Nitrogen burn in yard help!

[captruss24]

I need a short term solution (1-2 months) for either repair or replacing yellow spots in my grass from dog urine. And no we cannot restrict the dog from having access to our backyard, and no we will not give her away. I've heard of a homemade remedy mixing 2oz sugar w/ one gallon water and drenching the spot to accelerate microbe reproduction?? Or can these eye sores be easily fixed by seeding, patch products, or just sod plugs/sprigs? Basically I need the yard to look green and even since our house is on the market. Unfortunately I am in reactive mode, not proactive.

 

[HeavyPetter]

Just go ahead and fertilize the whole thing. Might even it out.

 

[ImTheCaptain]

paint the yard yellow?

 

[94Deac]

If it's urine, you've got ammonia burn. Where does the nitrogen come in?

 

[Deadbolt]

If it's urine, you've got ammonia burn. Where does the nitrogen come in?

Ammonia = NH3

 

[94Deac]

94Deac = liberal arts major.

Still, isn't the N in NH3 called ammonia at that point?

 

[ImTheCaptain]

no, it's still nitrogen. ammonia is the compound.

 

[94Deac]

So it's not the ammonia causing the burn, it's solely the nitrogen?

 

[captruss24]

yes its urine from a female dog. It was my understanding that the yellow spots are related to an overdose of nitrogen in the urine, which is produced from the breakdown of proteins in her diet. The dead grass is a result of the microbes in the soil stopping everything they are doing to process the excess urine.

 

[94Deac]

Wouldn't lime counteract the nitrogen?

 

[dot com]

Every place my dog has peed in the winter always grows the most vibrantly green in the spring.

 

[ImTheCaptain]

probably because the grass was nitrogen starved

 

[Deadbolt]

So it's not the ammonia causing the burn, it's solely the nitrogen?

Yes, it's the nitrogen. It dehydrates the grass in high concentrations (hence why nitrogenous compounds in urine kill grass while fertilizers encourage growth with nitrogenous compounds that have been properly balanced).

 

[RaleighDeacon]

For the current yellow spots, there's not a lot you can do, except be patient. You can throw some lime out on the yard, and some pot ash would help.

Going forward, easiest thing to do is follow her around with a pitcher of water. When she pees, pour the water out on the spot. The solution to pollution is dilution!

What type of grass do you have? Fescue?

 

[RollTheQuad06]

Can you spray-paint the yellow spots green on Open House days? Place planters over the spots (don't know how many there are)?

 

[Juice]

In a related story, I had some NO2 at the dentist the other day, and i felt like the bottom half of my body had been chopped off.

 

[KeystoneDeac10]

I know this doesnt treat the grass, but stop the problem first. Try something like this

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=820

Those worked for our dogs. Im sure its not 100% but its worth a try. if you have 1-2 months couldnt you pull it up and reseed at this point? (clearly im not a lawncare specialist)

 

[captruss24]

For the current yellow spots, there's not a lot you can do, except be patient. You can throw some lime out on the yard, and some pot ash would help.

Going forward, easiest thing to do is follow her around with a pitcher of water. When she pees, pour the water out on the spot. The solution to pollution is dilution!

What type of grass do you have? Fescue?

Yes tall fescue that I planted from seed. I'm throwing out a bunch of lime in the morning in anticipation of the thunderstorms tomorrow. No way I can follow her around from 8-5 though.....

 

[captruss24]

Can you spray-paint the yellow spots green on Open House days? Place planters over the spots (don't know how many there are)?

I'm seriously considering spray paint as a quick solution for weekday showings. I have detected about 8 spots so far.

 

[Caturday]

Better than if your neighbor had been pitching logs on your yard. AMIRITE?