Pet Safe Yard Care

I was out walking Gaby this morning. One of my regular morning walks ends at my neighbor’s back gate. We have permission to cut through the gate to walk into our cul-de-sac. This morning I noticed granules spread on the gravel path. It was too late to turn back so I hustled Gaby through the area and when we came to my house I washed off her feet and dried them before bringing her into the house. From the area of application and the look of the granules it appeared to be Casoron weed killer. I looked up information on Casoron and this is what I found.

“HAZARDS TO HUMANS AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS CAUTION Causes moderate eye irritation. Harmful if swallowed. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Avoid breathing dust. Keep all unprotected persons, children, livestock, and pets away from treated area or where there is a danger of drift. Do not rub eyes or mouth with hands.”

The neighbors also have a cat and there is little chance of rain until Sunday. The
material that comes with Casoron talks about watering the granules into the
ground. Hopefully that will happen before their cat or other neighbor dogs or
cats pass through the area. 

I use weed killer sparingly. When I do it is Roundup. It is advised by the manufacturer:" When Roundup has been absorbed by the leaf, the residue will dry. When the residue has dried, children and pets can be allowed back onto the treated areas."

An alternative to Roundup is vinegar and water at a 2:1 ratio. If you are spot weeding on a driveway start with boiling water for maximum effectiveness.

I no longer use a weed and feed type fertilizer on my lawn. Even when it has been fertilized I keep my dog off the grass and adjacent sidewalks, until the fertilizer has had a chance to be rained in, not hard in the Pacific Northwest. I am lucky enough to have an actually dog yard at the back of my house. I use no chemicals in that area.

I do not use slug bait, even the kind that is supposed to be dog safe. I just don’t want to risk the chance that the dog will ingest it.

When I have a young dog I put a fencing edge around the plantings and teach a “get out of the garden” cue.

I love to garden and I love my pets. With a little forethought flower and vegetable gardens, lawns and pets can live in peaceful, safe co-existence.

@ 2012