her business.
