There are lots of effective ways to stop dog wee killing your grass. From diluting the area where your dog urinates to DIY repellents, stopping pets from ruining our luscious lawns is easier than you think.
Dog urine contains high levels of nitrogen, which can leave burned, bare or discoloured grass behind. While it is hard to stop your dog's pee harming your lawn completely, there are some tips and tricks every owner can try.
'They might be a man's best friend, but dogs certainly aren't a favourite for budding gardeners, with dog urine causing long lasting damage to our lawns,' says Carlos Real, Lawn Care Expert and Managing Director at TotalLawn. 'The best thing to do is to train your dog to go to the toilet in a specific area of the garden, or if that's not possible there are ways to repair your lawn.'
Take a look at the helpful tips to stop dog wee killing your grass:
1. Spray your lawn with water
Diluting the area where your dog pees can reduce urine damage. In order to keep your lawn looking as good as new, pour some water on the affected area straight after your dog has urinated. Hosing it down will remove any traces of nitrogen.
'When nitrogen is diluted it can act as a form of fertiliser for your grass, but in your dog's urine, it's too concentrated and can have an adverse effect,' the experts at Tails.com say. 'After your dog has urinated, pour water on the area, this will help to dilute the nitrogen within the urine and lessen the damage caused to the lawn by preventing the grass and soil from soaking up too much nitrogen.'
2. Create a designated area for your dog to pee
Without proper training, your pup will pee where it likes. Having a designated area which is solely used for your dog to pee will prevent urine marks on your lawn, makes cleaning up quicker, and will reduce the risk of faeces being left where children are playing (a health risk).
Firstly, choose a spot outside and then take your dog to show them where it is – this may take a few goes until they understand. You can even place a litter tray down so they know where to go, but remember to always use positive reinforcement.
'Teaching a dog to go to the toilet in a specific area is very similar to house training a puppy – training and repetition is key,' explains Carlos. 'You should create a designated area for your dog to go to the toilet and encourage your dog to go into that area, and once they have, be sure to praise them. Remember to remove any faeces outside of this area to avoid confusion.'
3. Put up a barrier
If your lawn is still looking worse for wear, consider cordoning off a small area using a fence to lessen the damage. Alternatively, you could also introduce dog-safe plants, shrubs, hedgerows or a motion-activated water sprinkler to keep pups away — it will let out a small burst of water so dogs know not to pee there.
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4. Create DIY repellent
Few things are quite as frustrating as catching a dog doing their business on your lawn. Creating your own DIY repellent could stop dogs from peeing on your grass, especially citrus scents like oranges, lemons, limes or grapefruit.
'Create your own using ½ cup of citronella oil and four couples of water, placed in a spray bottle – any other solutions might be too acidic and damage your lawn,' suggests Carlos. 'Dogs can experience similar side effects to humans when using repellents and pesticides, so it's important to check the ingredients to ensure they are dog friendly.'
5. Keep your dog hydrated
Pet parents should provide their dogs with clean, fresh water to keep them hydrated throughout the day. The more they drink, the more watered down their pee will be naturally. According to the PDSA, you could try adding water to their food or feeding them canned food to dilute their pee further.
Top tip: To minimise the damage to your lawn, take your dog for a short walk first thing in the morning so they can pee elsewhere.
6. Choose tougher turf
You may want to consider grass alternatives that are more durable, resistant to pee and require less watering.
'It's important to opt for grass that is more resilient to your dog's urine, and can withstand wear and tear from them running about the garden,' the experts at tails.com say. 'A number of grass types that are best suited for pet owners available to purchase in the UK include Perennial ryegrass, Meadow grass, and Tall fescue.'
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