It is commonly known that lawn fertilizer has many valuable benefits when it comes to lawn care. This makes it an important part of maintaining your home. We all know dogs love to run through the grass and enjoy the outdoors. Fortunately, these two don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Not only can you successfully maintain a lawn with dogs, but you can do it using lawn fertilizer. It is, however, of the utmost importance to know when you can let your dog back on the lawn after using fertilization products. Across the board, it is recommended to wait 2 hours with wet products and until dry products have been watered in. Let’s dive a little deeper as to why waiting a specific time frame is so imperative.
What To Know About Fertilizer Applications
In the market today, fertilizer comes in either a liquid or solid-state. Neither one is “safer” than the other. It is imperative that whoever is applying the product handles it with care and follows all safety precautions on the label. The difference being addressed here is the average length of time each form needs to set into the lawn.
Liquid Fertilizer: Most liquid fertilizers on the market will tell you to wait until the product has dried to interact with it. Several variables could affect when a liquid fertilizer dries, including the temperature and cloud conditions. So, as a rule of thumb, we recommend waiting at least two hours. After those two hours, take a moment to evaluate your lawn before letting your dog out. If it is still wet, wait a little longer. If it is dry, you have met the safety precaution found on most product labels.
Dry Fertilizer: This (usually a granular shape) is the choice fertilizer application used when it comes to the treatment of residential homes. This lawn care product is applied by spreading small pellets manually or with a spreader tool. Outside of its physical properties, one of the biggest differences between it and liquid fertilizer is that it needs to be watered into the lawn.
Dry fertilizer is ineffective if allowed to remain resting on the lawn. The pellets need to be watered in to be activated, whether by Mother Nature or your sprinkler system. This is important information in the context of your pets and recent fertilization service. A dog’s hair and paws can easily pick up pellets. These pellets can fall into water or food bowls or be ingested by a dog licking his fur – to name two worse-case scenarios. That is why we recommend waiting until the pellets have been watered in before allowing your dog back onto a treated lawn.
General Fertilizer Precautions And Dogs
As everyone knows, dogs are a lot lower to the ground than humans are. This makes them more exposed to the effects of fertilization. Dogs are prone to digging and rolling around in the soil, further exposing them to the herbicides that they need to stay away from.
- It is crucial to be aware of where you place your fertilizer to know the boundaries.
- Do not leave unused bags out and lock them up so dogs cannot get into them.
- If doing it yourself, consider using organic fertilizer as opposed to other kinds.
- If your dog ingests fertilizer, it could be a potential threat to their health, which leads to a trip to a vet.
- Always be sure to be careful when using herbicides. Chemicals used in weed control pose even more of a risk than fertilizers in some cases.
- Most herbicide applications are liquids that are safe from transference after they dry. If a dog eats grass, we recommend watering the lawn before letting pets roam through the yard.
Proper Lawn Care
At Chorbie, we fully understand that keeping your dog healthy is a top priority. This is why we abide by all state regulations and are routinely checked by the Texas Dept. of Agriculture. Contact us if you need help with your lawn’s fertilization and want a team held accountable for its products and their use. With us, your lawn will receive the care it needs while also protecting a man’s best friend.
