Picking Up Animal Poop Before Lawn Service. Why This Should Be Your First Step

Every homeowner wants a clean, crisp, freshly cut lawn—but few realize just how important preparing your yard is before your landscaping crew arrives. One of the most overlooked steps in this process? Picking Up Animal Poop Before Lawn Service. If you have a dog or other outdoor pets, clearing animal feces from your yard before a scheduled cut isn’t just courteous—it’s critical for both the health of your lawn and the safety of your lawn care team.

At Ecoscape Outdoor Services, we’ve seen it all—and we know that skipping this simple step can lead to bigger issues than you might expect. Let’s break down why removing pet waste should always be the first thing you do before a lawn care visit.

💩 The Hidden Hazards of Pet Waste on Your Lawn

Most homeowners assume that pet waste is just a temporary nuisance. But in reality, it poses both health and environmental hazards.

Unlike cow manure, dog waste is not a fertilizer. It’s high in nitrogen and can burn your grass if left to sit. It also contains harmful bacteria like E. coli and parasites such as roundworms and hookworms. When left on your lawn, rainwater can wash these pathogens into storm drains, contaminating local water systems.

Leaving feces on the lawn regularly will also create patchy yellow or brown spots, especially in warm, wet conditions. Over time, this contributes to uneven growth, lawn disease, and even permanent grass damage.

👷‍♂️ Protecting the Safety and Health of Your Lawn Crew

Your lawn care team shows up with sharp tools, high-powered equipment, and a commitment to precision—but animal waste makes their job not only unpleasant but unsafe.

✅ Slipping Hazards

Crew members walking behind mowers, pushing trimmers, or carrying heavy blowers can easily step on hidden waste, slip, or track it onto sidewalks, patios, and even equipment. This can lead to messy accidents or even minor injuries if footing is compromised on hills or wet areas.

✅ Biohazard Exposure

Pet waste isn’t just gross—it’s a biohazard. If it gets on tools, gloves, or uniforms, it poses a risk of spreading bacteria to workers and their families. Lawn care teams move from house to house, and contact with uncollected feces increases the chance of cross-contamination between properties.

✅ Delayed or Skipped Service

If a lawn is especially bad, crews may be forced to skip certain areas or refuse service entirely to avoid unsafe or unsanitary conditions. This disrupts the job, leads to uneven cutting, and causes scheduling issues for both the client and the provider.

🌱 How Picking Up Animal Poop Improves Your Lawn’s Health

You may not realize it, but removing animal waste is a foundational lawn care step. Here’s why it matters more than you think:

✅ Promotes Even Growth

When animal waste is left on the lawn, it can cause isolated areas of nitrogen burn that interfere with even mowing height. That means your grass gets scalped in some areas and left too long in others. Removing the waste allows for a cleaner, more uniform cut.

✅ Reduces Disease Risk

Pet waste left on the lawn attracts flies and insects that can spread lawn diseases, especially during South Tampa’s humid months. Removing it minimizes this risk and helps maintain a healthier lawn ecosystem.

✅ Prevents Soil Contamination

Animal feces change the soil chemistry over time. A lawn repeatedly exposed to pet waste may develop poor drainage or fungal problems that require additional treatment. Picking up after pets consistently ensures the soil stays balanced and fertile.

📅 When to Do It – And How Often

Ideally, pet owners should walk the yard the morning of their scheduled cutting service and remove all visible waste. For larger dogs or multi-pet homes, it may be necessary to do a sweep every other day, especially during the rainy season when decomposition slows and spread increases.

Using a pooper scooper or disposable bags makes the process quick and sanitary. Some homeowners choose to hire a pet waste removal company—but even a few minutes of your time can go a long way toward protecting your lawn and your service provider.

🌟 The Ecoscape Outdoor Services Policy on Pet Waste

At Ecoscape, we want to deliver the best results possible—but we also have a responsibility to protect our crew. If a lawn is heavily covered in pet waste, our team may be forced to:

• Skip service for that visit

• Trim around contaminated areas

• Charge an additional cleanup fee

We do everything we can to accommodate our clients, but we ask all pet owners to do their part in preparing the lawn for service. It’s a small effort that makes a big difference in the safety, quality, and success of every visit.

📞 Ready for a Cleaner, Greener Lawn?

Partnering with Ecoscape means getting the best in professional lawn care—but the best results start with a clean foundation. Help us do our best work by taking a moment to pick up pet waste before your scheduled visit.

Call 813-518-5555 Let’s keep your lawn clean, safe, and beautiful—together.