Pets and your Lawn #2 (pun intended)

We talked about pet urine in Pets and Your Yard Part 1 last week.  Today, the subject is the unpleasant topic of #2.  Feces are also damaging to your lawn.  Dog waste is not like cow manure.  It is not a good fertilizer.  A dog's diet is very different from a cow's diet since it is full of protein and this causes a very acidic excrement.  This creates a highly acidic product that is harmful to your lawn. The feces in small amounts may temporarily produce a fertilizer effect that results in dark areas but left on the lawn, the feces break down and create brown spots. 

Pet waste is unsightly and smelly but it can also pose certain health risks. This waste can attract different insects to your yard as well as being a vector to transmitting certain diseases.  Ringworm, hookworms, roundworms, and other diseases can be passed from another pet or person if the feces are left unattended.  Young children are most prone to the exposure since they are less likely to wash their hands after playing in the yard.  Simply walking in an infected yard before entering your home makes it possible to track bacteria into your household.

The best protection for your yard is to designate a place for your pet to go.  Be diligent about "scooping the poop" to help lessen the damage to your yard and to protect the health of your children and you!  With a little planning along with the scooping, you and your pets can live in harmony without an unsightly smelly yard!

Sunbelt Turf Farm is happy to help you with all your sod and turfgrass needs.  Give them a call today!

Sunbelt Turf Farm began in St. Clair County. Over 30 years have perfected the art of growing, selling and the delivery of quality turf grass. Customer satisfaction is paramount and we stand behind our turf grass. Expansions into Shelby and Talladega Counties successfully turned cotton fields and pasture land into beautiful, green turf. Commercial and retail opportunities, pick-up or delivery, free estimates, fast turnaround and remaining environmentally friendly separate us from the rest.

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. This blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owner of this blog will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of the information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.  The terms and conditions are subject to change at any time with or without notice.

Pets and your Lawn #1

Are you noticing brown spots in your yard?  Your sweet furry friends (or maybe your neighbor's pets) can create unsightly spots in your beautiful lawn.

These brown spots are caused by the acidic nature of urine. This is due to the high concentrations of nitrogen present in the ammonia component of your pet's urine. A little nitrogen is good for your lawn but an excessive amount causes damage.  It is similar to pouring a nitrogen-containing fertilizer onto your lawn.

Female dogs cause more damage because they do their "business' in one concentrated area. There is a quick and somewhat easy fix for this problem.  After your pet has finished their business, water that portion of the lawn for a few minutes or simply dump a bucket of water on that spot.  The watering will cause the nitrogen to dilute and that has a positive effect on the lawn.  If you notice a green ring around the brown spot, the nitrogen is causing this dark, green ring of accelerated growth.  A more dramatic contrast of color between the dog spot and the lawn is a good visual indicator of the need to fertilize your lawn.  Use less fertilizer in the beginning and increase it gradually. Fertilizing will help keep your lawn healthy and that lovely green color will be vibrant in the spring.

If your lawn is full of these dog spots, it may be necessary to cut out the brown area and patch the lawn with new sod.  The re-sodding of the areas will give you the quickest fix. Another way to fix the issue is to take a 4-6 inch knife and slice into the brown spot several times.  By cutting into the ground, you will be breaking up the root system and this helps the rhizomes to reproduce and this creates new, green grass in the spot where your pet has browned it.

Give Sunbelt Turf Farm a call for all your sod needs.  The friendly staff will answer all your questions and help you have a beautiful lawn.

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. This blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.  The owner of this blog will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of the information. The owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information.  The terms and conditions are subject to change at any time with or without notice.

Sunbelt Turf Farm began in St. Clair County. Over 30 years have perfected the art of growing, selling and the delivery of quality turf grass. Customer satisfaction is paramount and we stand behind our turf grass. Expansions into Shelby and Talladega Counties successfully turned cotton fields and pasture land into beautiful, green turf. Commercial and retail opportunities, pick-up or delivery, free estimates, fast turnaround and remaining environmentally friendly separate us from the rest.