As a responsible pet owner, there are certain concessions you have to make to keep your dogs, cats and other pets safe in your home and yard. There are certain house plants you need to keep away from your pets. There are specific foods that you must never feed to your pets. And to add to the list, there are certain fertilizers you should use on your lawn to keep your dog and cat safe, and keep your lawn green.
Pet-Friendly Fertilizers
Of all the fertilizers on the market today, a large majority are fairly harmless to pets after 72 hours of application. But the idea of keeping Fido or Fluffy indoors for 3 days doesn't sound fun for anyone. That's why it is a good idea for everyone if you use fertilizers that are great for your lawn and not harmful to your pets.
Organic Fertilizer
Look for organic fertilizers that are EPA-certified to use on your lawn. They will be safer for your pet. However, make sure to follow the application instructions because there might be a small waiting period after application before it is safe for your pet to start playing out in the yard again.
Slow-Release Meal Fertilizer
All-natural options like bone meal, cornmeal, cottonseed meal and blood meal are also great options for your lawn and not harmful to your canine or feline. If you choose slow-release meal fertilizer, double check the label to make sure there are no synthetic additives. Also, bone meal and blood meal do have an appetizing smell to pets, so make sure to follow the application instructions and keep any left over fertilizers out of reach.
Seaweed
Seaweed has 60 trace minerals which include potassium, phosphate and nitrogen, just to name a few. It also contains hormones that help plants grow. Don't fret if you don't live by the sea. Seaweed fertilizer is available in ground form and as a spray-on liquid.
Potash
Potash, or fertilizer potassium, is rich in potassium, which is essential for plant growth. It is also not harmful to your pooch in either its liquid or granular form. You can also mix it safely with bone meal to provide extra nitrogen nutrition while still keeping it safe for pets.
Grass Clippings
You can use up to 40 percent less fertilizer on your lawn by using grass clippings to fertilize. Best of all, it's free and clearly very safe for your pets. Grass clippings will provide your lawn with nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, as well as lesser amounts of other essential plant and lawn nutrients.
Manure
Usually not everyone's first choice of fertilizer, but when used right, manure is cost effective and safe for pets. The most important point about using manure is to let is compost for 3 to 4 months before using it to remove the smell. Otherwise, Fido may want to eat it.
Compost
Another very cost effective fertilizer is compost. The biggest challenge of using compost as a fertilizer is making sure your pets cannot access the the compost itself, and second is to make enough to adequately feed your lawn and plants. Many of the big box stores like Lowes and Home Depot have pet safe compost bins you can use to make your compost.
Looking for tips on what plants and plant products are best for your pets? Download our ebook here.
