My Lawn Journey: Tackling Weeds with Pets Around
Alright, so my lawn was starting to look pretty rough. Weeds were popping up everywhere, especially those annoying dandelions. Normally, I’d just grab whatever weed killer was on sale, but this year felt different. We got our dog, Buster, last fall, and suddenly, spraying chemicals all over his playground didn’t seem like such a great idea. I started looking into options, specifically something that would kill the weeds and maybe feed the grass a bit, but wouldn’t make Buster sick.
Finding something labeled “pet friendly” wasn’t straightforward. Lots of products say things like “safe when dry,” but you really have to dig into the instructions. I spent a good half hour at the garden center squinting at bags, trying to figure out what was genuinely less harsh. I finally settled on one granules-type product that seemed to have clearer instructions about pet safety – basically, keep them off until it’s watered in and the grass is dry.
Getting Ready to Apply
First things first, I read the instructions on the bag cover to cover. This stuff isn’t cheap, and I didn’t want to mess it up or, worse, put Buster at risk. The bag recommended applying to a damp lawn, so the little granules stick to the weed leaves. It also said not to mow for a couple of days before or after applying.
- Mowing: I mowed the lawn three days before I planned to apply the weed and feed.
- Weather Check: I watched the weather forecast like a hawk. Needed a morning with dew, but no rain for at least 24 hours after application. Finding that perfect window took a bit of waiting.
- Pet Prep: On the chosen morning, I let Buster out for his morning business, then made sure he was securely inside the house before I even opened the bag. Windows closed too, just in case of dust.
Spreading the Stuff
I got out my trusty old broadcast spreader. The bag had settings listed for different spreader models, but of course, mine wasn’t on there. Typical. I started with a lower setting than I thought I needed, figuring I could always go over it again if it looked too thin. Better safe than sorry, right?
So, I filled the hopper and started walking. Back and forth, trying to keep my lines straight and overlap just a little bit, like the bag said. It was early morning, the grass was damp with dew, and the granules seemed to be sticking okay. It took maybe 30 minutes to cover the whole lawn. I made sure to sweep off any granules that landed on the driveway or sidewalk back onto the grass.
The Waiting Game and Results
This was the hardest part: keeping Buster off the lawn. The instructions said to keep pets off until the product was watered in and the lawn had completely dried. Since rain wasn’t expected, I had to wait until the next day to water it myself. So, Buster had 24+ hours of leash walks only, which he wasn’t thrilled about.
I watered the lawn thoroughly the next morning, enough to wash the granules off the grass blades and down to the soil. Then we waited for it to dry completely. It was a sunny day, so by late afternoon, it felt dry to the touch. I still waited until the next morning just to be extra cautious before letting Buster roam free again.
Did it work? Well, it wasn’t magic overnight. But after about a week, I definitely started seeing the weeds curl up and yellow. The dandelions were the first to go. It took maybe two weeks to see a noticeable difference across the whole lawn. The grass also seemed to green up a bit, so the “feed” part seemed to do something too. Most importantly, Buster was perfectly fine. No upset stomach, no weird behavior.
Overall, using the pet-friendly stuff took more planning and careful steps, especially keeping the dog off the lawn. It wasn’t as immediately potent as some other chemicals I’ve used in the past. But knowing I wasn’t exposing Buster to harsh stuff made the extra effort totally worth it. I’ll likely use this approach again next spring. It’s a bit more work, but peace of mind is priceless when you have furry family members running around.
