A pet can pick up harmful chemicals from fertilisers and weed killers on foot pads and in hair. When a pet cleans its feet or coat, these chemicals can enter the pet's body and cause serious illness. Incorporating some pet-friendly growing techniques and using a few pet-friendly fertilisers can provide a lawn safe for pets to run on.
Over-Seeding
The best pet-friendly weed control involves no herbicides at all. According to home improvement specialists "The Handyguys" in a 2010 article written for Home Ec 101's website, over-seeding your lawn creates a thick lush carpet of grass that inhibits weed growth. Weeds can't invade the lawn simply because there isn't enough room to establish a root structure with all that green grass in the way.
Corn Gluten Pellets
Corn gluten pellets spread over the lawn will inhibit growth of weeds and crab grass and won't harm your pets if they happen to eat some. The pellets are composed from the residue of starch production from corn or wheat and are often mixed with molasses, fat or colloidal clay to bind them. These pellets are used primarily as a cattle feed and may be purchased anywhere bagged feed for livestock is sold.
Blood Meal
Yes, the name is a little intimidating, but that shouldn't put you off this pet-friendly fertiliser. Blood meal is literally dried, powdered blood, which is often mixed with animal bone meal. The result is a fertiliser high in nitrogen, a mineral crucial to plant development. The compound is water-soluble, which means it can easily be mixed as a liquid fertiliser to deliver nutrients quickly. Precise measurements are important when using any liquid fertiliser, as too much of the compound could burn your lawn.
Potash
Potash is a potassium containing salt which occurs naturally in the earth's crust. The copper-coloured mineral is water-soluble and often included in liquid fertilisers because of its potassium content. Combining this mineral with blood or bone meal provides a balanced, pet-friendly fertiliser for your lawn.
