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5 Best Grasses for Dog Urine in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks
Pete Ortiz
Last updated:
Between their paws during playtime and their pee during potty time, there are plenty of ways for dogs to wreak havoc on our lawns.
It’s not uncommon for constant lawn care to become a priority when you need to overcome dog urine damage. Dense in salts and nitrogen, urea in dog pee can “burn” your grass and create unsightly dead spots across the yard.
There are ways to prevent urine damage with better yard upkeep, but for a more hands-off approach, you can start with dog-friendly grass. If you want a lush, vibrant lawn that can weather your puppy’s abuse with ease, check out these reviews and top picks for the best grasses for dog urine.
When you need durability against everything your dog can do to the lawn, fescue is an excellent option for your yard. It’s tough against the pounding of paws, and it can absorb the extra nitrogen from your dog’s pee without issue, making it the best overall grass for dog urine.
Fescues are available in several varieties for different textures and tolerances. But in general, it’s a hardy, versatile type of grass. It can manage an array of growing conditions, including hot, cold, or low-moisture climates, and it can stand its fair share of shade.
Throughout the year, this cool-weather grass maintains an attractive dark green color. With only a need for occasional watering, fescue acts as one of the most low-maintenance grass options for pet owners.
Pros
Highly tolerant of heat, cold, drought, and shade
Low-maintenance, thrives in several conditions
Absorbent, resistant to nitrogen in dog pee
Cons
Tall varieties can feel coarse underfoot
Bunch-forming growth makes it slow to heal
Finer varieties don’t hold up well to heavy traffic
If you’re looking for great value, perennial ryegrass is arguably the best grass for dog urine for the money. It doesn’t have quite the cold-weather range of Kentucky Bluegrass or the heat tolerance of Fescue. But in cool-weather climates, this beautiful sage-colored grass delivers for anyone who wants to enjoy the yard, pets included.
Perennial ryegrass is quick to grow, and it holds up against abuse. A deep root system along with a resistance to urine, allows it to keep its vibrancy and structure in the face of heavy traffic and bathroom breaks. Although it may require more upkeep and monitoring than some other grasses, the exceptional year-round durability and comfortable feel under bare feet make it a fantastic investment for families with pets.
Bermudagrass is an excellent choice to make every family member comfortable while playing outside. Requiring little water but constant sun exposure, this fast-growing variety is well-suited for pet owners living in the southern United States.
Compared to many other grass types, bermudagrass establishes at a rapid pace, making it ready for your dog’s rowdiness in only a few months. Although it doesn’t hold up to pee as well as ryegrass or fescue, the fast growth rate allows it to recover from brown, urine-soaked spots in no time. With bermudagrass, you’ll have a resilient, plush carpet that can withstand traffic and create a comfortable cushion for hours of play.
Pros
Grows, establishes, and heals rapidly
Produces a deep, sturdy root system
Soft feeling underfoot
Does not need frequent watering
Cons
Won’t survive cold climates
Will go dormant when the temperature dips below 55°F
In many ways, Kentucky Bluegrass is the northern counterpart of bermudagrass. It’s a thick-growing, fast-healing grass, offering attractive blue tints to the lawn and excellent durability against heavy pet traffic. Like bermudagrass, the speedy growth helps Kentucky Bluegrass easily mend itself after suffering urine damage.
Kentucky Bluegrass is extremely hardy, particularly during colder weather when similarly tough grasses might die. It prefers more shade than bermudagrass and can take a few weeks to germinate, but once established, you earn a durable cover to last for years.
Another prime choice for pet owners in southern regions, centipede grass is a low-maintenance and heat-loving variety that can manage the wear of dog pee. While centipede thrives in hot, sunny areas, its practicality also depends on an array of growing conditions. It can’t stand salty or alkaline soil, and despite its ability to survive extended periods of drought, it needs frequent watering if you want it to stay green.
Centipede is one of the best grasses for dog urine, but it doesn’t take any of the top spots because it lacks all-around benefits for pet owners. It’s a soft, comfortable layer for bare feet and easy to maintain, but it’s also not particularly hardy. Although it may handle a more sizable, slow-moving dog, there are much better turf options for energetic pups.
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Grasses for Dog Urine
Other Factors to Consider
As we’ve discussed, there’s more to choosing grass than just picking the one that won’t turn yellow from urine. In most instances, urine resistance should take a backseat to more critical factors like hardiness and healing from traffic. There are ways to reduce the potential damage of pee, but it can be challenging to repair a ripped-up or beaten-down patch of lawn.
Before buying grass, consider who uses it and how they use it. Is your dog a spritely, free spirit that loves to run around and dig at the lawn? Do you have small children that like to play games outside? Is the grass sharing backyard space with a garden or other landscaping elements?
Answering these questions will help you prioritize different features like comfort, growth rate, and root depth. You need to find the type of grass that will give you the longest life, easiest maintenance, and best performance under your yard’s unique conditions.
More Great Grasses to Consider for Dogs
It doesn’t handle urine well, but for everything else that grass has to deal with when dogs are playing on it, zoysia grass is an excellent choice. Zoysia is ideal in warmer climates, where it grows thick to create a soft yet durable cover for heavy traffic. It can take a few years to establish, but once it does, you get an enduring, comfortable lawn that everyone can enjoy.
Tips for Buying the Proper Grass with Dogs
Before buying grass based on its ability to withstand urine, remember that there are ways to prevent damage from pee. Frequent watering helps to dilute nitrogen in urine to reduce its effects. And with proper training, your dog can have a designated place to potty off in a corner, keeping the rest of the yard urine-free.
Instead of focusing on which grass will survive your dog’s next bathroom break, find the grass that has the best chance to thrive. It’s wise to look for comfortable grass that grows and heals quickly, but consider the conditions that could influence its growth, such as:
The best choice for your lawn may also be a blend of different grasses. Identify the growing conditions on your property and research the hardiest grass products for your area and your pet’s particular needs.
Conclusion
Dogs do more damage to a lawn than anything in the home, but sticking with tough, urine-resistant grasses will keep it looking lush and healthy with minimal fuss. Fescue and perennial ryegrass are all-around favorites for most pet-related damage. But if you’re sick of constantly dealing with grotesque dead patches from dog pee, follow our reviews and switch to any of these resilient grasses to restore an incredible, long-lasting look and feel to your lawn.
Featured Image Credit: Ching Louis Liu, Shutterstock
Contents
Writer
Pete Ortiz
Pete has been working in the trades since high school, where he first developed a passion for woodworking. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. Fascinated by all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing.
As the founder of House Grail, Pete's primary goal is to help consumers make educated decisions about DIY projects at home, in the garage, and in the garden.
