Spring has sprung, the grass is ... icky

While most Manitobans are happy to see the winter's snow melting away, the warm temperatures also usher in some less-than-welcome signs of spring.

Lurking beneath the piles of melting snow is a fungus called snow mould, one of the biggest contributors to seasonal allergies.

The recent weather has provided perfect conditions for the growth of snow mould, says Alan Oslund, landscape maintenance manager at the Shelmerdine Garden Centre.

"The conditions we've had in the last week or so temperatures around freezing, a lot of moisture, all of the foggy days that we've had have certainly contributed to their growth," he said.

Homeowners will know they've got snow mould if they see grey, circular patches of mouldy grass on the lawn.Simple raking will prevent long-term damage to the grass, Oslund said.

"What you should do is just wait until the lawn is dry and rake it up," Oslund said. "After that, a de-thatching and aeration of the lawn will be helpful."

More energetic lawn aficionados can spread out any large piles of snow to speed the melt and help the grass dry a bit faster, he suggested.

Snow mould also creates problems for allergy sufferers. Winnipeg pharmacist Bev Eros says once the snow begins melting, she starts to see customers with runny noses and watery eyes.

"Typically, once the snow melts, then the spores from the mould are in the air and anyone that's got a sensitivity to them, of course, is going to get some symptoms."

Eros says even if a person has never experienced seasonal allergies before, they can develop suddenly, especially in adults.

Joggers step lightly on messy sidewalks

Meanwhile, walkers and joggers are eager to hit the sidewalks after a long winter, but some complain it's difficult to exercise while dodging a season's worth of melting dog feces.

Jim Cook, a runner for 45 years, says he runs on the road after the snow melts because the sidewalk is full of pet-related obstacles.

He says people should be more diligent about cleaning up after their pets. "It's only common decency to do so," he said.

"It's difficult enough to pay attention to what you're doing when you're running the cracks in the sidewalks, the curbs, that kind of thing create enough of a problem without having to dodge the dog manure."

It's the law to "stoop and scoop" in Winnipeg; Animal Services officers can issue fines of up to $1,000 to anyone who violates the bylaw.

"I think most people know that they should be picking it up," says Animal Services CEO Tim Dack."Unfortunately, a lot of people are going, 'Well, nobody saw me, it happened one time.'Well, that happens 100 times in front of somebody's house and the next thing you know, you have a toilet out there."

The agency investigated 113 poop-related complaints in 2006, Dack said, but only two people were charged.