Should you pick up dog poop before mowing your lawn?
If you’re a dog owner, you’ve likely found yourself staring at a fresh pile of poop in the middle of your lawn and wondering – should I pick this up before I mow? It’s an important question to consider, as leaving dog waste in your yard while you run the mower over it can lead to some unsavory consequences.
As a dog owner, you want to keep your lawn looking lush and healthy. But you also don’t want mowing to become an unpleasant chore. Knowing when it’s best to pick up dog poop first can help you maintain a pristine lawn while avoiding a stinky mess.
Health Risks of Mowing Over Dog Poop
Mowing over dog poop can spread dangerous bacteria and parasites both in the yard and inside your home. Dog feces commonly contain harmful organisms like E. coli, Giardia, Salmonella, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms. When you run over dog poop with the lawnmower blade, these pathogens become atomized into fine particles that are flung around the yard and can linger for months.
This puts your family, especially young children, at risk of getting sick if they play on the lawn afterward. Kids often play in the grass and then put their hands or toys in their mouth, ingesting whatever contaminants are present. The pathogens in dog feces can lead to severe stomach issues, diarrhea, vomiting, eye infections, headaches, and other troublesome symptoms in humans.
You may also inadvertently track the microscopic fecal matter into your house on your shoes where it can be transferred to carpets, floors, furniture, and surfaces. This leads to much greater exposure as the particles get recirculated through ventilation systems.
For the health and safety of your family, it’s critical to pick up all dog poop from the lawn before running the mower to prevent spreading harmful bacteria and parasites.
Environmental Impact
Dog waste that is left on the lawn and exposed to rain and irrigation water can have a significant negative environmental impact. As it breaks down, the waste releases nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus into the soil. These nutrients then get carried away in runoff and can end up in local streams, rivers, lakes, and other waterways.
An excess of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in bodies of water causes algae blooms. Algae feed off these nutrients and grow rapidly, covering the surface of the water. This blocks sunlight from reaching underwater plants and reduces oxygen levels in the water, harming aquatic ecosystems. The decomposition of the algae blooms also further decreases oxygen levels.
Dog waste contributes to this nutrient pollution that leads to algae blooms and depleted oxygen levels in waterways. So leaving it on your lawn when mowing allows those nutrients to more easily run off with irrigation or rainwater into storm drains and local bodies of water. This pollutes waterways and contributes to algae blooms.
Effect on Lawn Health
Leaving dog poop on the lawn can have detrimental effects on the health of your grass. As it decomposes, dog waste releases nutrients that actually burn and discolor the grass, leaving unsightly patches and yellowing. The high levels of nitrogen and salts act as a fertilizer, essentially “burning” the lawn. What’s more, the decomposition process uses up oxygen in the soil that is needed by grass roots to grow and thrive. This can eventually lead to dead patches where grass stops growing entirely.
Dog urine can also take its toll for similar reasons, scorching grass when left to sit. The excessive nitrogen, salts, and acids found in dog waste upset the pH balance of your lawn. A healthy lawn requires a neutral pH between 6.5-7, which dog poop throws off balance. So leaving droppings on the grass can create dead spots, discoloration, and an environment where weeds thrive. Picking up dog poop helps keep your lawn lush and healthy.
Poop Stains on Mower Blade
Dog poop can leave unsightly stains and residue on your mower’s blades if you run over piles while mowing the lawn. The high moisture content in dog feces causes rust to rapidly form on steel lawn mower blades. Rust degrades and damages the blades, impairing their cutting ability over time.
Mowing over dog poop also creates a big mess. As the spinning mower blade contacts the waste, it will be flung outwards in all directions, splattering across your lawn. This spreads bacteria across a wide area and creates an unpleasant clean up job. You’ll need to sanitize the mower once done to remove clingy feces.
Smell
One of the most unpleasant consequences of mowing over dog poop is that it spreads a foul odor across your lawn and garden. As the mower blades chop up the feces, compounds that produce strong odors are released into the air. The spinning motion of the mower then spreads and disperses the smell everywhere.
