Pet-friendly Weed Control for Lawns
Keeping your lawn looking healthy and green can take a lot of time and energy. Many products are available for fertilizing, weed control and pest control, but most of these commercial products contain toxic chemicals that leave residues on the grass. Pets can pick up these chemicals on their paws and bodies. Using organic, pet-friendly weed control products for lawns will protect your pets and family from toxic residues. Does this Spark an idea?
-
Hand-pulling
-
The old-fashioned method of hand-pulling weeds is both an effective and pet-friendly way to eliminate lawn weeds. This requires some physical labor, however, and may not be suitable for some people. Weeds are easier to pull when they are young and rooted shallowly. Try to get as much of the root as possible. You should wear garden gloves to prevent injury from spiny weeds and from skin irritation from the weed fluids.
Vinegar
-
Ordinary household vinegar is an effective organic and pet-friendly way to get rid of lawn weeds. Vinegar is a mild solution of acetic acid, which will burn the plant leaves and cause the plant to die. Pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it directly onto the leaves, trying to keep it away from other plants as much as possible. It may take several applications over a few days to see results. Try mixing 2 cups of salt in 1 gallon of vinegar. Add 2 tbsp. of liquid dishwashing detergent as a surfactant to help the solution stick to the weeds. Apply carefully only to the weeds. Limit the solution, which can cause browning of the grass.
-
Rock Salt
-
Rock salt is another pet-friendly and non-toxic way to kill weeds. Place just a few grains at the root level of the weed, taking care to keep it away from the rest of the grass as much as possible. The salt will kill the weeds without leaving a toxic residue that dogs and other pets will walk through and get on their paws. Do not use rock salt excessively. It can have a negative effect on other plants in the area.
Corn Gluten Meal
-
Corn gluten meal is a byproduct of corn processing industry. Its use as a pre-emergent herbicide was discovered during research on turfgrass diseases, and it is now recommended widely as an organic and non-toxic method of controlling weeds. Generally, it is applied in powder or pellet form in late April or early May. Apply it a second time in August. Corn gluten meal stops plants from germinating, according to University of Minnesota horticulturists Jean Galligan and Deborah Brown. For this reason, you should not use it in the garden before seeds have sprouted. Excessive moisture neutralizes corn gluten meal's effects.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
