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Golf-course superintendents — they’re similar to us! At the least, they’re not so completely different that we are able to’t ask them for recommendation. On this column, we welcome readers’ yard-care questions, which we move on to turf-care specialists within the golf business.
The next question comes from James DiBianco Sr., who didn’t specify his place of residence:
Relating to yellow spots on a garden from canine peeing, is there a product that can be utilized to curb this?
Expensive Daniel:
Urine luck! (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) The market is awash in such merchandise. The names range (Pet Honesty, See Spot Run, Sunday Pet, and so forth; a fast Google search will flip up lots), however the lively components are largely the identical. Most include a mixture of microbes, acids and carbon that assist restore the soil round affected areas, which, in flip, helps the grass get well.
However right here’s a query for you: Relatively than wait to take care of the injury, why not attempt to stop it within the first place? There are just a few methods to do that, in keeping with David Phipps, a former golf course superintendent who now serves as Northwest consultant for the Golf Course Superintendents Affiliation of America.
As you could know, canine urine accommodates a excessive focus of nitrogen, which burns grass, leaving it discolored. The answer, Phipps says, is dilution. If it’s your individual pooch that’s doing the peeing, preserve them hydrated. Ensuring that they get loads of water will, properly, water down the nitrogen of their urine.
Don’t overlook to water down your grass, too. Turning a hose onto the affected areas will assist rinse manner nitrogen compounds. One other good transfer is to chop again on fertilizer, which accommodates nitrogen. Your urine-doused garden doesn’t want any extra of that. Take into account lowering its use — or eliminating all of it collectively — in any affected areas of your garden.
Lastly, Phipps says, modify your mowing top. While you let your grass develop longer, its leaf blades can retain extra moisture and supply extra shade, which promotes wholesome grown and reduces urine-related injury.
And if all these strategies fail? Relying on how essential your garden is to you, you would possibly wish to put up a fence.