If you have a dog, you know how nice it is to have it trained to go outside as needed. Housebreaking is a much-appreciated learned skill, and while you would much prefer to have your dog urinate outside, your dog can still wreak havoc on your lawn and garden. Dog urine has high concentrations of nitrogen and other salts, which can burn plant roots and may create an unfavorable environment for plants to grow.1 Fortunately, there are numerous plants that are resistant to dog urine. You can plant these in your garden and train your dog to use them as pee areas instead of fighting to keep your more fragile plants alive. Check out these nine pee-resistant plants to add to your garden.
Top 9 Plants That Can Resist Dog Urine
- Bear’s Breeches Image Credit: PicGaz-Photography, Pixabay
Species Acanthus mollis
Sun Full sun/partial shade
Placement Large yards
Native to the Mediterranean, Bear’s Breeches are a perennial plant characterized by shiny leaves and tall, spiked flowers. It’s a striking plant that can withstand the effects of dog urine, though it needs plenty of space to spread. Of the 30 species of Bear’s Breeches, only a few are considered appropriate for gardens. These plants enjoy compost and full sun to partial shade. Pros
Beautiful flowers
Spreads over wide areas
Urine-resistant
Cons
Not suitable for small gardens
- Japanese Holly Fern Image Credit: Erin Lindsay Munson, Shutterstock
Species Cyrtomium falcatum
Sun Shade-tolerant
Placement Large or small yards, indoors
The Japanese holly fern is a common species of fern that’s native to Eastern Asia. In nature, it’s found growing along coastal cliffs, rocky slopes, stream banks, and other moist areas, though it thrives in shady areas of a garden. The leaves are striking and have serrated edges, making this plant a good choice as filler between other plants. Because it grows in moist areas, this plant requires 50 percent humidity or greater. Pros
Shade-tolerant
Striking leaves
Good filler plant
Cons
Not suitable for dry climates
No matter how hard you try, pets will always leave you cleaning up smells, stains, vomit, hair, and everything in between. With the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray, you can advance your clean-up routine! It permanently removes the very worst pet stains and smells (and truly makes clean-up a breeze). Click here to learn more, order a bottle, and freshen up your home today. At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!
- Japanese Snowball Image Credit: Sonja-Kalee, Pixabay
Species Viburnum plicatum
Sun Full sun/partial shade
Placement Large gardens
The Japanese Snowball is a flowering plant that’s native to China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. The leaves are textured and pleated, lending its name in Latin. In spring, the plant flowers with white blooms. These plants are easy to grow and withstand dog urine well, but they do grow to be 8–16 feet. They also need to be pruned regularly and require well-draining soil. Pros
Beautiful white blooms
Tall
Hardy and easy to grow
Cons
Not suitable for small gardens
Requires pruning
Requires well-draining soil
- Mexican Sage Image Credit: NRay91, Pixabay
Species Salvia leucantha
Sun Full sun/partial shade
Placement Large gardens
Mexican Sage, or Salvia leucantha, is popular for its velvety, brightly colored flowers. The shrub can grow 4-6 feet and spreads wide, making it a good choice for larger gardens. This plant prefers moist, well-draining soil, but it can thrive in both gardens and pots. Full sun brings out the beauty of the plant’s flowers, but it can thrive in partial shade. Pros
Stunning flowers
Tall and wide
Full or partial shade
Cons
Requires moist, well-draining soil
- Rose Image Credit: DrCarl, Pixabay
Species Rosa
Sun Full sun
Placement Large or small gardens
Roses make a beautiful addition to your garden, and fortunately, they’re big consumers of nitrogen and resistant to the effects of dog urine. There are over 300 species of roses, so you have plenty to choose from. Rose plants may be climbing, trailing, or in the form of shrubs, making them a versatile choice for most gardens. Roses thrive in direct sunlight, but they can perform well in partial shade and the right climate. The only con to planting roses in yards with dogs is the thorns. Pros
Beautiful flowers in a range of colors
Versatile growth patterns
Over 300 species to choose from
Cons
Thrives in direct sunlight
Thorns
- Carpet Bugleweed Image Credit: Pat_Photographies, Pixabay
Species Ajuga reptans
Sun Full shade/partial sunlight
Placement All locations
