Okay, so I’ve been getting a lot of questions about whether weed and feed is safe for pets. I decided to dig in and do some real testing in my own backyard, ’cause, you know, I love my furry friends just as much as I love a good-looking lawn.
My “Weed and Feed” Experiment
First, I picked out a common weed and feed product from the local hardware store. I made sure to read the label, which is key, folks. It had all these warnings and instructions, so I followed them, no skipping steps.
I applied the stuff to my lawn, early one morning when it was cool and there wasn’t any wind, important so the product spread even. I used a spreader to make sure it was all even, nobody wants patchy grass. The instructions said to water the lawn afterward, so I did it.
Now came the hard part – keeping my dogs, Max and Bella, off the treated area. The label said to wait until the area was completely dry, some even say 24-48 hours, which is a long time for a dog, let me tell you! I blocked off the whole section of my yard with some temporary fencing, to be on the safe side.
- Applied the weed and feed according to the instructions.
- Watered the lawn thoroughly.
- Blocked off the area, no pets allowed!
- Waited… and waited… and waited some more.
I kept a close eye on Max and Bella, even when they were inside. I made sure they had plenty of water and kept their usual routine as much as possible. It was a bit of a pain, but better safe than sorry, right?
After a full 48 hours, and I do mean a full 48 hours, I checked the lawn. It was dry, really dry. I double-checked, and triple-checked, then finally, I removed the fencing.
Max and Bella were thrilled to get their whole yard back! They sniffed around, rolled in the grass, did their usual doggy things. I watched them like a hawk for the rest of the day, looking for any signs of irritation, tummy troubles, anything out of the ordinary. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Phew!
So, based on my little backyard experiment, as long as you follow the instructions on the weed and feed product, keep your pets off the treated area until it’s completely dry, and wait the recommended amount of time, it seems to be okay. But always, always use your best judgment, and if you’re worried, call your vet. It’s always better to be extra cautious when it comes to our furry family members!
