Is dog poop good fertilizer for a Gresham, OR yard?
No. Many people assume dog poop feeds the grass the way manure does, but it works the other way. It's too strong for the lawn, it carries parasites, and it doesn't belong in compost or a vegetable garden. Here's why, and what to use instead.
The short answer: no
Dog poop is not a fertilizer. It's high in nitrogen, so a pile burns the grass under it instead of feeding it. It also carries bacteria and parasite eggs that can stay in the soil for a long time. Left in the yard, it causes dead patches. Mixed into a garden, it can put germs where you grow food.
Why isn't it like cow or horse manure?
Garden manure comes from animals that eat plants, like cows, horses and chickens. It's usually aged or composted before anyone spreads it, so it's broken down and gentle enough for plants.
Dogs eat a diet high in protein, and their waste is much more concentrated. A dog also drops it in one spot, so all that nitrogen hits a few inches of grass at once. That's why you see a dead center with a ring of extra-dark green around it. Our post on what dog poop does to a lawn covers the damage and how to repair it.
Can I put dog poop in my compost?
Not in a backyard compost pile. Dog waste can carry roundworm eggs, and those eggs are tough. They can survive in soil for years. To kill them, compost has to stay very hot for a long time, and most home piles never get there or don't stay there.
- Keep it out of the vegetable garden. Even guides that explain how to compost dog waste in a dedicated hot system say not to use that compost on food crops.
- Keep it out of the yard debris cart. Curbside yard debris and food scrap programs in the Portland area generally don't accept pet waste. Bag it and put it in the garbage.
- Don't bury it in garden beds. Burying moves the parasite eggs underground, where kids dig and where you plant.
What about "it's natural"? It is natural, and so are the parasites in it. In a forest, waste is spread out and nobody plants tomatoes there. In a backyard, it piles up in the same few spots where people and dogs spend their time.
What happens when it rains?
In East County, rain carries what's left in the yard toward storm drains, and many of those drain into local creeks. Pet waste is high in nitrogen and phosphorus, and in the water those nutrients feed algae. So poop in the yard doesn't feed your lawn, but it can feed algae downstream. Our post on why the wet months matter most explains more.
What should I use on my lawn and garden instead?
- For the lawn: a slow-release lawn fertilizer, applied in spring and fall, works well for the cool-season grass common in Oregon.
- For garden beds: compost made from yard trimmings and kitchen scraps, or aged manure from plant-eating animals, sold at garden centers.
- For grass clippings: leave them on the lawn after you mow. They break down fast and return nutrients to the soil.
The best thing you can do for the lawn is to pick up the poop at least once a week. That stops the dead patches before they start. Our guide on how often to scoop explains the right schedule for your dogs, and if you'd rather not do it yourself, a pooper scooper service can.