Smelly Lawn

Hi,

I am new to this forum and have joined in the hope that I might be able to find some advice from those in the know.

Whenever it rains my lawn starts to smell awful like dog dirt. We don't have a dog and to my knowledge there are no other animals (eg foxes) using my lawn as a toilet.

Few weeks ago we did throw down some seed/fertilizer mix to fill in some bare patches caused by kids garden toys covering up the grass.

Any ideas what the smell might be or how we can get rid.

Thanks so much if anyone can help, it's driving me mad!

Elaine

 

Hello elainem from Manchester and welcome to GC!

My first thought regarding your problem was how long have you been in this house ... but then you say a few weeks ago you put some fertilizer on the lawn. You also say "whenever it rains" ... lucky you! ... it smells! Is this just since you put this fertilizer down? If you can answer yes to this last question, I would strongly suggest it is the fertilizer! :D :D I detest the smell and, like you, think it smells poo-ey.

Sorry it took so long for someone to answer you (we tend to be a bit more up on our toes here, but it is Sunday!) and hope you enjoy the site!


Maybe someone else has different views.

 

hello and welcome Elainem,my first thought was visiting foxes they leave an aweful pong. they do in my garden when ever they visit however the rain should wash it off. you are lucky to have rain but tnen again it always rains in MANCHESTER what ever the weather :D well its Sunday. :( fancy

 

It sounds like amonia is being released from the fertiliser but other lawn smells can be due to methane (bad drainage and anerobic bacteria) or a composty mushroom type smell from fungi (fairy rings etc.) If you don't remove the lawn cuttings you can also get decomposing clippings that can get a bit ripe.

Most animals causing a smell in the lawn will also start to produce yellowing and bare patches and you will also find droppings.

 

i would do a test run with armillatox to get rid of smell, in my experience one soon becomes sensitised to an unwelcome smell, and the amarilltox or jeyes fluid would smother it

[ 29. September 2006, 07:46 AM: Message edited by: Lady Gardener ]

 

thanks for all replies. Lady Gardener, what is amarilltox - do you mean put it down on the lawn to mask the smell.

Fancy, the smell seems to be caused BY the rain, so it's not washing away the smell of any animals.

Thanks for all your help Elaine

 

YES WHAT IS AMARILLTOX? sounds something from downunder,what ever it is Iam sure you will get rid of it. fancy

 

Amartillox is a cleansing agent, used widely for problems like honey fungus to cleanse the soil. I have some but I believe it has been pulled from the market for some reason. I may be wrong about this! The next best things is Jeyes Fluid, as Lady Gardener says, which is also a garden cleansing agent.

 

Armatillox is still available but only registered now for use as general disinfectant; but a lot of people still use it as insecticide and fungicide.

 

I'm not sure if Armatillox / Jeyes would counteract any action of the fertiliser ... but as far as I'm concerned, these two products stink so it would be replacing one stinky thing with another! :eek: Best let the fertilizer do its job and the smell will eventually fade.

 

is it safe to use on eddibles :eek:

 

EU got all sniffy about testing insecticides and fungicides so Armatillox is now sold as a general cleaner. As LoL points out it does smell (Of disinfectant - like an old fashioned really clean Casualy Department ) It's my weapon of choice for anything mossy, green and slimey or smelling of doggypoo!

For more info see Armillatox UK

But, see also Armillatox.com (Worldwide)