Carpet bugleweed is a creeping evergreen plant that’s often used to fill in empty areas of a garden or to protect more fragile plants from dog urine. The flowers are bluish violet, which not only creates a beautiful look, but tends to attract pollinators. This plant thrives in shady environments but can tolerate some sunlight. Keep in mind that carpet bugleweed is invasive in North America, however, so be mindful of where and how much you plant. Pros
Attractive flowers
Ground cover
Shade to partial sunlight
Cons
Invasive in some areas
- Silver Carpet Image Credit: kaboompics, Pixabay
Species Dymondia margaretae
Sun Full sun
Placement Large and small gardens and walkway areas
Silver carpet is named for its silvery green leaves that slowly spread over the ground. It’s native to the coastal plains of South Africa and can withstand foot traffic, making it ideal for garden walkways and yard paths. This ground cover should be grown in areas with full sun and well-draining soil, though it can thrive in poor, rocky soil. As the silver carpet spreads, it will force out weeds. Pros
Attractive leaves
Outperforms weeds
Tolerant to foot traffic
Adaptable to poor, rocky soil
Cons
Requires full sun
- Burkwoods Osmanthus Image Credit: Sheryl Watson, Shutterstock
Species Osmanthus burkwoodii
Sun Full sun/partial shade
Placement Large and small gardens
Burkwoods osmanthus is a hardy evergreen shrub that can be nurtured to grow into a tree. The plant has bushy broadleaves and yellow or white flowers that make nice filler for a garden. This is one of the hardiest plants on the list and can withstand dog urine, and it thrives in full sun or partial shade. Pros
Beautiful flowers
Hardy
Evergreen
Cons
Inconspicuous flowers
- Japanese Spindle Tree Image Credit: Peter Turner Photography, Shutterstock
Species Euonymus japonicus
Sun Full sun
Placement Large and small gardens
The Japanese spindle tree is an evergreen shrub or small tree that’s native to Japan, Korea, and China. The leaves are striking and have fine serrations, while the flowers are small and greenish white. Though inconspicuous, the flowers on the shrub can add some aesthetic appeal to your garden. Left to grow, the tree can reach 10–15 feet. Urine doesn’t penetrate the hard leaves of the Japanese spindle tree as easily as other plants. This plant does best in direct sunlight, however, and requires pruning. Pros
Beautiful leaves and flowers
Can grow to a tree
Hardy
Cons
Requires full sun
Requires pruning
See Also: How To Grow and Care for Goldfish Plants? 6 Useful Tips
How to Create a Dog-Friendly Garden Dog pee-resistant plants are heavier consumers of nitrogen than other plants, which makes them ideal for households with dogs. These plants can be combined with other plants to help more fragile species withstand the effects of dog urine. If your dog keeps killing your prized plants in your yard and you don’t want to plant only dog pee-resistant plants, you can create designated areas for your dog. Plant only urine-resistant plants in specific areas and train your dog to go there or use urine-resistant carpet plants to fill in areas between more treasured plants. You could also create an area with turf, sand, or gravel that’s your dog’s designated outdoor toilet, keeping it away from your yard plants. Another option is to build raised flower beds to protect your plants since most dogs prefer areas with easy access. However, you choose to address dog urine concerns in your yard or garden, make sure that the plants you use are safe for dogs. Some plants are toxic to dogs, including lily of the valley, daffodils, asparagus fern, aloe vera, and chrysanthemums. Conclusion Having a dog means making some concessions, but your garden doesn’t have to be one of them. If you’re dealing with unsightly yellow marks or dead plants in your garden from dog pee, you can use dog pee-resistant plants to give your dog a place to pee and protect your valued plants from the damage of nitrogen-rich urine.
Featured Image Credit: Kobus-van-Leer, Pixabay
If you have a dog, you know how nice it is to have it trained to go outside as needed. Housebreaking is a much-appreciated learned skill, and while you would much prefer to have your dog urinate outside, your dog can still wreak havoc on your lawn and garden. Dog urine has high concentrations of nitrogen and other salts, which can burn plant roots and may create an unfavorable environment for plants to grow.1
Fortunately, there are numerous plants that are resistant to dog urine. You can plant these in your garden and train your dog to use them as pee areas instead of fighting to keep your more fragile plants alive. Check out these nine pee-resistant plants to add to your garden.
