Instead of the welcome fragrance of a blooming perennial border, do dog odors assault your nostrils whenever you step into your backyard? While regularly hosing down and scooping up are your best lines of defense against the stench, there are other tactics you can also employ to keep your backyard from smelling like dog poop. Check out these tips for helping you to retain a sweet-smelling outdoor space.
1. Don’t Slack on Scooping
It’s not rocket science—if you don’t get into the habit of picking up the dog poop in your yard regularly, the smells increase. More poops equal more odors, the longer they’re left, the more they ingrain on the surface, and when the temperatures rise, so do the whiffy wafts. Plus, the poop's high nitrogen levels can burn your lawn, and when it rains, the runoff can contaminate waterways.
If it’s not a job you relish, hire a local pooper scooper to come and do the job for you a few times a week.
2. Habitually Hose Things Down
Leaving your pooch’s business to soak into yard surfaces makes it tougher to get rid of the stinky smells. Porous concrete absorbs it readily, and dog urine can kill your lawn, creating ugly burn patches. Ideally, you’ll want to quickly hose down the area where your pup has pottied straight away. Use a bucket or watering can if you don’t have a hose.
Diluting the dog urine like this immediately best reduces the odors and helps to keep your lawn looking lush rather than lackluster. However, it’s not always practical to follow your pet around waiting for them to potty, so hosing down their regular pee spots once or twice a day is better than nothing. It’s also helpful for removing any leftover poop residue.
3. Don’t Forget About Walls and Fences