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.

How to Eliminate Lawn Mushrooms

Mushrooms prevail in yards with drainage problems and lots of shade.  If you are tired of seeing the mushrooms and want to get rid of them, you have a few options.

1. Pulling mushrooms up at the base as soon as they appear will help reduce the spread of spores.  Removing them as soon as you see them reduces the chance of children and pets ingesting them.
2. Rake up leaves, sticks, and grass clippings.  Fungi feed on decaying matter, so eliminating food sources will help eliminate mushroom growth.  Consider dethatching your lawn, removing the thick layer of organic matter between your lawn and the soil.
3. Mow the lawn regularly and limit the watering.  Make sure all mushrooms are pulled up and all pieces are removed before mowing.  You don't want to spread mushroom spores across the lawn when mowing, creating an even larger problem.
4. Aerate the lawn.  This will improve drainage and air flow throughout the lawn.  It will also help keep the grass and soil dry.
5. Nitrogen speeds up the decaying process of the food source for the fungi.  Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to the lawn at a rate of 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet of lawn.
6. Dig up any areas where mushrooms grow and remove tree roots, pieces of wood, or other organic material that serve as a food source. If you cut trees or remove shrubs from your landscape be sure to remove the roots as well.
7. Dig out the affected soil.  For the best chance of completely eliminating the mushrooms, dig 12 to 18 inches deep and 18 to 24 inches outside the affected area.

 If you need assistance with any lawn problems or have questions about your sod, call  Sunbelt Turf Farm for all the answers

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.