Top 9 Plants That Can Resist Dog Urine
1. Bear’s Breeches
Species Acanthus mollis
Sun Full sun/partial shade
Placement Large yards
Native to the Mediterranean, Bear’s Breeches are a perennial plant characterized by shiny leaves and tall, spiked flowers. It’s a striking plant that can withstand the effects of dog urine, though it needs plenty of space to spread. Of the 30 species of Bear’s Breeches, only a few are considered appropriate for gardens. These plants enjoy compost and full sun to partial shade.
Pros
Beautiful flowers
Spreads over wide areas
Urine-resistant
Cons
Not suitable for small gardens
2. Japanese Holly Fern
Species Cyrtomium falcatum
Sun Shade-tolerant
Placement Large or small yards, indoors
The Japanese holly fern is a common species of fern that’s native to Eastern Asia. In nature, it’s found growing along coastal cliffs, rocky slopes, stream banks, and other moist areas, though it thrives in shady areas of a garden. The leaves are striking and have serrated edges, making this plant a good choice as filler between other plants. Because it grows in moist areas, this plant requires 50 percent humidity or greater.
Beautiful flowers
Spreads over wide areas
Urine-resistant
- Beautiful flowers
- Spreads over wide areas
- Urine-resistant
Not suitable for small gardens
- Not suitable for small gardens
Pros
Shade-tolerant
Striking leaves
Good filler plant
Cons
Not suitable for dry climates
No matter how hard you try, pets will always leave you cleaning up smells, stains, vomit, hair, and everything in between. With the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray, you can advance your clean-up routine!
Shade-tolerant
Striking leaves
Good filler plant
- Shade-tolerant
- Striking leaves
- Good filler plant
Not suitable for dry climates
- Not suitable for dry climates
It permanently removes the very worst pet stains and smells (and truly makes clean-up a breeze). Click here to learn more, order a bottle, and freshen up your home today.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!
3. Japanese Snowball
Species Viburnum plicatum
Sun Full sun/partial shade
Placement Large gardens
The Japanese Snowball is a flowering plant that’s native to China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. The leaves are textured and pleated, lending its name in Latin. In spring, the plant flowers with white blooms. These plants are easy to grow and withstand dog urine well, but they do grow to be 8–16 feet. They also need to be pruned regularly and require well-draining soil.
Pros
Beautiful white blooms
Tall
Hardy and easy to grow
Cons
Not suitable for small gardens
Requires pruning
Requires well-draining soil
4. Mexican Sage
Species Salvia leucantha
Sun Full sun/partial shade
Placement Large gardens
Mexican Sage, or Salvia leucantha, is popular for its velvety, brightly colored flowers. The shrub can grow 4-6 feet and spreads wide, making it a good choice for larger gardens. This plant prefers moist, well-draining soil, but it can thrive in both gardens and pots. Full sun brings out the beauty of the plant’s flowers, but it can thrive in partial shade.
Beautiful white blooms
Tall
Hardy and easy to grow
- Beautiful white blooms
- Tall
- Hardy and easy to grow
Not suitable for small gardens
Requires pruning
Requires well-draining soil
- Not suitable for small gardens
- Requires pruning
- Requires well-draining soil
Pros
Stunning flowers
Tall and wide
Full or partial shade
Cons
Requires moist, well-draining soil
5. Rose
Species Rosa
Sun Full sun
Placement Large or small gardens
Roses make a beautiful addition to your garden, and fortunately, they’re big consumers of nitrogen and resistant to the effects of dog urine. There are over 300 species of roses, so you have plenty to choose from. Rose plants may be climbing, trailing, or in the form of shrubs, making them a versatile choice for most gardens. Roses thrive in direct sunlight, but they can perform well in partial shade and the right climate. The only con to planting roses in yards with dogs is the thorns.
Stunning flowers
Tall and wide
Full or partial shade
- Stunning flowers
- Tall and wide
- Full or partial shade
Requires moist, well-draining soil
- Requires moist, well-draining soil
Pros
Beautiful flowers in a range of colors
Versatile growth patterns
Over 300 species to choose from
Cons
Thrives in direct sunlight
Thorns
6. Carpet Bugleweed
Species Ajuga reptans
Sun Full shade/partial sunlight
Placement All locations
Carpet bugleweed is a creeping evergreen plant that’s often used to fill in empty areas of a garden or to protect more fragile plants from dog urine. The flowers are bluish violet, which not only creates a beautiful look, but tends to attract pollinators. This plant thrives in shady environments but can tolerate some sunlight. Keep in mind that carpet bugleweed is invasive in North America, however, so be mindful of where and how much you plant.
