Get

In Your Inbox

Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

How to Save Plants From Dog Urine — 6 Possible Ways

White-brown shih tzu dog pee in the green bush

Seeing your beloved plants die or turn brown can be tough, especially when it is your own dog that’s killing them. Dog urine can kill several plant and tree species. It also causes those unsightly brown spots on your lawn. Unlike human urine, the highly concentrated nature of dog urine can have devastating effects on your greenery and your yard. So, how do you save plants from dog urine?

Before you change your lawn to AstroTurf or give up on growing beautiful shrubbery, we have good news. We will answer all your burning questions about the killing qualities of dog urine and give you great tips to overcome the problem. dogster face divider

The 6 Ways to Save Plants From Dog Urine

1. Urine Dilution

Water Hose
Image Credit: creative2usa, Pixabay

Materials:

  • Water
  • Garden hose
  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda

There are two ways to neutralize dog urine on plants. The easiest is to simply dilute the urine. By doing this, you are decreasing the concentration of damaging compounds in the urine and therefore, minimizing the damage to your plants.

The problem with this method is that you have to dilute your dog’s urine immediately after they pee. It’s labor-intensive and not always reasonable to follow your dog around and water everything that they pee on. Nonetheless, there may be times when you are able to intervene.

Method 1: Use a garden hose to heavily water the spot that your dog peed on.

Method 2: Douse the affected plant with a mixture of ½ cup of white vinegar, 1 cup of water, and 2 tbsp. of baking soda. This mixture also neutralizes the damage-causing compounds found in dog urine.

Pros
  • Reduces plant damage
Cons
  • Labor intensive

2. Lime

Lime
Image Credit: congerdesign, Pixabay

Materials:

  • Dolomitic lime

If the alkaline pH causes your plant to be damaged by your dog’s pee, you can sprinkle dolomite lime onto your soil. Dolomite lime comprises magnesium carbonate and calcium and can help regulate soil pH.

Be aware that this method will only help if your soil is acidic. If your soil is alkaline, sprinkling lime will only make it more alkaline.

Pros
  • Regulates soil pH
Cons
  • Only helps with acidic soil

3. Fencing

garden with fence
Image Credit: rihaij, Pixabay

If you have a big enough yard, one of the easiest ways to prevent your dog from peeing on your plants is to create a specific area for them. There are tons of options for decorative garden fencing; you can even run a fence down the middle of your yard to keep your plants safe.

Other options for fencing include fencing off your plants or creating an area specifically for your dog. If you have trees or shrubs bordering the outside of your property, running a decorative border along the inside can prevent them from being exposed to dog urine.

To protect single plants or trees, chicken wire, obelisks, or plant cage supports can protect the roots from damage.


4. Mulching

Mulching Wood Chips
Image Credit: Olichel, Pixabay

If you don’t have enough space for fencing or you simply don’t want fences all over your yard, you can create a ground cover that is undesirable for your dog to pee on. Most gardeners use organic mulch, like wood chips or straw, in their garden beds. For dogs, mulch is a playground. It’s soft, damp, and full of enticing smells.

Mulching your plant beds with less inviting materials can help keep your dog out. Try using clippings from thorny bushes, like barberry or rose stems. Junipers are prickly, too. These types of mulch and ground cover poke the soft pads of your dog’s feet when they try to enter, making it an uninviting place.

One favorite mulch idea is to line your beds with pinecones or create pinecone “moats” around your plants and trees. Dogs don’t like the way these feel on their feet, and they will look like decorative accents in your yard.

Pros
  • All-natural deterrent for dogs
  • Promotes plant health
Cons
  • Requires a little work and creativity

5. Dog Deterrents

vinegar
Image Credit: NatureFriend, Pixabay

If the problem is not your own dog peeing on your plants but somebody else’s, it can be much harder to protect your plants. When it’s your own dog, you can watch their bathroom habits and adjust accordingly. When it’s a neighbor’s dog or a stray wandering in, you need to step things up a notch and use a deterrent.

Deterrents don’t have to be chemical or poison; they just need to send a “keep away” message to the offending dog. Motion-activated sprinklers work great for this by shooting water out when an animal is nearby. Decoys with LED lights can make a dog think that a predator is present and watching them.

