It would be disheartening to have the effort you put into establishing a lush green lawn set back by your dog urinating on the grass.
Nonetheless, once that happens, all you can do is remedy the situation, which brings us to the question, can I use baking soda to neutralize dog urine on grass?
Baking soda will not neutralize dog urine on your grass. On the contrary, it will do more harm to the lawn than good since it’s a salt, and so it cannot neutralize the high salt concentration in a dog’s urine.
Moreover, since baking soda has a high PH, it will raise your lawn’s PH level, making the soil more alkaline.
However, just because baking soda isn’t effective in neutralizing dog urine doesn’t mean you are doomed. There are more effective ways of fixing the damage caused by dog urine on your lawn.
Keep reading this guide to learn more about dog urine on your lawn, how to neutralize it, and fix your grass.
Also Read: Best Dog Repellents for Yard
Does Baking Soda Neutralize Dog Urine On Grass?
Baking soda does not neutralize dog urine on the grass. The salt, which has a high PH level, can actually be destructive to your lawn since it increases the soil’s pH, making your yard more alkaline, which isn’t good for your grass.
In addition, since dog’s urine contains a high concentration of salts, you cannot neutralize it with another salt.
However, you can use baking soda to get rid of weeds, but pay attention to the grass and plants surrounding the weeds to avoid harming them.
Also read: Does human urine kill grass
Why Does Dog Urine Damage Grass?
Dog urine damages grass because it has nitrogen, which, while it’s a nutrient that aids its growth, can be damaging in high concentrations.
When nitrogen mixes with the soil, it causes nitrification, making your grass turn yellow or brown and die.
Read more: Grass turning yellow after fertilizing
Moreover, dog urine prevents the roots from absorbing sufficient water, causing the grass to soak in excess nitrogen. Dog urine can kill your grass, regardless of whether you have a male or female dog.
Due to the destructive nature of dog urine, it’s essential to be proactive by preventing your dog from urinating on your grass through potty training.
Teaching your dog when and where to relieve itself is a crucial step in leading a happy life with your dog.
You can train your dog to pee in one spot on your lawn to ensure you can easily monitor and pour water in that area. Once they develop a habit of urinating in that spot, you can put artificial turf or pee pads there to prevent damaging the grass.
Read more: How Long to Keep Dog Off Grass After Fertilizing
Why You Shouldn’t Put Baking Soda On Your Grass
You shouldn’t put baking soda on your grass because it causes more harm than good. It will not neutralize the nitrogen or any other salt in a dog’s urine; as a matter of fact, baking soda’s alkaline nature is dangerous to your yard, even in low concentrations.
Baking soda will make the soil more alkaline by raising its PH levels. Alkaline soil can affect the ability of your soil to absorb the essential nutrients and damage the grass blades, causing them to turn yellow or brown.
Read more: How to stop dog from tearing up yard
In severe conditions, alkaline soil can kill the roots of your grass.
While baking soda isn’t the best in fixing the effects of a dog’s urine, it’s effective in killing weeds. However, be careful with the grass near the weeds to avoid the damage of sodium bicarbonate, and consider flushing the surrounding areas with water to protect your grass.
How To Neutralize Dog Urine On Grass
Neutralizing dog urine on grass is essential to prevent the urine from causing damage to the grass and creating unsightly yellow or brown patches. Dog urine contains nitrogen, which can burn and kill the grass when concentrated in one spot.
Here are some tips to help you neutralize dog urine on grass:
1. Water the Spot
As soon as you notice your dog has urinated on the grass, immediately grab a watering can or hose and thoroughly water the area. This will help dilute the urine and spread it out, minimizing its impact on the grass.
2. Use a Neutralizer Product
There are commercial products like See Spot Run Dog Urine Neutralizer for Lawn Protection – available specifically designed to neutralize dog urine on grass. These products usually contain enzymes that break down the urine’s components, reducing its harmful effects on the grass. Follow the instructions on the product label for proper application.
3. Apply Gypsum
Gypsum is a natural mineral that can help neutralize the effects of dog urine on grass. Sprinkle gypsum over the affected area and water it in to promote absorption.
4. Create a Dog-Friendly Potty Area
Train your dog to use a specific area in the yard as their potty spot. You can use materials like gravel or mulch in that area, which are less susceptible to damage from urine. This will help concentrate the urine in one area, making it easier to manage.
5. Frequent Yard Maintenance
Regularly mow and fertilize your lawn to promote healthy grass growth. Well-maintained grass is more resilient and can recover from the effects of dog urine more effectively.
6. Encourage Hydration
Ensure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water throughout the day. Well-hydrated dogs will produce less concentrated urine, which can be less damaging to the grass.
7. Feed Your Dog A Balanced Diet
A balanced diet with a pre-defined quantity of protein will lower the risk of your dog’s urine burning your grass. Generally, protein breaks down to nitrogen with the excess passing out of the body in the urine, so your dog’s urine will be less concentrated with nitrogen if your dog doesn’t consume too much protein.
How To Fix Grass Damage From Dog Urine
Your lawn doesn’t have to suffer long from dog urine because there are effective steps to fix the problem and restore your yard. Here’s what you will need to do:
1. Reseed The Bare Spots
Follow the following steps to reseed the areas destroyed by dog’s urine
a) Rake The Affected Area– use a hand rake to rip out the yellow grass and remove the dead grass, exposing the soil. The rake will also help break up the ground in preparation for seeding.
b) Soak In The Area– water down the spots your dog urinated on to make sure all the urine is out.
c) Put organic compost or excellent topsoil on the affected areas.
Also read: How to level a yard by hand
d) Reseed The Damaged Areas– plant seeds similar to the grass on your lawn in the areas damaged by your dog’s urine. Next, put compost on top to cover the seeds and fertilize them to boost their germination and growth.
e) Water The Area– the seeds will require sufficient moisture to germinate and grow, so irrigate the area once you reseed and continue frequently watering until they germinate, then water longer but less frequently.
2. Move A Plug Of Existing Grass
Take a plug of your grass and put it on the bare spot; do so in every area damaged by the dog’s urine. This method is only effective for grasses that spread like Kentucky Blue Grass and St. Augustine grass.
You need to plant your plugs 6 to 12 inches apart. Fertilize the area to stimulate growth and keep watering the areas, and the bare spots should be filled in no time.
Does baking soda help with dog pee on grass?
Baking soda does not help with dog pee on grass. On the contrary, it will do more harm to the lawn than good since it’s a salt, and so it cannot neutralize the high salt concentration in a dog’s urine.
Conclusion
To summarize everything:-
Can I use baking soda to neutralize dog urine on grass?
Baking soda will not neutralize dog urine on the grass. The salt, which has a high PH level, can actually be destructive to your lawn since it increases the soil’s pH, making your yard more alkaline, which isn’t good for your grass.
Keeping your dog from urinating on your lawn goes a long way in ensuring your grass doesn’t suffer the effects of urea.
However, should your dog pee in your yard, baking soda won’t solve your problem but worsen the situation.
Treat the spots with water and fix the yellow or dead grass caused by the dog’s urine by reseeding or using grass plugs.
Reference
- Master Gardener – Colorado State University- Dog Urine Damage on Lawns
Hey there, I’m Derek Schew, a writer for Lawnholic.com, where we cover everything and anything related to lawns. As someone who’s spent countless hours tending to my own lawn, I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge and helping others achieve the perfect yard. From lawn care tips to product reviews, I’m committed to providing our readers with the most accurate and up-to-date information available. So whether you’re a seasoned lawn enthusiast or just getting started, I invite you to join our community and discover the joys of a lush, green lawn.