I don't see how any harm could ensue. We have a tree-filled dog park nearby, located in a larger woodsy park. Inside the dog park, the grass takes a beating (more from paws than urine) but the trees keep growing, and outside the fenced-in dog park there is no effect whatsoever.

Donna

There's lots of info available about this topic. I'll attach an example below. You might try googling 'pet waste' or 'pet waste runoff' or even 'pet waste pollution'. I think the health of the trees in the park will not be a significant issue for concern. Other issues (especially if the park will be located near a lake) are likely much more serious.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pet Waste and Water Quality

Ditto what they said about the trees. A cup full of urine on 50% of the root area of a foot tall seedling will have more an effect on the tree than a cup on .001% the root area of a 40 foot cottonwood.

Heck, I bet trees in the woods are even used to squirrel droppings and all that too. I bet one of the problems with trees growing in sterilized lawns is a lack of turds and other nasty material lol.

Now the water quality...I'd love to see a before and after test. There is quite the stir in Missouri right now with ecoli tests in the Ozarks right after big party weekends.

think of it this way ....

if the tree is as big.. or twice as big.. BELOW ground ... there is no way there will be any impact on said tree ... by a collection of a bunch of tiny dogs ...

as don noted.. tiny tree.. large dog... there are going to be problems ...

besides ... with large trees ... the roots are probably far outside the dog park ... or... the park is so big.. saturation of the area would be moot ...

it sounds.. like you arent happy about the park development.... but i am not sure this is a viable argument against it ...

if you happy about the park.. i doubt you need worry about the trees ...

good luck

ken

Urine is just a highly concentrated form of nitrogen. If anything, it should encourage established or mature trees to put on additional growth. Young trees or saplings area different matter - the nitrogen is too strong and can burn but this is not an issue with any larger, better established plants.

Most dog parks in my area (and I visit a lot of them frequently) cover the trails and main socializing area with bark or wood chips, similar to what one would do in a home kennel or dogrun. These absorb much of the liquid waste and are changed out or replaced when they become too soiled - leaching into groundwater or streams/lakes is not an issue. Solid waste must of course be bagged and properly disposed of.

Here's another interesting link. This one is about using urine as a fertilizer. I think there may be some other downsides with repeatedly applying concentrated urine around trees, but as stated above, I don't think it will be a big issue in this case.

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Use Urine in the Garden

More important to check is how much salt and saltwater runoff is measurable in the soil. Salting, calcium and other snow melting compounds cause far more trauma to trees then dog urine. Think about it when a dog urinates its less than a liter. When people use salts they use it by the ton.

Our golden retriever has peed on the same two cypress trees that were established a few years. The dog is only 3.5 years and the 1st cypress died about 1.5 years ago. He has concentrated on the one nest to that one and half of it is dead. I wash down the trees frequently but without much gain. It won't be long and I think this one will die too. The ground is strong with the urine smell. I hope to find something to neutralize it.

Our Labradoodle has been peeing on 15-year-old Camillia trees for 3 years now. One has died and a second is on the way. Their trunks are 5" in diameter so they aren't heavy duty trees, but they are/were 8 feet tall. There are rocks around the trees, we water the trees, it rains, but it makes sense that daily potent first-thing-in-the-morning urine can do some harm. If anyone has a magical answer for this, I'd love it!

Put a physical barrier around the camellia and let the dogs choose a new spot. After some time, they should go to the new spot as a habit. [There may be unrelated factors affecting the camellia, of course.]