Knowledgebase
can dumping urine from a camper trailer kill trees? What can I do #875881
Asked July 03, 2024, 8:02 PM EDT
my neighbor has a family living in a camper on their property and I think they are dumping their urine by my trees. seeing some dying branches. Can I dilute it with lots of water, or put something on it to counteract the acidity & high nitrogen? help! thanks
Pueblo County Colorado
Expert Response
MY NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN DUMPING THEIR URINE FROM A CAMPER SERVING AS A HOME FOR HOMELESS FAMILY MEMBERS FOR YEARS. IT SEEMS TO POSSIBLY BE CAUSING SOME MATURE HIGH UP LARGE BRANCHES DYING ON THESE 75 YR OLD ELM TREES. WE'VE MAINTAINED THE TREES WITH REGULAR TRIMMINGS, SO THEY ARE HEALTHY TREES. IS THERE A WAY TO COUNTERACT THE EFFECTS OF THE URINE?
Good morning, Ms. Robinson, and thank you for your inquiry. We understand that you are concerned that your neighbors' urine might be harming your elm trees.
May we ask if you are able to send photos of the elm-tree branches causing concern? Photos would help us investigate possible other causes of the die-off.
Also, we found some research indicating that human urine -- if diluted -- can serve as a nitrogen fertilizer. Here is a recent article from Cornell University: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2024/05/grow-you-go-peecycling-helps-plants-and-compost-thrive . And attached to this email is a 2007 study in Finland that compared the impacts of commercial fertilizer, human urine, and no fertilizer.
Watering your elm trees regularly will help them, and we recommend it.
