Safe Lawn Care Products for Pets

Your beautiful lawn is a point of pride, and we get that. But, if you have dogs or cats, you may be slightly concerned about some of your lawn-care products. Is this lawn fertilizer safe for your pets? What’s the safest weed killer for pets? The last thing you want is an enormous vet bill because your beloved pet has reacted badly to a lawn-care product.

Your yard is your space and often an area you share with your nearest and dearest, like your pets. It’s hard to kick back and relax when you’re worried about your dog discovering a liking for pesticides. Spring is when you’ll make your first fertilization application of the growing season and adding preventative herbicides. If you’ve got dogs, cats, or any other animals you share your lawn with — it’s wise to choose cautiously. Here, we’ll look at some of the safest lawn fertilizers and weed killers to use and some ways to make your lawn a nice place for your pets to enjoy.

Related: The Best Lawn Fertilizers to Use This Spring

Which Lawn Fertilizers Aren’t Safe for Pets?

Certain lawn fertilizers aren’t safe for your dogs or pets. Generally, any lawn fertilizers which are mineral and chemical based are dangerous for your four-legged friends. Dogs, in particular, are especially vulnerable as it’s easy for them to ingest fertilizer granules or expose their coat to liquid fertilizer residue. 

Many lawn fertilizers contain potassium chloride, also known as “potash” fertilizers. Potassium is one of the key macronutrients your grass needs, increasing turf resilience to pest and weed invasion. Potassium fosters plant health, improving drought and disease resistance and allowing your grass to withstand extreme temperature changes. 

Potassium’s ability to strengthen your lawn’s tolerance to temperature changes makes it an essential addition to your spring and fall fertilization applications. 

But potassium chloride is highly dangerous to your pets and you. A lethal dose for your pet dog is around 85 g. That’s six tablespoons — so not as much as you might think. 

The concentrated salt form of nitrogen and phosphorus (the two other macronutrients your lawn needs) can cause harm, too. If your pet manages to ingest these synthetic salts, it will cause symptoms of poisoning. Some of these symptoms include:

• Heavy salivating (drooling)
• Vomiting 
• Shortness of breath
• Blood in feces. 

Although most fertilizers are unsafe for animal consumption, you can still apply your chosen lawn fertilizers to your grass — you need to let it dry (if it’s a liquid formulation) or be appropriately watered and exercise caution. Be careful when you let your pet out onto your lawn, and keep a close eye on it if you’re concerned about fertilizer poisoning. 

What’s a  Good Pet-Friendly Lawn Fertilizer I Can Use?

If you’re looking for a high-quality lawn fertilizer that will do the job but is also safe for your pets, try an organic fertilizer from Mirimichi Green. 

The premium organic lawn fertilizer and biostimulant combo for Mirimichi Green is an excellent lawn fertilizer. Plus, it’s safe for pets and also environmentally friendly and organic. It contains slow-release nitrogen to improve the green color of your lawn and a superb blend of macronutrients and micronutrients to encourage your grass to thrive. 

In general, organic lawn fertilizers are the safest choice for your pets. These are fertilizers derived from natural materials — not manufactured synthesized chemicals. Organic fertilizers can contain nutrient salts but are found in much lower concentrations.  

TOP TIP: Dogs, in particular, love the smell of organic animal-based fertilizers. Anything containing feather meal or manures will be tempting, so bear that in mind. 

Which Other Lawn Products Aren’t Safe for Pets?

Lawn-care products like herbicides and insecticides can also pose a risk to your pets.  

Strong, healthy, thriving lawns that are carefully looked after are far less likely to succumb to pest or weed invasion. This is why spring is such an important season for your lawn, as what you do now will set you up nicely for the growing season.

Herbicides, by nature, are supposed to be toxic to plants. We recommend using weed killer only when absolutely necessary.  

Related: How to Kill Weeds Naturally

Remember to follow the product application instructions carefully for the safest and best results. Be exact about the dilution of liquid herbicides and follow the recommended application rate on a bag of granular weed killer. For most granular herbicides, you’ll need to water the product in and let it dry.  

Clean up any spilled granules or dilute puddles of excess herbicide with water before you let your pet back onto your lawn. The same applies to insecticides and fungicides — keep those pets away until the product is watered in and has dried. If you’re looking for a pet-safe fungicide and insecticide combo, try Caravan-G from Syngenta to target pests and fungi effectively.  

Discover some of the most effective fungicides to use on your lawn in this blog.

A Pet Safe Lawn Weed Killer

Another outstanding product from Mirimichi Green, this non-toxic weed killer, is fast-acting and doesn’t contain harmful glyphosate, which is harmful to your health. You’ll see results in 15 minutes from an organic and eco-friendly formulation (it’s biodegradable!), so there are no dangerous residues to worry about. The best part is, this highly effective lawn weed killer is entirely pet and people-safe. You’re welcome.  

Pet Safe Pest Control

To effectively target mosquito larvae, ants, whiteflies, spiders, and more — try Mirimichi Green Non-Toxic Pest Control. We can’t recommend this one enough. Tested by standards set by the World Health Organization, it has an 80%+ efficacy rate to kill larvae and pests in a 24-hour period.

Naturally formulated, this insecticide smells great like citrus and is safe to spray around people and pets. Unlike traditional insecticides, Mirimichi pest control also repels targeted insects for up to 4 weeks. You can immediately re-enter the treated area after it dries. 

A Pet-Safe Lawn

Remember that creating a pet-safe lawn isn’t just about the products you apply but also about other plants around or in your lawn. Certain mushrooms and plants are poisonous to your pets — like lilies and foxgloves. It’s important to research this before you introduce new fauna or pets! It’s also an idea to be aware of the lawn care equipment you’re using. Keep pets indoors when you’re using lawnmowers and leaf blowers to prevent debris from accidentally hurting your pet. In addition, store your lawn care equipment in a safe place to prevent curiosity, quite literally, from killing the cat.  

Make a start on your golf course lawn today and shop our range of high-quality and effective lawn-care products.