Many pet owners let their furry friend run amok in the yard whenever it’s time for them to go to the bathroom. The yard is a convenient place to let your pet relieve themselves, but you must clean it up right afterwards. Leaving pet waste to linger in your yard can have dire consequences. 

Here’s how to safely clean animal waste from your yard.

Have the Necessary Supplies

When it comes to cleaning pet waste, it’s important to have the right supplies at your disposal. Plastic bags, gloves and a place to dispose of the waste is what you need to safely clean up after your pet. Animal waste is filled with all sorts of bacteria that can cause a severe illness, so you can never be too careful.

If you’re unable to procure gloves, the plastic bags can be used as an alternative. Simply place your hand in the bag, grab the waste, use your other hand and pull it through. This safely and effectively removes waste. Remember to wash your hands afterwards though. 

Another way to safely remove pet waste is to use a tool called pooper scooper. This handy tool allows you to pick up the mess without even touching it. However, it’s still important that you wash your hands. You’d be amazed at how much bacteria can linger on the scooper. It may also help that you sterilize it after cleaning up a mess as well. Bleach or even Lysol can get the job done. 

What Happens If I Leave Pet Waste in My Yard?

You may be wondering why it’s so important to remove pet waste from your yard. It’s possible that you’ve even heard that it can be used as manure. However, this isn’t exactly the case. 

Pet waste is actually more of a hazard to your yard than a benefit. In fact, did you know that one gram of pet waste, specifically dogs, may contain up to 23 million fecal bacteria? It’s only in extremely rare cases where pet waste can act as fertilizer. 

Lawn professionals say that pet waste is a poison to yards as it can contain things like various types of worms and other harmful bacteria. It’s best that you pick it up after your pet finishes to minimize the impact.

Safely removing pet waste from your yard is more important than you realize. Due to the hazardous nature of pet waste, it can have a severe impact on both your yard and your health.

Before World War II, White Dutch Clover was recommended for lawns. The clover was used for grass seed mixes. Unfortunately, petrochemical weed killers were introduced, and they killed clover too. Since then, clover has been classified as a weed, although it has many benefits. Here are five reasons why you should add clover to your lawn.

Natural Resistance to Pests

Armyworms, clinch bugs, cutworms, and sod webworms are the main pests that can affect your lawn. Since it may be expensive to purchase pesticides, clover is the best option. Clover offers natural resistance to most of these pests.

Cutworms, armyworms, and clinch bugs cannot attack lawns where clover has been planted. Thus, when mixed with other lawn grasses, clover will protect your lawn. You will also prevent environmental pollution since you will cease from using pesticides. 

Grows Slowly

Clover grows slowly and is resilient. Due to its resilience, clover smoothers the growth of other weeds in your yard. Your lawns will remain weed-free and beautiful. Since clover grows slowly, it is suitable for places with inadequate rainfall. Its roots run deep into the soil and can survive the driest spells. 

Adds Nitrogen to the Soil

Every lush and vibrant lawn has some fertilizer applied to it. Granular or compost fertilizer are the main types of fertilizers used in turf. However, a lot of people do not know that clover is a legume. Clover has nitrogen-fixing bacteria that adds nitrogen to the soil.

The plant acts as a fertilizer machine. When planted in a yard with poor soils, the clover heals the soil by converting nitrogen from the atmosphere to a plant-friendly form. Nitrogen in the soil will boost the growth of clover and other lawn grasses.

Resistant to Fungi

Fungal infections have adverse effects on your yard. Thus, the persistence and yield of your forage determine the growth pattern of your lawn. You may notice brown or purple stripes on the blades of grass growing on your turf. A layer of white dust is also a sign of fungus on your lawn. 

Clover has resistance to fungi infections. When planted together with other types of grass, clover will provide immunity against fungal infections. Clover saves you money and time that could be used to buy and spray fungicides. 

Attracts Honeybees

Clover is among the bees’ favorite flowers. Honey from clover is also delicious. If you are not allergic to bees, let clover bloom in your yard. Honeybees are the primary pollinators of most human food consumed. Crops such as almonds depend on bees as the primary pollinators.

However, due to the excess use of chemical pesticides and frequent mowing of lawns, bees are declining. This rapid decline will affect food prices. As a homeowner, reduce the use of chemical pesticides and insecticides and let clover bloom.

Clover can benefit your lawn grass in many ways. The use of clover is not only organic and inexpensive, but it’s also easy and effective.