The stench can linger over your lawn for hours after mowing. For those with a sensitive nose, it can make spending time outdoors unbearable. The smell can also waft indoors through open doors and windows, making your home smell like a kennel.
Dog poop already has a potent odor on its own. When mowed over, that odor becomes exponentially worse. Avoid subjecting yourself, your family, and your neighbors to the nauseating smell and always pick up dog waste before mowing your lawn. A quick poop patrol beforehand is a small chore that pays off by preventing a stinky situation.
Alternatives to Picking Up Poop
While picking up dog poop before mowing is ideal, there are some alternatives that can make the process easier or minimize the risks:
Use a pooper scooper
Pooper scoopers or dog waste pickup tools allow you to quickly scoop up dog poop without having to bend over or touch it. They generally have a long handle with a scooping apparatus at the end. This makes cleanup fast and hands-free.
Train your dog to go in one spot
If you can train your dog to consistently go poop in a certain part of the yard, it’s easier to manage. You’ll know exactly where to check for poop before mowing. And you can concentrate any landscaping or cleanup to that area.
When to Pick Up Poop Before Mowing
The frequency with which you should pick up your dog’s poop before mowing the lawn depends primarily on the size of your dog and how much waste they produce. Small dogs that poop small amounts may only require pick up every few mowings. But for larger dogs that poop larger amounts, you’ll want to pick up all poop before each mowing session.
Here are some general guidelines based on dog size:
- Small dogs (under 25 lbs): Pick up poop every 2-3 mowings
- Medium dogs (25-50 lbs): Pick up poop every mowing
- Large dogs (over 50 lbs): Pick up poop before each mowing session
If you have multiple dogs using your lawn, you should pick up all poop before each mowing, regardless of size. The more poop that accumulates, the higher the risk of spraying poop debris and residue during mowing.
In addition to regular mowing days, be sure to scan the lawn and pick up all poop right before any big landscaping or lawn care jobs, like aerating, dethatching or reseeding. You want to start with a clean slate before doing any major work on the grass.
Making poop pickup a part of your regular lawn care routine is the best way to keep your grass healthy and avoid flinging poop on your mower and around the yard. Taking a few minutes before each mowing to clean up all poop can save you time and mess in the long run.
How to Pick Up Dog Poop
Picking up dog poop properly takes a few supplies and the right technique. Here’s what you’ll need and the steps to follow for cleaning up dog waste safely and effectively:
Supplies Needed
To pick up dog poop, you’ll need:
- Dog waste bags – Plastic bags designed specifically for picking up and disposing of dog feces. Look for extra thick bags to avoid tears.
- Pooper scooper – A scooping tool with a rake on one end to clean up poop and a covered compartment to store it in.
- Disposable gloves (optional) – For added protection and sanitation.
- Paper towels or wipes – To clean off the scooper after use.
- Leak-proof container – For holding the bags of waste if you won’t be disposing of them immediately.
Proper Technique
Follow these steps to cleanly and hygienically pick up your dog’s waste:
- Put on disposable gloves if desired.
- Use the rake end of the scooper to loosen and pick up the poop. Lift it off the ground completely.
- Place the poop in an empty dog waste bag, being careful not to splash or spill any waste.
- Seal the bag tightly.
- Use a paper towel or wipe to clean off any remnants on the scooper.
- Place the sealed bag into an outdoor bin or other leak-proof container until you can dispose of it properly.
- Throw away gloves if worn and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Following this straightforward process helps make picking up dog poop easier and more sanitary.
Conclusion
As a responsible dog owner, it’s crucial to pick up your dog’s poop before each lawn mowing. While an inconvenient chore, this simple habit keeps your lawn looking healthy, prevents the spread of diseases, and reduces the environmental impact of dog waste runoff.
To ensure a clean and vibrant lawn, be diligent about patrolling for poop prior to mowing. Consider doing a scan of the area in criss-crossing lines. Use pooper scoopers and plastic bags to quickly dispose of any droppings in outdoor trash bins. Making poop pickup part of your regular lawn care routine will lead to a lusher landscape and healthier community.
With some preparation and consistency, you can keep your lawn poop-free and make mowing a breeze. Your grass, nose, and neighbors will thank you!