Effects of dog on lawn
 

Hello everyone, I'm posting this message from the UK. Trying to get an
answer to this question from wherever.
Can anyone explain why areas of lawn that a dog has urinated on grow back
richer and greener, after the initial yellowing and apparent die back? Or is
this some oddity unique to my own pooch?

He's still only a puppy and I haven't yet got him to avoid going on the
lawn. So I keep a hose to hand, and try to get water on the area quickly -
as I have found that if it is diluted soon after the event the die back is
minimal.

What amazes me though is that when the grass regrows, it is greener and more
lush than the surrounding lawn ( a problem in itself! ). I thought if I
could find out for sure what is causing the boost in growth, the chemical
involved, I could get hold of some and treat the whole lawn. But what is it?
Is it urea, or nitrogen? I have no idea.

Are there any gardeners with a bit of knowledge of chemistry that can answer
this one?

Thanks.

( There's a pic of what I'm talking about here -
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mickeblue/spots.html


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Effects of dog on lawn
 

mickeblue wrote:
Hello everyone, I'm posting this message from the UK. Trying to get an
answer to this question from wherever.
Can anyone explain why areas of lawn that a dog has urinated on grow back
richer and greener, after the initial yellowing and apparent die back? Or is
this some oddity unique to my own pooch?

He's still only a puppy and I haven't yet got him to avoid going on the
lawn. So I keep a hose to hand, and try to get water on the area quickly -
as I have found that if it is diluted soon after the event the die back is
minimal.

What amazes me though is that when the grass regrows, it is greener and more
lush than the surrounding lawn ( a problem in itself! ). I thought if I
could find out for sure what is causing the boost in growth, the chemical
involved, I could get hold of some and treat the whole lawn. But what is it?
Is it urea, or nitrogen? I have no idea.

Are there any gardeners with a bit of knowledge of chemistry that can answer
this one?

Thanks.


Urine contains nitrogen, which is causing the grass to green up. You can
buy it as urea, or lawn fertiliser, or any form that's convenient.

Jane