We all love our dogs. They bring us endless joy, wet kisses, and an excuse to get outside. But if you have a lawn, you also know the downside of having a four-legged family member: those stubborn, yellow and brown circles that turn a lush green garden into a patchy mess.
With dogs living in almost half of all Australian households, millions of us are fighting a losing battle against these yard casualties, plus we are heading into the summer entertainment part of the year, we want those lawns in great condition for a bit of backyard cricket and fun.
Why Does Dog Pee Kill the Grass?
Before you can fix the problem, it helps to understand what is actually happening beneath your dog’s paws.
Dog urine contains nitrogen. A little bit of nitrogen is not necessarily a bad thing for your grass. However, dogs are creatures of habit. They love to return to the exact same spot to do their business every single day. When that nitrogen builds up in one concentrated area, it completely overwhelms the soil and burns the grass, leaving those ugly yellow and brown patches behind.
A Ready-to-Use Rescue Plan
You don’t have to choose between a beautiful yard and your favourite pet. There’s a few old home recipes (that probably won’t work” so you are probably just better off skipping ahead to one of the products available like Scotts Lawn Builder Pet Patch Spot Treatment.
It contains a natural green turf pigment that instantly disguises the brown patch, making it blend in with the surrounding healthy grass right away. But it also has a wetting agent that disperses the concentrated urine salts in the soil, which helps the natural recovery of the grass.
Former sports star and television presenter Beau Ryan has stepped up as the official first responder. Ryan knows the struggle firsthand, thanks to his own dog, a Cavoodle named Jimmy.
“Every dog owner has been there,” Ryan says. “Jimmy has left his mark on our backyard over the years. He heads off to his favourite spot and a few weeks later there is that yellow patch staring back at you. You wouldn’t trade the chaos, slobbery kisses, or muddy paws. But when I found out about Pet Patch, I was all ears.”
How to Treat the Patches
Fixing the lawn damage is incredibly simple. Just follow these three easy steps:
- Spot it: Find the yellow or brown patch your dog has left behind.
- Treat it: Apply the spray directly to the affected area. There is no digging or soil preparation needed.
- Water it: Let the spray dry for four hours, then water the treated spot well to help the lawn recover.
The Scotts Lawn Builder Pet Patch is available at Bunnings stores nationally. Now, you can keep the dog and the perfect green grass, too.
