Preventing Dog Urine Spots on New Sod

Managing Pet Damage on a Fresh Lawn

Dog urine contains high salts that burn grass, leaving yellow dead patches. Once the spot appears, the grass is already dead.

Immediate Actions

• Flush immediately: When you see the dog urinate, saturate the area with water to dilute salts and push them below the root zone.
• Train a designated spot: Encourage the dog to use a mulched or gravel area away from the lawn.

What Doesn't Work

Dietary supplements (tomato juice, etc.) and gypsum applications are ineffective. The salt content of urine is physiological and cannot be altered safely.

Resources

For more details, see the Texas A&M article on dog lawn problems.

Consistent flushing and training are the only reliable solutions.