We all want our lawns to look pristine at all times, but that’s not always possible. With the hot weather we’ve been experiencing this summer, you may have noticed some yellow patches starting to appear as the grass begins to die, and your lawn might be looking a little bit patchier than usual.
If you have a dog, this problem may be even worse. Dogs have high concentrations of nitrogen in their urine, so when they do their business on your lawn, they can kill sections of your grass, leaving it yellow and wilted. While plants need nitrogen, the high concentration in one area acts like a burn that damages your lawn.
It might seem impossible to keep your lawn looking luscious if you have a dog, but there is something you can do. Planting one specific flower among your grass could help stop your lawn from looking patchy and reduce the risk of yellow spots.
A woman named Kate revealed the trick on TikTok. She claimed those interested in lawn upkeep would “hate” her for planting the flower in her grass. While it’s frowned upon by those who want pristine grass, it can be a worthwhile venture for someone looking for a lower-maintenance garden.
She revealed she would be planting micro clover on her lawn to help prevent her dogs from killing her grass.
She said: “The hot weather, having a paddling pool out constantly, and two dogs weeing on [the lawn] is taking its toll and it’s now looking really patchy. It’s been suggested that I follow the dogs around with a watering can to dilute their wee, but with two dogs, a toddler, and a newborn, the chance of that happening is absolutely zero.
“So, instead, I’ve decided to plant micro clover in my lawn. Micro clover is supposed to be more dog wee resistant than grass, more drought tolerant, and better for pollinators.”
Micro clover is a dwarf variety of Dutch white clover, and is the smallest variety of clover. It is designed to grow shorter, less patchy, and with fewer flowers than the standard clover.
Commenters on Kate’s video were largely supportive of her planting clover in her lawn, as many said they’d tried it themselves and had great results. One person said: “I added clover to my lawn two years ago and this year it looked absolutely beautiful. The bees have loved it!”