Pet Friendly Lawn Weed Killer

Ingredients To Avoid In Weed Killer For Pet Safety

Traditional weed killers often contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs and other wildlife. The chemicals covered below are some of the more commonly used toxic ingredients in popular herbicides. Although their names are going to look like a lot of alphabet soup, theyre the kind of soup you definitely dont want your dog eating .

Important tip: If your dog does ingest a lawn care product, contact a veterinarian or poison control before attempting any treatment at home. Do not induce vomiting! This can cause serious complications.

• Glyphosate Glyphosate is a commonly used ingredient in many popular herbicides. It disrupts photosynthesis, and since mammals dont photosynthesize, it has low toxicity risks to us and dogs. However, it is combined with surfactants for application and, according to the Food And Drug Administration , these can cause intestinal and digestive issues for pets1 and children if ingested while wet this includes vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite2.

• 2,4-D And Mecoprop Although this first one sounds more like the name of a robot or one of Elon Musks children, 2,4-D, along with Mecoprop, are types of chlorophenoxy herbicides that treat broadleaf weeds. These ingredients are common in many traditional weed killers3. Of all mammals, dogs are the most sensitive to higher doses4, and tend to have more severe intoxication symptoms including impaired muscle control and coordination, vomiting, and diarrhea.

How To Use Weed Killer

Finding the most effective way to use weed killer will really depend on the kind.

Still, some of the same basic principles apply when it comes to safety.

First, no matter if you use a toxic, non-toxic, or homemade herbicide, its always important to wear clothing that will protect your skin. You want to avoid potential irritation that can come from overexposure.

Secondly, never apply any kind of weed killer on a windy day. The herbicide wont reach the targeted areas, and you risk having the solution come into contact with your eyes, mouth, or nose. Additionally, you also risk having the product land on unintended plants.

Finally, if you want your weed killer to be really effective, add a little dish soap with your mixture in the spray bottle. This will ensure that the solution actually sticks to the leaves of the plant, killing it faster.

How We Ranked Our Top Pet

In assembling this list, Ive considered products Ive used with success over the past decade. I looked at reviews, talked to an integrative veterinarian, talked to one of my best friends who has a green thumb to match her green pet-friendly lawn, and looked for a wide array of purported pet-friendly lawn products to kill weeds while keeping dogs and cats safe.

We also wanted to make sure that the pet-friendly weed killers on this list were easy to buy online and were effective without the need for a professional lawn-care service.

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Best Pet Safe Weed Killers That Wont Kill Grass

Homeowners typically have two major concerns whenever they want to clear their lawns of weeds using a herbicide: whether the product is pet-safe, and whether itll kill the turf grass as well. As such, the most desirable weed killers are those that are both pet-safe and selective .

Want To Keep Unwanted Plants In Check Without Harming Your Furry Family Members We Walk You Through The Best Pet

Susan Appleget Hurst began sharing her extensive knowledge of growing and using herbs over 30 years ago. In addition to writing countless articles and columns for regional and national media outlets, Susan served as Senior Associate Editor of Garden and Outdoor Living at Better Homes & Gardens magazine. She also was the editor of Garden Shed magazine, Country Gardens, Growing and Using Herbs, Houseplants, and other garden titles for the Better Homes & Gardens and Southern Living families of magazines. Speaking and teaching were her first loves and Susan has conducted hundreds of classes for novice and master gardeners and assisted gardeners with their concerns on live call-in radio shows.

When weeds begin to feel like a losing battle, you may be tempted to resort to potent weed killers. Unfortunately, many of the chemicals sold to combat pesky plants can harm your pets if not used carefully. Even “eco-friendly” or natural herbicides are capable of causing injury when used improperly. Add to that a dog that likes to dig and roll in your lawn or garden, and you could have a real risk for harmful effects.

In fact, even just traipsing through the grass can pose a threat, since your furry friends can pick up herbicides and other pesticides when walking through the yard. Those chemicals transfer to their paws and fur, which they may then inadvertently ingest while grooming themselves.

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Dr Kirchner Natural Weed Killer

Doctor Kirchner Natural Weed and Grass Killer are brought to us using saltwater as their unique constituent. It is made up of saltwater, sodium chloride, and acetic acid.

The acetic acid residue breaks down quickly, leaving no residue behind to affect the groundwater or soil. Besides being a pet-friendly weed killer, it is not dangerous for pollinators, aquatic life, and children. Thus it is biodegradable and eco-friendly.

This weed grass killer works best on more than 250 types of weeds and grass. It gave the best output in commercial, residential, and large-scale agricultural use. The users can spray this weed killer in parking lots, deposits in pavers and cement, flower beds, vegetable plants, etc.

It non-selectively preys on grass and broadleaf weeds and must be kept away from the lawn. Still, it only affects the bodies it is sprayed on and does not spread.

