Fixing Grass Burn Spots

[FFR]

So we have a female dog who has nicely left our grass covered in yellow spots. Now that the green grass has come in around the yellow spots, it looks brutal. The biggest problem is that it's a shared green space and we are responsible for fixing it if someone complains. No one has complained yet, but we know it's and we want to fix it before it becomes an issue.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a relatively quick fix? I know there is some turf builder from Scott's that is for burn spots but I've never used it so I'm not sure if it actually works.

Anyways, any suggestions?

[Ford Prefect]

I've heard torching the spots with a propane torch helps. I don't know if it does or not though. Otherwise ...


http://lmgtfy.com/?q=dog+urine+grass+burns

[FFR]

^ Thanks. I'm aware that google exists. However, I was lookng for some product selections which google isn't terribly helpful with.

[ken0042]

I used to use a grass seed from Wal-Mart that had a picture of a puppy on the bag. It worked for me when I lived in a townhouse and the neighbours had a dog.

I have also since seen similar products at Home Depot- I can't speak for those but I know the Wal-Mart stuff works.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by FFR

^ Thanks. I'm aware that google exists. However, I was lookng for some product selections which google isn't terribly helpful with.

I didn't mean that sarcastically ... just thought there might some good info there.

[Suzles]

The main problem is that your girl's pee is high in nitrogen. The best way, in future, is to water down the area straight after she pees. Another method to prevent future lawn damage is to add a spoonful of tomato juice to her food (if she will eat it) as that also helps. The lawn patch products are really only seed so any lawn seed will do as the burnt area will not regrow but new seed in the same area will. I think that makes sense!

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I used to use a grass seed from Wal-Mart that had a picture of a puppy on the bag. It worked for me when I lived in a townhouse and the neighbours had a dog.

I am shocked that you took bagged puppies and put them on your lawn.

[FlamesKickAss]

http://canadagreen.ca/VelocityPatchEN.html

[Old Yeller]

A buddy told me that crushing up some old drywall and putting that down on the dead spots and adding a bit of water will help the lawn recover.

Something to do with the acidic nature of the urine and the base of the drywall counteracting it.

Personally my opinion is:

1) A dog
2) A nice backyard

Pick one.

[Methanolic]

Honestly, with the way the weather is going, you'd be better off buying some 2x8's and start laying out an out door rink!! .....Kidding... Weather has been crap though.

I have a spot in my back yard that was "eroded" from the kids swing set being on top of it. Kids like to drag their feet and create huge craters. Anyway, I put down about 3 25L bags of soil, tamped it, soaked it, then I applied a bag of "CIL PATCH GRASS" and then soaked that.

CIL claims this product will sprout in seven days. I did the application last Wednesday (7 days ago) and just checked the area very closely and I see No Sprouts!

....But,,, This may very well be due to the crappy weather we have had.

The bag is supposed to do an area of 100 sq ft. and it was only $14 bucks.

If I get any result from this stuff I will chime back in here. Maybe the next couple of days, weather is supposed to improve.

Dump a schwack of seed down and cover with some loose soil... it's not instant, but it'll work and it's fairly cheap.

[old-fart]

Additionally, teach the dog to pee in a specific place that won't damage the grass (and/or damage much of the grass all over, just one specific spot).

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

Personally my opinion is:

1) A dog
2) A nice backyard

Pick one.

I have both!

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by Puxlut

Dump a schwack of seed down and cover with some loose soil... it's not instant, but it'll work and it's fairly cheap.

Thats what I did to my backyard.

Lesson learned from moving in when the snow was already on the ground in December.

Previous owner left a nice pile of dog crap and snake skins under the snow for me to clean up that spring.

[Old Yeller]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

I have both!

I consider it cruel to make your dog wear a catheter and a bag on it's back.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

A buddy told me that crushing up some old drywall and putting that down on the dead spots and adding a bit of water will help the lawn recover.

Something to do with the acidic nature of the urine and the base of the drywall counteracting it.

Personally my opinion is:

1) A dog
2) A nice backyard

Pick one.

Urine isn't acidic. It's high in nitrogen so the burns are similar to over fertilizing in spots. The good news, once the nitrogen is gone, your grass will come back greener than ever. When you do fertilize your grass, choose one that is lower in nitrogen.

Scrap away the dead spots, put down top soil and seed. Cover with a little more top soil. Keep moist, not wet.

And please don't feed your dog stuff to try and avoid urine burns. They won't work and trying to alter your dog by feeding them tums, tomato juice etc is not natural. Dogs eat meat, socks and panties. Period.

[FFR]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

A buddy told me that crushing up some old drywall and putting that down on the dead spots and adding a bit of water will help the lawn recover.

Something to do with the acidic nature of the urine and the base of the drywall counteracting it.

Personally my opinion is:

1) A dog
2) A nice backyard

Pick one.

I would tend to agree with you, however, I don't have my own backyard. I live in a townhouse and share a green space with neighbours. I'd be kinda ticked if my neighbours covered the entire green space with yellow polka dots. This is why we are trying to fix the spots.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I went to Home Depot and picked up some turf builder and new top soil and a watering can. Will try and fix it on the weekend.

We have now decided that our dog will only go to the bathroom on a square of rocks that is beside our deck. She's not too pleased with this decision currently, but she'll get over it I'm sure.

[TSXCman]

bumping an old thread. I have some spots like this that i raked up and put soil/patch seed down. now the grass that has grown in looks terrible and out of place, so i am going to rake it back up. the grass itself is such a wide blade that it looks like patchs of weeds.

Does anyone know where I can get some nicer quality patch seed? the can tire stuff is what ive used so far. the grass itself is nice, maybe kentucky blue

[Cowperson]

It's probably too late in these cases and the answer is probably useless anyway but the problem is "citified" grass.

I have four acres of prairie of which I cut down about 1.75 acres as a lawn. No brown spots from the dogs pooing and peeing as the grass has evolved through millions of years and is well used to animals urinating on it. After all, bears pee in the forest too. You need natural grass that isn't so friggin' sensitive.



Cowperson

[TSXCman]

still need some good grass seed. spare some seed?