6 Reasons Why Your Lawn Smells Bad (Easy Solutions)

If your lawn smells gross, you might be wondering if it’s possible to fix it. These odors can come from all sorts of sources, most of which are avoidable and removable. The scent might be the most noticeable part, but it’s also likely having a negative impact on your yard.

Your lawn smells bad because it’s being overwatered, which prevents the grass from getting enough oxygen. As root rot sets in, the lawn turns brown and the soil gets mushy. Other causes of a bad-smelling lawn are fungus, flies, animal feces, and poorly managed compost.

In this article, we’ll cover the six reasons why your lawn smells bad and what you can do about it. Each reason will have a solution, so there’s no doubt you’ll head home with the helpful information you need to bring your lawn back to good condition.

Your Lawn Might Not Be Draining Properly

One of the main reasons your lawn might smell bad is because there’s too much water soaking into the soil. We’ve all been guilty of pouring too much water on the grass, but it can have long-term effects.

Puddling water turns the soil into a mushy soup, allowing bacteria to grow and spread. As it spreads, your lawn will smell quite awful. It also creates a breeding ground for mosquitos and other bugs.

eHow mentions a flooded lawn can invite moss, too. Many types of moss can ruin the grass and absorb the nutrients, causing gross smells and brown grass spots.

So, what can you do about it? Try these tips:

• Reduce the amount of water you give to the lawn. It shouldn’t be flooded! Your lawn simply needs enough water to stay hydrated for a couple of days. Many people water their lawn every morning, so try to limit the overwatering.
• Remove grass clippings as soon as you mow the lawn. Leftover clippings can prevent the soil from aerating, forcing it to retain moisture while limiting sunlight. It creates the perfect environment for bacteria, mold, and fungus.
• Make sure your lawn is graded to a slope, if possible. Your lawn needs to be the right height near the driveway to allow it to drain to the sidewalk. Even a five-degree slope can drastically improve a flooded lawn.

Bad Lawn Smells Come From Fungus

You shouldn’t see mushrooms or other fungi on the lawn. Fungi are some of the top causes of a lawn that smells like fish. Fungus is dangerous for pets, people, and the grass, especially if you’re unsure of what kind it is. If you notice fungi in the grass, it’s time to take action.

Rotting soil invites fungi, so follow these suggestions to eliminate the problem:

• Try Scott’s DiseaseEx Lawn Fungicide. Each 10-pound bag has enough fungicide for 5,000 square feet, so you’ll have no problem treating your lawn.
• Dry the grass as quickly as possible. Wet soil and grass lets fungus grow easily, so it’s important to take care of it as quickly as possible. See the suggestions mentioned above to handle this common, problematic issue.
• Never mow, rake, or manually remove fungi. Either of these methods will inevitably spread the fungal spores througout your lawn, causing a host of issues. This mistake can make your lawn smell bad for a long time.

Compost Bins Can Give the Yard Foul Odors

Compost bins are notorious for causing unidentified grass smells in the yard. Gardening Know How points out that an improper carbon: nitrogen ratio (30:1), lack of aeration, excess water, or feces in the compost can make it smell horrible. This scent will fill the lawn, undoubtedly making you think it might be the grass.

You should mix your compost pile once or twice per week; Anything less will let it settle and invite all sorts of bacteria and mold. The compost can become unusable since it’ll spread the odor throughout the garden or lawn.

If you’ve already spread compost on your yard and it suddenly smells bad, check if the pile is rotten. A tumbling compost bin or aerator will do the trick. Give the Yard Butler Compost Aerator a chance if you want to quickly stir and aerate the pile. It comes with two blades that mix and move the pile to add oxygen.

Aerating the compost pile is a big part of the process to eliminate bad lawn smells, but it’s not the only step you should take.

It’s equally important to cover the compost bin if it rains frequently where you live. Too much rainwater can flood the bin. On the same note, it can rot your lawn. Don’t overwater the grass if it’s always raining!

Flies and Feces Can Ruin the Grass’s Scent

Even if you don’t have pets, there’s a good chance birds, raccoons, and other animals might be leaving waste on your lawn. If it smells bad, it’s best to look throughout the grass for droppings.

Rotten animal droppings can invite flies, fungus, and bacteria. Check the lawn for flies, gnats, mosquitos, and other bugs if it smells a bit off. You can follow them to the source and remove it.

For the best results, spray the area until it’s clean. You can mow the lawn after, but make sure you remove all of the animal droppings beforehand. Much like fungi, mowing animal waste will spread it throughout the lawn and lead to bad smells and other issues.

Find out other reasons your lawn is full of flies here.

Chickens and Other Pets Makes Your Lawn Smell Bad

Chickens, dogs, cats, and any other pet you might have could leave all sorts of waste on the lawn. Feathers, droppings, pet dander, and urine can cause problems for your lawn. There are many ways to neutralize pet urine on your grass, all of which remove and prevent bad smells.

We recommend keeping your pets off of the grass while it’s being fixed. Whether you’re tilling, reseeding, fertilizing, or watering the lawn, it’s important to not let animals on the grass.

If you have a chicken coop or a dog run, maintain it as much as possible. Also, keep it far away from the lawn to prevent dirt, hay, pebbles, and other material from falling into the grass. They could contain bacteria that will spread once they reach the lawn.

Root Rot Could Be Why Your Yard Has a Strange Odor

Root rot is a leading cause of why your lawn might smell bad. Overwatering and lack of proper aeration lead to root rot. Another common explanation for root rot is a lack of nutrients from poor soil. The soil shouldn’t be too compact or loose; Either issue can ruin the grass.

Here’s what you can do to stop root rot from making your lawn smell bad:

• Use a watering timer to set your sprinklers. Too much water can make the soil overhydrated and create the perfect environment for rotting roots.
• Reseed the soil and top it off with fertilizer. Whether you prefer pre-made fertilizer or compost, both solutions will add nutrients to the soil and help the grass grow healthily.
• Mow your lawn to 2.5 inches as much as necessary. If the lawn is too long, it’ll prevent sunshine from reaching the grass’s roots. The soil will flood and the roots will rot.
• Till the soil if the grass is patchy. This process can let the soil breathe, preventing root rot and adding oxygen to the dirt. Reseed the lawn when you’re done tilling it.

In Conclusion

Nobody wants their lawn to smell bad. It’s gross, embarrassing, and harmful to the yard. The good news is there are plenty of ways to handle each potential cause. Ensuring your lawn has the proper amount of nutrients, water, sunlight, and oxygen will prevent most grass odor issues.