This weed and grass killer kill weeds by penetrating deep into the roots and inhibiting their growth. Its effectiveness was verified by the University of Florida, USA. This pet-safe weed killer shows results in only a few hours.

Specifications

• It kills more than 250 types of weeds and grass

Pros

• The buyers were happy to see a stark difference in the weed quantity before and after the spraying because the weeds were least only after 1 use.
• The customers were happy about using a biodegradable product that would not harm the environment.

Cons

• Some users had issues with the loose spray pipe, but that was manageable.

Overview: Perfect For Mossy Lawns

MO Bacter is the best natural and organic product for killing lawn moss, it contains no harmful chemicals at all and is 100% safe to use around children, pets and all wildlife.

The ultimate pet-friendly moss killer for lawns, MO Bacter contains a natural bacteria that eats away at the moss until it breaks down into a feed for the lawn.

Just sprinkle MO Bacter onto the grass and as the moss breaks down, overlay any bare patches with new grass seed which will germinate in the decomposing moss

There are so many advantages to using this natural and pet-friendly product:

• No staining of patios or stonework .
• No raking required, just let the moss decompose naturally.
• Pet-friendly as all animals and even children can use the lawn straight away.
• No blackening of the lawn, unlike many other products.
• Endorsed by the RHS .

If you have a very mossy lawn, we recommend reading our detailed guide to removing and preventing lawn moss which contains excellent advice on how to stop lawn moss from returning.

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Tec Labs Tecnu Original Outdoor Skin Cleanser

Unlike most other poison ivy killers present in this article which are meant to be sprayed in a garden, Tec Labs and its offerings are quite different since they are treatment solutions.

Tec Labs Tecnu poison ivy killer is present in the 2nd position in this listicle as this is the only option given here which is made for treating your skin if you have been in contact with poison ivy. As it is made for emergency usage, it is a ready to use solution which comes in a 32-ounce pack which should be plenty for a long time.

Talking about the effectiveness time of this poison ivy treatment solution, it works instantly which is exactly what you need for your skin. And because you would want to keep such a treatment solution in your medical box at all times, it also offers a superb shelf life rating of 3 years.

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Weedrot Is Great For Commercial Pet Safe Weed Prevention

Tired of buying Roundup when you need weed killers? Totally understandable! Not only is it expensive, but its detrimental to your health and that of your pets. Unfortunately, many farmers and gardeners still use weed killerscontaining glyphosate. And yet, nature gives us everything we need to compete against the nuisances of the garden. If you want to preserve your pets while saving money, switch to our pet friendly weed killer.

Weedrot is a great alternative. Especially for gardeners who are looking for natural solutions in the garden. For those who do not want to use products based on glyphosate or other harmful chemicals. This pet safe weed killer is a plant-based substance. It comes into contact with the green part of the sprayed plant. It deforms it, disrupts its vital processes, and causes it to die. Its action is essentially based on:

• The disruption of photosynthesis
• The destruction of the regulation of growth hormones
• The inhibition of amino acid synthesis and of lipid synthesis

It doesnt have soil-borne activity. Its broken down into harmless substances in the soil very fast. It doesnt affect succeeding crops or flower beds. decorative and edible plants can be cultivated in the treated area. It is also recommended for use in the cultivation of fruit trees and shrubs. Due to its natural origin, it doesnt leave residues. There are no undesirable substances in the fruit or on your lawn. Its also ideal for controlling:

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Resolva Lawn Weed Killer

Resolva Lawn Weed Killer is a selective herbicide that contains two active ingredients: dicamba and Mecoprop-P. You can use this product to eliminate a wide variety of broadleaf weeds such as yarrow, speedwell, and dandelion. Children and pets can step on the lawn once the Resolva spray dries up on the lawn, making it a pet-friendly product.

Resolva Lawn Weed Killer works by attacking the roots of the invasive weeds. After about two weeks, the active ingredients cause the weed shoots to appear distorted. And from the third-fourth week post-application, the weeds begin to die.

Note: Only use this product on established lawns, as it can cause damage to young turf grass thats still developing.

How To Properly Use Pet Safe Weed Killers To Minimize Risk To Your Dog

There are various ways to make use of pet-friendly weed killers without harming your dog.

Most of the products listed here have very simple instructions for their application. Due to their chemical composition, most of these products pose no threat to most healthy animals.

However, if your pets have underlying conditions, or if you just want to play it extra safe, you can close them off indoors or in your garage while you apply the herbicide and wait for it to dry.

You can also dilute liquid herbicides further to reduce their concentrations. Be careful with this though, as you could seriously weaken your products ability to kill weeds.

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Tips In Choosing A Pet

Proper lawn care is actually achievable if you choose to use the best herbicide or weed killer designed to get rid of unwanted plants from the area. It should be able to help you bring back the elegant and nurtured look of your garden.

