Whether you’re out playing a game of catch with the kids or hosting the family reunion picnic, the last thing you want is a foul odor wafting through your yard. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to get rid of any unpleasant odors you already have and reduce the risk of new ones.
Change Your Watering Schedule
Watering your plants and lawn can make for a lush and beautiful landscape. Overdo it, however, and your outdoor space may start to smell funky. Poorly draining soil holds onto water, creating a swampy mess in which stinky bacteria thrive. If your lawn smells less than fresh, try watering it a bit less often.
Cleanup After Pets
We’ve all been guilty of sending Fido out into the yard to do his business rather than taking him for a walk. Clearly, picking up any feces left behind by your beloved pooch will keep your yard smelling fresh, but don’t overlook those piddle puddles. Urine too has an odor and can leave your yard smelling not-so-fresh. You can’t pick up pet urine, but you can rinse it away by flushing your pet’s favorite spot with clean water. Disinfectant mixtures are also available to neutralize the urine and eliminate unwanted odors.
Protect Your Plumbing
When household drains and sewer lines clog, the water inside of them has to go somewhere. Depending on where the clog is, that somewhere could be your lawn. A clogged drain may start to cause unpleasant odors around your home or worse – a bad clog and backup could result in swampy sewage puddles in your lawn. To avoid this problem, schedule a residential drain cleaning as soon as you notice an odor and make sure your septic system is in good shape. Proper maintenance now can prevent big problems later.
Manage Waste Properly
To prevent odors outside your home, make sure you’re managing your waste properly. Metal outdoor trash cans keep odors down better than plastic. Whatever type of trash can you use, make sure it has a lid and that you always secure it tightly. If you compost at home, note that your compost pile shouldn’t smell unpleasant. If it does, it’s likely too wet or contains things it shouldn’t such as meat or dairy products. Make sure you’re not composting the wrong things and turn your compost pile more often to dry it out.
Any number of issues can cause an unpleasant odor in your lawn. The key is to track down the source of the odor and then eliminate it. If you can’t, call a friend for help. Sometimes two noses are better than one. Once you’ve solved the problem, you can get back to enjoying the fresh air again.
