If you're a Mid-Michigan dog owner reading this in late February or March, you already know what's coming. The snow is starting to melt, and underneath it is every deposit your dog made since November. Here's your game plan for dealing with it.
Timing Is Everything
Don't wait until the entire yard is clear. Start cleaning sections as they thaw — the south-facing side of your house usually melts first. Working in stages is less overwhelming than trying to tackle the whole yard at once.
The Right Tools
- A flat-edged shovel for frozen or semi-frozen waste
- A rake for gathering scattered decomposed material
- Heavy-duty bags (not thin sandwich bags — you'll need durability)
- Gloves you don't mind throwing away afterward
Work in Zones
Divide your yard into sections and tackle one at a time. Start with high-traffic areas — the back door, pathways, kids' play areas — then work toward the perimeter. This gets the most-used spaces usable first.
After Cleanup
- Water heavily — Soak the worst areas to dilute nitrogen and help flush contaminants deeper into soil
- Assess lawn damage — Note brown spots and dead patches for reseeding in April
- Apply lime — If soil acidity is a concern, light garden lime application helps restore pH
- Start weekly service — This is the best time to begin regular maintenance before waste accumulates again
Skip the Misery — Hire a Pro
Spring deep cleans are what scoopers on Scooped do best. Post a job with an honest description of the situation — how many dogs, how long since last cleanup, and yard photos if you have them. Most scoopers respond within hours, and the typical spring deep clean runs $60–$130. That's a few hours of your weekend you'll never get back if you do it yourself.