Dog Pee & Ants?

We have just had a pup, a cocker spaniel bitch, our lawn is not very good, its been treated with weed n feed granules, but its still bare and light brown in patches, but the places where the dog has wee'd is lovely and green, and growing well, no dead patches yet,
She recently had a urine test, and it was very alkaline,
do you know what is in the wee to make the lawn grow so well?
It May be the answer to what we have been doing wrong,
and where can you buy it?

Part of our lawn has been nearly devastated by what looks like ants underneath, soil seems to rising up,
can anyone advise on what to do to stop this devastation please?

 

The stuff in wee that dogs and most mammals excrete is "urea" it is a very rich source of nitrogen the problem is it is too rich and will burn the grass and you end up with a brown patch and a lovely green ring around it,if you see her tiddling water the patch with a hose to dilute it.
The ants in the grass you are limited anything you put down has to be puppy proof and safe I have heard if you get a small bottle of clove oil mix it with a watering can of water and sprinkle it over your lawn it will drive them out,you pup will not want to go near it.

 

I've never tried them, but you can buy 'ant traps' from Wilkos and places like it. They are supposed to work on the principle that a scent attracts the ants, so they go in and find what they believe to be one of their stolen eggs. They carry it back to the nest, where it slowly releases a chemical that is supposed to kill the occupants of the nest.

Personally I find a freshly boiled kettle of water poured down the hole is as effective as any chemical for ant control, and of course it has the advantage that it is only dangerous until it cools, which is quite quickly.

Another option is to buy yourself a pet Ardvaark.

 

I don't want to worry you but I'd check on the Weed and Feed packet to make sure it's safe for animals. Puppies tend to sniff around in the grass and pick up and eat anything they find.

 

Welcome to the forum David.
The dogs wee will eventually burn brown patches on your grass.
While she's still a pup you could train her to tiddle in a sand pit and that would save the problem.

 

Thanks, sounds like a good idea, where would i get some Clove oil from?

 

Might try that type of trap,

Aardvark? Cocker Spaniel is quite a handfull thanks,

Aardvark's are effective tho...

 

Last used the weed n feed granules four months ago, not impressed, takes to long to dissolve,
Looking for some liquid wed n feed,

"Puppies tend to sniff around in the grass and pick up and eat anything they find"

200% Agree!

 

Thanks Alice,

We are restricting her to a tarmac drive at mo,
easy to jet wash,

Looking for a high nitrogen lawn feed to build ours up,
Thanks all
:gnthb:

 

David clove oil can be obtained from the chemist.