Beautiful flowers in a range of colors
Versatile growth patterns
Over 300 species to choose from
- Beautiful flowers in a range of colors
- Versatile growth patterns
- Over 300 species to choose from
Thrives in direct sunlight
Thorns
- Thrives in direct sunlight
- Thorns
Pros
Attractive flowers
Ground cover
Shade to partial sunlight
Cons
Invasive in some areas
7. Silver Carpet
Species Dymondia margaretae
Sun Full sun
Placement Large and small gardens and walkway areas
Silver carpet is named for its silvery green leaves that slowly spread over the ground. It’s native to the coastal plains of South Africa and can withstand foot traffic, making it ideal for garden walkways and yard paths. This ground cover should be grown in areas with full sun and well-draining soil, though it can thrive in poor, rocky soil. As the silver carpet spreads, it will force out weeds.
Attractive flowers
Ground cover
Shade to partial sunlight
- Attractive flowers
- Ground cover
- Shade to partial sunlight
Invasive in some areas
- Invasive in some areas
Pros
Attractive leaves
Outperforms weeds
Tolerant to foot traffic
Adaptable to poor, rocky soil
Cons
Requires full sun
8. Burkwoods Osmanthus
Species Osmanthus burkwoodii
Sun Full sun/partial shade
Placement Large and small gardens
Burkwoods osmanthus is a hardy evergreen shrub that can be nurtured to grow into a tree. The plant has bushy broadleaves and yellow or white flowers that make nice filler for a garden. This is one of the hardiest plants on the list and can withstand dog urine, and it thrives in full sun or partial shade.
Attractive leaves
Outperforms weeds
Tolerant to foot traffic
Adaptable to poor, rocky soil
- Attractive leaves
- Outperforms weeds
- Tolerant to foot traffic
- Adaptable to poor, rocky soil
Requires full sun
- Requires full sun
Pros
Beautiful flowers
Hardy
Evergreen
Cons
Inconspicuous flowers
9. Japanese Spindle Tree
Species Euonymus japonicus
Sun Full sun
Placement Large and small gardens
The Japanese spindle tree is an evergreen shrub or small tree that’s native to Japan, Korea, and China. The leaves are striking and have fine serrations, while the flowers are small and greenish white. Though inconspicuous, the flowers on the shrub can add some aesthetic appeal to your garden. Left to grow, the tree can reach 10–15 feet. Urine doesn’t penetrate the hard leaves of the Japanese spindle tree as easily as other plants. This plant does best in direct sunlight, however, and requires pruning.
Beautiful flowers
Hardy
Evergreen
- Beautiful flowers
- Hardy
- Evergreen
Inconspicuous flowers
- Inconspicuous flowers
Pros
Beautiful leaves and flowers
Can grow to a tree
Hardy
Cons
Requires full sun
Requires pruning
- See Also: How To Grow and Care for Goldfish Plants? 6 Useful Tips
How to Create a Dog-Friendly Garden
Dog pee-resistant plants are heavier consumers of nitrogen than other plants, which makes them ideal for households with dogs. These plants can be combined with other plants to help more fragile species withstand the effects of dog urine.
Beautiful leaves and flowers
Can grow to a tree
Hardy
- Beautiful leaves and flowers
- Can grow to a tree
- Hardy
Requires full sun
Requires pruning
- Requires full sun
- Requires pruning
If your dog keeps killing your prized plants in your yard and you don’t want to plant only dog pee-resistant plants, you can create designated areas for your dog. Plant only urine-resistant plants in specific areas and train your dog to go there or use urine-resistant carpet plants to fill in areas between more treasured plants.
You could also create an area with turf, sand, or gravel that’s your dog’s designated outdoor toilet, keeping it away from your yard plants. Another option is to build raised flower beds to protect your plants since most dogs prefer areas with easy access.
However, you choose to address dog urine concerns in your yard or garden, make sure that the plants you use are safe for dogs. Some plants are toxic to dogs, including lily of the valley, daffodils, asparagus fern, aloe vera, and chrysanthemums.
Conclusion
Having a dog means making some concessions, but your garden doesn’t have to be one of them. If you’re dealing with unsightly yellow marks or dead plants in your garden from dog pee, you can use dog pee-resistant plants to give your dog a place to pee and protect your valued plants from the damage of nitrogen-rich urine.
Featured Image Credit: Kobus-van-Leer, Pixabay