The best product, in this case, is that, which plays a major role in lawn weed control as well as in enriching the greenery that flourishes around you in an organized manner.

If you have pets, then rest assured that you can make homemade weed killers that are safe for them. Commercial weed killers safe for your pets are also available in the market.

Most of them are available in natural and organic form, and you can choose the best one using these tips:

1. Check the ingredients

Before buying a specific organics weed killer, it is a must to check out all the ingredients used in manufacturing it. Your goal is to find one, which uses natural and organic ingredients.

Also, find out if there are offensive ingredients used in the product. If there is then it would be best to look for another one.

Its also crucial to have a basic understanding of some harmful ingredients. Among them are chloroform and carbon tetrachloride as both are known to be carcinogens that you have to avoid.

Stay away from products containing 2,4-D, too, as these are known to be toxic, especially for pets.

2. Look for products guaranteed to be pet-safe

3. Be aware of your exact needs

It does not choose the weeds that it controls.

4. Check the severity of the problem

Scotts Ez Seed Dog Spot Repair Tall Fescue Lawns

Do you notice yellow spots in your lawn that appear after your dog has done their business? This is caused by the high concentration of nitrogen-containing compounds and salts that are found in dog urine. The concentration of these on your grass can cause it to burn, leaving the recognizable yellow patch. Fortunately, Scotts has a special salt neutralizer product that can minimize the effects of this salt and nitrogen overload. Their EZ Seed® Dog Spot Repair Tall Fescue Lawns contains renewable resources, is 99.9% biodegradable, and can be applied directly to any area where you want the grass to re-grow. Theres enough in one bottle to repair up to 100 spots, so you dont have to worry about replacing it frequently.

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How Effective Is One Earth Weed Control On Dandelions

One Earth Weed Control will kill dandelions fast and we often see weed control rates on dandelions up to 90%+. The highest weed control rates on dandelions occur in the springtime when the lawn care services are performed in cool weather when the weeds are younger and actively growing. Dandelions are easiest to kill in late April or May.

One Earth Weed Control is considered edible and is non-toxic to pets, dogs, cats, people, children, and the environment.

Our Research Into Pet

Researched by Daniel Woodley. Fact Checked by Hannah Miller. Published to Products on the 19th of August 2020. Updated: .

At DIY Gardening, we independently research, test, review and recommend garden products and plants. If you buy something via links, we may earn a commission. Learn about our testing and research process here.

Hello and welcome to DIY Gardenings guide to pet-safe weedkillers.

My name is Daniel Woodley, and Im a keen gardener, and the proud owner of a rebellious Labradoodle called Doogie.

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, one of the most popular garden weedkillers in the world can persist in the soil for up to 6 months and can cause pets to drool, vomit, have diarrhoea, lose their appetite, or seem sleepy .

I dont know about you, but I dont want that in my garden, not when I have a pet, and when there are other, much safer options.

Ive researched the safest products to use and below Ill show you safe alternatives that work well on weeds and moss.

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Espoma Weed Preventer Plus

Espoma is one of the only weed-killers we found that is safe to use on the lawn. It gets to work and stops weeds from growing in the first place. It will not kill weeds that are already growing, so it has to be applied before seeds germinate.

Our research also found that the only ingredient in Espoma is cornmeal gluten which is great for inhibiting common weeds like crabgrass and dandelion.

It cant be applied to weeds that are already growing, so we chose to recommend Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed Killer instead, even though it can not be used on lawns.

How To Make A Homemade Pet Friendly Weed Killer

A pet-friendly weed killer is the answer pet owners are looking for. When you have a garden and also pets, things can get a little out of hand. There are weeds growing everywhere in the garden and driveway, but you cant do much about it. Youre worried if you use a commercial weed killer, it might create problems for your dog or cat. But at the same time, you dont like the way your garden or backyard looks.

Luckily, theres a way to keep your garden or yard in good shape without putting the life or health of your pets at risk. You can use materials lying around in the kitchen to make a pet-friendly weed killer. Its a cost-effective solution that gives you many ways to deal with different species of weeds and invasive plants. Give these recipes a try and keep your pets safe.

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White Vinegar & Essential Oil Weed Killer

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon clove or lemon oil
• 1 drop of dish soap

Combine all the above organic ingredients in a heat proof bowl. Note that if you dont have any essential oil on hand, you can use dishwashing soap instead.

Allow the mixture to cool somewhat and then .

Carefully spray this mixture directly onto the weeds you wish to kill. As much as possible, avoid spraying it over expensive grass and nearby plants. Its best to spray on a dry, bright, sunny, still day.

Avoid using this mixture on a windy day because over-spray may cause unwanted results. Dont apply before or soon after a rain. Dont water the soil within 24 hours after application.