One of the most common queries of most homeowners is looking for a way on how to fix a yard destroyed by dogs. Yes, dogs! You know the cute, loyal, lovely, and playful Danes you got in your home; sadly, they can be a nuisance.
Hence you cannot overlook the type of mess they create in the backyards and lawns. They dig up, pee, and play way too rough on the beautifully manicured grass. And then you end up continually cleaning muddy paw prints in the house. Not okay!
But do not panic. There are positive and affordable solutions to getting your lawn back into better shape. Care to find out? Read on.
Steps To Clear-Out Your Lawn of Burn Spots
Nothing beats the feeling of sharing and playing with your canine friend on your lawn. Not until dog urine and other dog damage start to show on your lush green carpet. However, learning how to fix all this dog mess on your lawn will allow you to live in more peace with your best friend.
Follow the below steps on how to rid of urine burn spots on your lawn.
- Rake the affected area to remove all the dead grass.
- Use ground limestone, preferably extra fine, and apply it to the area. Water it down to allow the soil to absorb it. Leave it for about a week.
- Apply a layer of topsoil over the area, then sprinkle grass seeds on top. Water the freshly seeded area, gently not to wash away the seeds. Continue watering for a couple of weeks in case it does not rain.
- Wait for your grass to sprout and grow lush.
However, this will be an ongoing process if you don’t find a remedy to avoid the dog urine back. So how do you prevent dog urine on your lawn? Read on.
How to Prevent Dog Urine Spots on Your Lawn
The best way to approach dog urine prevention on your lawn is to train your dog. Set aside an area with no grass in your compound. Mulch the room with some sawdust or natural wood mulch, which blends well with the urine. Train your dog to understand that it’s its particular spot. Dogs respond well to attention and knowing they own a special something from the owner. What’s more?
Some pet supplements promise to change the level of nitrogen content in the dog’s urine. Sounds too good to be true, huh? Unless you are sure of the ingredients and the aftermath effect, it would be best not to risk. Sadly, such chemicals can cause urinary system problems to your best friend, like calcium deposits, if you use them on young dogs. The best way would be to motivate your dog to drink more water instead.
Moreover, you could try to water down the urine immediately after the dog pees. This is hectic but worth a shot. People would go extra lengths to preserving a healthy lawn, even if it means following your dog everywhere with a hose pipe.
Caution: Do not use mulch from cocoa bean hulls. Even though they smell pleasant, they are highly toxic to dogs. The pleasant smell may attract your dog to tasting; hence severe health problems will follow.
So, how else do dogs damage your lawn? By digging holes, scratching, and destroying the grass. Read on.
How to Repair Dog Holes and Other Lawn Damage
Dogs are playful, especially puppies. They have so much energy that they end up digging holes in your lawn. However, they dig for a couple of reasons, such as playing, escaping, or hunting for prey like moles. Still, the best remedy to avoid dog problems and damages is training. Train your dog to stop digging holes in your lawn. Does it sound too hard? Well, you can never know until you try.
Soon as they start digging holes, jump in with the following repair tips.
- Fill the holes with high-grade topsoil and press in the soil gently with your foot. Continue filling and pressing the soil until the hole is full and leveled. Be attentive not to press too hard not to create a pocket of condensed soil. The sack may inhibit grass growth that will force you to aerate the soil much later.
- Apply a seeding mixture of your choice on the soil. Follow instructions of application for best results.
- Water the area thoroughly and maintain the moisture until the grass grows to 3 inches tall enough to mow.
Another type of lawn damage from your dogs is dog poop. Read on.
Did you know? Averagely, a dog defecates between 0.5-0.75 pounds of waste daily. A gram of dog poop contains nearly 23 million coliform bacteria, almost twice as much as human waste.
So imagine how long it would take your dog to fill up your entire lawn with poop, a short time if you don’t act promptly. Dog waste pollutes the soil and becomes a way of spreading harmful parasites and bacteria to people and other dogs. Roundworms are a common parasite found in dog poop. What’s more?
Luckily some chemicals help in dissolving the dog poop rather than you picking it all up. These chemicals contain an enzyme that, once you spray on dog poop, dissolves within minutes. It’s a guarantee. Spray the enzyme and watch the poop dissolve. The enzyme breaks up the cells of the feces to nothing. It is entirely eco-friendly hence no harm to your lawn, people, or pets.
Tips To Prevent Your Dog from Destroying Your Lawn
While it’s near to impossible to change your dog’s instincts, you can resort to other lawn preventive measures. For instance;
Build a dog run: If you have a destructive dog, you should probably resort to isolation. Building a dog run gives your dog the freedom to do all its business in one spot. So you don’t have to tie it down or put on a leash. Also, cleaning up a dog run is much easier than picking poop and covering holes in the entire lawn.
Put large rocks on the base of the fence: Often, digging dogs tend to escape. They dig holes along the wall as an escape route. Placing large stones on the bottom of the wall will deny them access to digging holes. Similarly, you can secure the rocks with chicken wire and pin it down on the ground to firm it from the dog pulling it off. This way, there will be a protective barrier to deter the dog from messing around.
Provide your dog with a relaxing spot: In the dog run, make your dog a bed. Dogs tend to dig shallow holes during high temperatures. This is because the soil is moist and lowers their body temperature. Since they do not sweat, they release excess heat by panting. Try to make a concrete relaxing spot to help them stay cool and comfortable on the scorching days.
Frequent clean-up: If you do not have a dog run, schedule a cleaning up plan. You should clean up daily, if possible, to avoid dog waste staying and building upon the lawn. After picking all the waste, wash down your grass with a hosepipe to dilute the dog urine and avoid spots and burns.
Avoid boredom: As a naturally playful pet, boredom is the worst thing that can happen to a dog. When a dog has nothing to do, it tends to dig holes or chew on anything. Occupy your pet by getting them chewable toys and balls. Throw the ball around frequently to play with them and occupy their minds.
Parting Shot
Owning both a dog and a beautiful lawn free from dog ruins needs a little extra effort. But spending time with your furry friend enjoying a lush, healthy turf is worth every step. With proper training and patience, you can have the lawn you crave and hold onto your grass-loving hound happy, as well.