Buffer to stop grass yellowing from dog urine? - (Oct/19/2006 )

I was in PetsMart yesterday and was looking at a food supplement to give your dog to stop the lawn from yellowing due to the pH of the urine. What are your thoughts of spraying a buffer or a basic solution on the grass after the dog urinates to neutralize the pH? I was wondering if anyone had ever heard of something like that, or if the buffer itself would do more damage to the grass than urine itself . . . please let me know any of your thoughts!! Thanks!

nope, I have never heard of such an interesting application of soil pH modifiers.

For soils that are too acidic, chalk (calcium carbonate) is added to acidic soils bring the pH up. It also improves the buffering ability of the soil (or so I understand). Chalk should be sold in most garderning supply shops.

As for the harm, it would depend on the type of grass you are growing. Most plants like slightly acidic soils... Although, my guess is that if not to much chalk is added, the plant should tolerate it.

I think spraying the grass is DEFINITELY preferable to altering the pH of the dog's urine...what harm might that medication be doing to the dog???

My first thought was: Irrigate, irrigate. It's cheaper and has more effect.
Also look at http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/turf/dog_lawn_problems.html
The concentration & the nitrogen is the problem.

Although this is a pervasive misunderstanding, the pH of urine from any mammal is at or close to 7. Thanks for the link to clarify what the actual reason is for grass yellowing.