Many gardeners who just started growing their own vegetables, herbs and flowers wonder about the “smells of landscaping plants”. Landscaping plants can leave an aroma that can linger throughout the whole garden. This is because many landscaping plants have what is referred to as a soil mimicking trait. This means that they will gather whatever soil matter is thrown into the soil including fallen leaves, pine needles, coffee grounds, pet feces, etc. They will then gather and spread this soil matter around and on the surface of your garden or yard. The end result is that your landscaping plants may smell like a garden or yard full of “real” plants.
Some people wonder how they can avoid this situation. The answer to this question is very simple. If you are growing any edible plants, you should never attempt to water them while they are wet. Wetness can cause the roots of your plant to break down. As a result, your yard or garden may smell like the “smell of new plants” instead of a nice aroma from your favorite landscape plant. Another good rule of thumb is that you should water your garden or yard only when it appears to be getting hotter.
You may have already discovered that it is smart to mulch your trees, shrubs and plants. This will help to keep them healthy and prevent weeds from growing. However, one important piece of advice is that you should mulch your yard after it rains. The reason for this is that water that has collected on the ground will run off in the direction of your home. This water will actually run toward your home, causing you to water the plants in your yard even more than you already do.
A very popular solution for odors is to use organic materials such as pine straw, dried corn cob pieces and pet pee. These materials are all natural products that will help to mask a strong smell. Remember, however, that all yard odor remedies are not created equal. Some of them are actually quite harmful to your plants and to your yard.
If your garden has some newly mowed grasses, you might want to mow the grasses several times over the winter. This will help to thaw out the soil and will also help to kill off any weed seeds that might be in the ground. If you are not sure what I’m talking about, here’s a tip: cut the grasses back an inch deep. If the smell remains, you’ve probably cut too deep.
The worst kinds of smells are those that originate in plants themselves. As a matter of fact, most of the “fishy” smells we associate with plants are produced by fungi. In other words, the tiny green shoots you see sprouting in damp earth are being produced by a fungus. And, like a real stink bug, the fungi will move from plant to plant, finding wet places and releasing the spores into the air.
If you’ve got a nice garden space that surrounds your home, there’s a chance that you’re going to have a slightly unpleasant odor. If it bothers you, try spraying your yard with a garden hose a couple of times during the bad odors. However, it’s usually pretty easy to avoid this problem, simply by being conscious of the conditions of your yard. For example, it’s a good idea to water your yard only when it’s really dry out.
If you’re still asking “Does my landscaping plant smell?” after reading these few guidelines, I’m confident that you know how to deal with the problem. You probably even have some way of taking care of the problem yourself. If, however, you find that your yard is still suffering from the after-effects of an unsightly lawn, it might be time to call a professional to your assistance.