Golf-course superintendents — they’re just like us! At least, they’re not so different that we can’t ask them for advice. In this column, we welcome readers’ yard-care questions, which we pass on to turf-care experts in the golf industry.
The following query comes from James DiBianco Sr., who did not specify his place of residence:
Regarding yellow spots on a lawn from dogs peeing, is there a product that can be used to curb this?
Dear Daniel:
Urine luck! (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) The market is awash in such products. The names vary (Pet Honesty, See Spot Run, Sunday Pet, and so on; a quick Google search will turn up plenty), but the active ingredients are largely the same. Most contain a mix of microbes, acids and carbon that help repair the soil around affected areas, which, in turn, helps the grass recover.
But here’s a question for you: Rather than wait to deal with the damage, why not try to prevent it in the first place? There are a few ways to do this, according to David Phipps, a former golf course superintendent who now serves as Northwest representative for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
As you may know, dog urine contains a high concentration of nitrogen, which burns grass, leaving it discolored. The solution, Phipps says, is dilution. If it’s your own pooch that’s doing the peeing, keep them hydrated. Making sure that they get plenty of water will, well, water down the nitrogen in their urine.
Don’t forget to water down your grass, too. Turning a hose onto the affected areas will help rinse way nitrogen compounds. Another smart move is to cut back on fertilizer, which contains nitrogen. Your urine-doused lawn doesn’t need any more of that. Consider reducing its use — or eliminating it all together — in any affected areas of your lawn.
Lastly, Phipps says, adjust your mowing height. When you let your grass grow longer, its leaf blades can retain more moisture and provide more shade, which promotes healthy grown and reduces urine-related damage.
And if all those methods fail? Depending on how important your lawn is to you, you might want to put up a fence.