Man’s best friend spends more time on your lawn than everyone else. It is important to take your dog into consideration when having a treatment done on your lawn. How do we make lawn care pet friendly?
Companies that make lawn care products know who their customers are. They are generally people who love grass. People who love grass also like to spend time on their grass. They play with their children and pets. They host cookouts for loved ones. A lawn is an extension of one’s home and is designed to be used and enjoyed..
If your lawn is pet friendly then it is also everyone friendly. Once the product reaches the thatch layer, you and your pet can hang out on the grass. Thatch is a ½ inch layer at the base of the plant; that is a combination of dead and living organic matter. This layer protects the roots from the sun and also aids in water retention of the soil. When your pet or kids sit down on the lawn the grass blades bend down and lay against the ground. This protects the skin of whomever is on it from exposure to the treatment; as it is already far enough into the thatch.
The delivery method that most lawn care professionals use is a Dispersible Granule (DG). It is a very small particle that is activated when wet. The substrate dissolves and thousands of sub particles are released within a few minutes. Watering your lawn on the day it has been treated will ensure that the treatment goes into the thatch layer. The size of the particles allows them to often fall into that layer upon application, especially in a lush and dense lawn.
You can try this experiment yourself by purchasing a treatment of choice and applying it to your lawn. Water lightly to activate the treatment, wait a few minutes and then inspect where you laid down the treatment. If it is DG there may be a paste on the grass or it may even be in the soil already. Then water your lawn how you normally would. When you come back to that spot it will not even be noticeable that you had applied anything.
If you or a Lawn Care Profession like Erbert Lawns applies a treatment to your lawn but you haven’t had a chance to water before your pet needs a bathroom break, that’s okay! In DG form the sub particles haven’t been released so it is fine for your pet or even your feet to come in contact with it. It is recommended though to water as soon as appropriate on treatment days.
Even in the event of pests causing damage to your lawn there are DG options. Most pests live in the thatch layer or below it and this delivery method gets a harsh treatment away from hands, paws and feet.
Aeration keeps your thatch layer in check so that all treatments applied to your lawn can quickly get into the soil. We recommend aerations twice a year, in the spring and fall. Every lawn can benefit from an aeration. An aeration is an effective way to loosen the soil without removing too much thatch like power raking so the lawn is still able to protect its roots from the sun.
Liquid applications that are intended to be applied to the blade directly typically are dry within 30 minutes and are considered safe for contact. These treatments are necessary from time to time.
Lawns that are consistently fertilized on a schedule, well watered and aerated are far less likely to need treatments above the thatch layer. A healthy lawn is not as susceptible to pests and disease. Call or text Erbert Lawns (303-948-6631) today to set up a lawn care pet friendly program to give your lawn the TLC it needs to be the lawn of your dreams.