Garden centers and pet stores sell spray-on animal deterrents that smell like predator urine. These work well as an adjunct to predator decoys to reinforce the idea that your yard is not a safe place. Other animal deterrents have strong scents that are offensive to dogs, like hot peppers, apple bitters, and orange peels.

Other household items that you can use as deterrents include ammonia, vinegar, Tabasco sauce, coffee grounds, orange peels, cayenne pepper, and ground mustard.

Pros
  • Keeps dogs out of your yard
Cons
  • Not convenient if you also have pets that use the yard

6. Make a “Bathroom Area” and Train Your Dog to Use It

pet owner using dog whistle to train her dog
Image Credit: SpeedKingz, Shutterstock

If your primary issue is your grass rather than plants and trees, the best way to stop your yard from being covered with yellow spots is to stop letting your dog use it as a bathroom. To do this, you’ll need to make a bathroom area just for your dog. Some people make dog runs that go between their house and the fence or the underside of their deck, but any area will work.

The area you choose to use should be covered in gravel, sand, or dirt, or you can use urine-resistant grass and plants. Train your dog to “go potty” in the designated area, in a similar fashion as house-training your dog. Praise them for going in the right spot, and re-direct their bathroom habits in other areas of the yard.

Pros
  • Establishes healthy behavior in your dog
  • Keeps your plants safe
Cons
  • Requires time investment

7. Feed Your Dog a Good Diet

Labrador dog eating
Image By: Olena Yakobchuk, Shutterstock

What your dog takes in has a direct impact on what comes out. Changing your dog’s diet can decrease the amount of urea in their urine and therefore, reduce the damage it causes to plants. Some dogs have difficulty digesting certain proteins, increasing protein metabolites being excreted in the urine. Sometimes, all it takes to stop dog urine from killing your plants is switching your dog from chicken to beef or beef to fish.

Pros
  • Potentially fixes the problem for good
Cons
  • It doesn’t always work

Dogster divider_v3_NEW_MAY_24_

 

Why Does Dog Urine Kill Plants and Trees?

Dog Pee on Grass
Image By: Ching Louis Liu, Shutterstock

There are three characteristics of dog urine that cause it to kill plants and trees:

  • Alkaline pH levels
  • Urea
  • Nitrogen load

pH Levels

Canine urine contains high levels of salts that make it extremely alkaline. Soil pH is important for healthy plant growth, and too much dog pee alters that delicate pH balance. Over time, this causes damage to plant roots and leads to the overall destruction of the plant.

Urea

The main killing ingredient in dog urine is urea, a compound that forms from protein digestion. All mammals have urea in their urine, including humans, but since dogs eat high-protein diets, the concentration of urea in their urine is higher. The more protein that they eat, the more lethal their urine becomes to lawns and gardens.

Nitrogen

Urea contains nitrogen. Nitrogen is used as a plant fertilizer, but dog urine contains nitrogen in high concentrations. If you’ve seen what happens to a lawn after a fertilizer spill, this is the same thing. A little fertilizer spread evenly on your lawn helps it grow lush and green. When you pour a large amount in one spot, the grass turns brown and dies. Dog pee is like little fertilizer pools all over the yard.

What Plants Tolerate Dog Urine?

Ferns_Piqsels
Image Credit: Piqsels

Several species of plants consume high levels of nitrogen and, therefore, are tolerant of dog urine. Vegetables like corn, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, cabbage, and citrus fruits love high nitrogen concentrations. The rose is another heavy nitrogen consumer.

Other popular plants that are resistant to dog urine include:

  • Bear’s breech
  • Burkwood osmanthus
  • Doublefile viburnum
  • Feather reed grass
  • Holly fern
  • Japanese spindle tree
  • Mexican sage
  • New Zealand flax
  • Red twig dogwood
  • Snowball viburnum
  • Spider plants
  • Sword fern

Dog-resistant herbs include:

  • Basil
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Peppermint
  • Rosemary

For ground cover shrubs, look for:

  • Carpet bugle
  • Elfin thyme
  • Kinnikinnick
  • Miniature stonecrop
  • Silver carpet
  • Snow in summer
  • Wintercreeper

divider dog faces oct 2024

Conclusion

Dog urine can kill your plants and trees, but it doesn’t have to. There are several options to keep your dog (or someone else’s) out of your plants. There are also several species of nitrogen-loving plants that tolerate dog urine. Diluting the urine or altering your dog’s diet can also help prevent damage.


