Feeding · Bermuda, St. Augustine, Zoysia

Yellow dog spots: how to fix and prevent them

A dead center with a dark green ring is a nitrogen burn from dog urine. The fix is simpler than the products sold for it.

Dog urine is concentrated nitrogen. A little acts like fertilizer (that’s the dark green ring); a lot burns the grass (the dead middle).

Fix the spot

  1. Soak the area with water to flush the salts.
  2. Rake out the dead grass.
  3. For warm-season lawns, let the runners fill in or plug it with a piece of sod. For cool-season, reseed.
  4. Keep it moist until it’s established.

Prevent new ones

  • Rinse the spot with a hose soon after your dog goes
  • Train one designated area — mulch or gravel works well
  • Supplements that claim to stop lawn burn are mostly unproven; ask your vet before trying one

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