Dog urine spots
Round, straw-colored patches in the lawn, often ringed with dark green grass, where a dog urinates.
What you'll see
- Round brown or straw-colored spots of dead grass, often a few inches across.
- A ring of darker green, faster-growing grass around the edge.
- Worst in hot, dry weather and on drought-stressed lawns.
Why it happens
Urea and salts in urine burn the grass. A little acts like a feed, which makes the green ring; a lot kills the grass in the middle.
How to fix it
- Water the spot heavily as soon as possible after the dog urinates, to dilute it.
- Rake out dead grass once it has browned, and reseed or patch the spot when the weather suits your grass.
- Train the dog to use a mulched or gravel area away from the lawn.
Keep it from coming back
- Keep the lawn well watered in summer; stressed grass is hurt most.
- Rinse the dog's favorite spots with water regularly in hot weather.
- Don't feed burned spots; they already have too much nitrogen and salt.
Sources
General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.