What is the solution for yellow spots in my lawn ?

Joni Coward
by Joni Coward
I live in a garden home and the back yard is very small. I had it sodded with zoysia last spring. A few of the spots seem to be the area where my french bulldog has designated as her "spot".
  5 answers
  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on Mar 27, 2017

    It sounds like you have hunting billbugs -The most effective method for detection of adult activity (which should be occurring soon) is creating several pitfall traps in the lawn by digging a few holes and placing plastic cups level to the soil surface. Adults will fall into the cup overnight and can be counted over a few days period. Early larval stages are small and difficult to detect, but larger larvae in July can be observed by pulling zoysia away from the soil. In areas where hunting billbug damage has been identified, a preventive long lasting insecticide application should be applied in late May – early June (same time frame for annual white grubs) to target both adults and larvae.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 27, 2017

    The acidity from the urine has burnt the Zoysia. If you can pull out those plugs and neutralize the area with lime.Allow enough time and put new plugs in the ground.

  • Mike Iannone Mike Iannone on Mar 27, 2017

    I agree. You wouldn't have the same problem with male dogs. Something about the ph balance in the urine. You might check with a local nursery or someplace like that to check to see if there is someone to neutralize the urine before going to the expense and work of pulling out the burnt area and waiting to put in new plugs. Good Luck!

  • Joni Coward Joni Coward on Mar 27, 2017

    Thanks so much for all the advice. Will look for neutralizer before replugging, but may have to do a few spots.

  • Kathy Ruth Kathy Ruth on Mar 27, 2017

    Every time your dog goes potty you need to water the spot well in order to dilute the urine.

    And it really doesn't matter what the sex of the dog is--it's the way they tend to "pee." The reason many people believe female dogs kill more grass than males is because females typically squat and pee in one spot (depositing a whopper load of solutes), whereas males tend to urinate in smaller amounts as they wander from spot to spot.

    Here is an article that can help:

    http://thebark.com/content/keep-your-lawn-free-urine-spots