Is my dog’s urine killing my lawn?

Owning a dog while maintaining a beautiful lawn can sometimes present problems. Brown spots can develop in areas frequented by your pet. However, it should be pointed out that if these spots are NOT where your dog urinates, then you could have a lawn disease instead! So make sure you follow your dog's habits before you begin to treat your lawn.

The dead patches and lawn burn, which result from dog urine, are due to the high levels of nitrogen that is released into the lawn through the urine. Nitrogen is actually a stimulant that encourages lawn growth when properly applied as a fertilizer. The problem presented with dog urine is that since most dogs urinate in one spot, large amounts of liquid nitrogen (urine) will be deposited to that spot thereby causing a burning reaction and even a dead-spot in the lawn. Often times, the effected spot will show vigorous grass growth around the spot due to the nitrogen levels that stimulate growth around the edges. Since larger dogs usually produce larger amounts of urine, there is a direct correlation between the size of your dog and the changes of developing lawn burn and dead spots in your lawn through urination.

Solving the Problem:

1.) Saturate the urinated areas (spots) with water . This will allow the excess nitrogen to leach or dilute through the lawn and reducing the concentration in one area. It is usually best to treat the areas up to 9 hours after urination and to apply at least three times the amount of water to urine to the area.

2.) Repair or replace the affected spot. Dead spots can either be over-seeded or totally replaced with new seed or sod. If you have a warm-season grass, it will generally repair itself over time through the spreading of stolons and rhizomes over the affected area.

3.) Replant with a more urine-resistant grass. The most urine-resistant grasses tend to be Perennial Ryegrasses and Fescues. The worst urine-resistant grasses tend to be Kentucky Bluegrass and Bermuda. If you have a number of dogs and/or confine them to small areas of the yard, then you may want to consider re-planting with one of the more urine-resistant grasses.

4.) Train your dog to urinate in certain areas. If you have the time and location of your yard to designate as a "urinating spot", you can simply use an alternative ground covering on that spot such as a mulch.

Termite & Pest Control

How does professional inspection uncover termite activity that's invisible to Me?

While much termite damage is hidden, termites have few secrets to the eyes of a professional. He knows the conditions termites favor, and how to uncover termite activity which the untrained eye might pass over -damaging results.

How will you get rid of the termites?

Create an invisible barrier between your home and the termites, blocking them from your house. Treatment begins with a thorough inspection. Then and analysis of your home and property is prepared. Finally, apply materials to effectively repel termites

How will you achieve this invisible barrier?

Methods vary with each house, depending on the type of foundation or basement, construction chimneys, etc. By digging narrow trenches along walls and drilling through horizontal surfaces and into voids, materials can be applied where they will kill termites within your home and block the colony's reentry.

Won't this kind of thorough treatment be a lot of trouble?

No. Our modern termite control treatment will usually take a single day, or less with very little upset to our daily routine. And, considering the fact that a home is the largest single investment most American families will ever make, protecting its value is not much trouble at all.

Will putting this insecticide around my foundation hurt my family or the environment?

We do not know all the answers when it comes to the health effects of insecticides; however, one criteria for an insecticide to be considered during the process of being registered as a termiticde is that it must have low mammalian toxicity. With some the insecticides, there may be an odor after the treatment that may be offensive to some individuals. Some products are more odors free than others. If you are concerned about odor, mention this to the pest control technician well before scheduled treatment day. Chemically sensitive people may want to stay away from the home for a period of time after treatment.

Once the water carrier disperses in the soil, the effective insecticide stays attached to soil particles and will not move unless the soil does. If the soil later becomes saturated, the termiticde will not leak into the basement or leach into the groundwater. The greatest hazards when the diluted martial is being applied. At the time, diluted insecticide could contaminate a well or cistern if they are close to where the insecticide is being injected during a perimeter treatment. It is possible for the insecticide to leak into the basement through cracks in the foundation, but this is a rare occurrence.

The E.P.A registered the pesticide so can we assume it is safe?

Yes, in most cases if it is applied strictly by label directions.

Why can a professional use less product than trying to do it myself?

Proper training in biology life cycles, control methods, product knowledge and timing of applications can control pests without creating and exposures to your family or pets.

What is Integrated Pest Management?

Integrated Pest Management is a system of pest control with targeted approach putting the right pest control tool to work for each specific pest, time and place. The goal is to manage pets in a way that is beneficial to the environment, Promotes human health and safety, and is cost effective.

My next-door neighbor has termites and is going to have his house treated. I've been told that the termites will attack my house next. Should my house also be treated?

Termites move randomly through the soil searching for a source of food (wood). They do not have the ability to know exactly where your house is. So if your next-door neighbor treated his home for termites, your house isn't automatically the termites' next lunch. No, your house doesn't need to be treated; but if there are active termites infestations in your neighborhood, it is a good Idea to have it inspected.

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