Featured Image Credit: artartty, Shutterstock

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Dogster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Surfing Chihuahuas: Texas Dog Wins Spirit Award at Surf Competition

Sun, sand, surf… Chihuahuas? Last week, America’s surfer dogs gathered for a competition in sunny Galveston, Texas. One of the surprise winners was...

200+ Popular Chow Chow Dog Names: Unique Options for Your Adorable Pet

Chow Chows are not one of the most popular dogs in America. However, they aren’t so rare that you can’t find one, either....

Do Dogs Like ASMR? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

If you are not familiar with ASMR, you are not alone. While millions of people experience it, not everyone does. You might have...

Shiba Inu Breed Info, Pictures, Traits & Care Guide

Also known as the web-famous “doge,” the compact and fox-faced Shiba Inu is the smallest of the six Japanese native breeds. Renowned mainly...

More related

Dogster Photo Contest: Dogs of the Week Winners (April 10, 2025)

This Week’s Winner Cutest Most Expressive Best Action Shot Silliest Sleepiest Most Dignified Enter Your Dog Submit your doggie for a chance to...

Can Dogs Eat Ants? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

As curious animals, dogs are bound to eat ants at some point in their life. Those little insects that you need to protect...

Can Dogs Eat Kale? Vet-Reviewed Facts to Know

Kale is a popular health food in America and around the world, so it’s natural to wonder if dogs can also eat kale...

Blue Poodle: Info, Pictures, Origin & History

The Poodle is a popular breed, regardless of their size or color. They are intelligent, loving pups that can be fun to own....

Keep reading

11 Best Foods for Doberman Puppies in 2025: Reviews & Top Picks

If you are about to welcome a sweet Doberman puppy into your life, you need the right gear and supplies to get them off on the right paw. You have purchased a cozy bed, water and food dishes, and handfuls...

doberman puppies sitting

Can I Feed My Dog Store-Bought Kibble? Vet-Approved Nutrition Facts

As owners humanize their dogs and the pet industry pushes innovation, dog food has diversified significantly in recent years. Fresh, freeze-dried, and homemade meals now enjoy more attention, prompting many long-time pet parents to ask, “Whatever happened to good ol’...

dog food in plastic container

11 Best Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Dog Foods in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

Many people are implementing more eco-friendly lifestyles to help take care of our environment and those around us. There is no doubt supporting sustainable practices in the pet food industry has some all-encompassing benefits. For eco-friendly pet parents, finding food...

pouring dog food

Can Dogs Eat Fennel? Canine Diet & Health

Fennel is commonly used in salads, soups, and stews and has been widely used for health purposes, including for heartburn, bloating, and colic in infants. This aromatic herb is used for its flavorful bulb and its leaves and stalks. With...

Can Dogs Eat_fennel

Victor vs Taste of the Wild Dog Food: 2025 Comparison, Pros & Cons

Victor and Taste of the Wild are two comprehensive dog food companies that offer a premium variety of excellent recipes. Similar to one another, both lines of food offer grain and grain-free high protein, fiber-rich, fat-dense recipes. These companies set...

Dogster_Dog Food Victor VS Taste of the Wild

15 Holiday Foods That Are Bad for Dogs (Vet Reviewed)

Holidays are a lot of fun, no matter what holiday is being celebrated. There’s family, friends, decorations, and most importantly, food! Some of the most delicious foods we eat all year are holiday foods, so you might be tempted to...

top view of golden retriever near family holding glasses of white wine during thanksgiving dinner

Can Dogs Eat Cookies? Vet-Reviewed Nutrition Facts & Info

Cookies are often the first food we reach for when we crave something sweet or need comfort. So, if you find yourself whipping up a batch of grandma’s chocolate chip cookies this week, you might wonder if you can give...

Oatmeal Cookies on a plate

11 Best Wet Dog Food for Huskies in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

Every Siberian Husky owner knows that these dogs have tons of energy. Huskies require a quality, high protein diet low in carbs to recharge and refuel, making the decision of what to feed an important task. Huskies are extremely active...

husky eating