Natural Lawn Care – Tips to Creating a Safe and Eco-friendly Lawn for Dogs

Natural Lawn Care – Tips on Creating an Eco-Friendly Lawn that is Dog Friendly

Have you ever thought about your lawn and your dog?  I know when I was a kid and even in my early adult years, I never really thought about lawn care all that much.  It was not until a few years ago when I started researching natural methods for cleaning and Eco-friendly methods of helping create a Happy, Healthier home that I began to also research lawn care and the effects it has on children and pets.   Since children are such and important part of my life, I began to question and research more about lawn care and natural lawn care methods.   I am by no means an expert when it comes to this topic but thought that if I can “plant a seed” by sharing a little on Natural Lawn Care and Eco-friendly lawns and how it can relate to our dogs and pets, that you may want to explore this topic further and together we can help create a Happy, Healthy home for our pets and in this case a happy, healthy lawn.  I hope you enjoy this topic and would love to hear from you.  If you thought this was a great article or maybe not so great, I value your feedback and hope that you will take the time to drop me a line.

Natural Lawn Care – Tips on Creating an Eco-Friendly Lawn that is dog friendly:
About a year ago we put together this post that is featured over at our sister site My Eco Maid and thought you might enjoy seeing it here at Natural Pet Grocer.  So I thought I would bring it to our readers hear at Natural Pet Grocer.  The original post was entitled “Natural Lawn Care” “Dog Friendly Lawn Care”

Natural Lawn

Everyone who lives in a home with a yard wants their landscape to look nice. Maybe you’re the type that likes flower beds and shrubs. Maybe you’d rather have some herb and vegetable gardens. Maybe you’d simply like a nice, green lawn with some trimmed hedges. Whatever your preference, I’m sure you’re more than aware of all the hard work that goes into maintaining a lawn and garden. There’s trimming and mowing, weeding, sowing and harvesting, dealing with pests, fertilizers, mulch, compost, and more. You need to check the pH balance of the soil, figure out what plants are native or invasive, and plan everything just right, so the plants get the right amount of sun/shade, while attracting helpful critters (like bees), but deterring others (like hungry rabbits).

The Dangers Of Gardening Chemicals

Did you know that all those chemicals you use on your lawn and garden—those fertilizers, pesticides, anti-fungus sprays, and others—can actually cause more harm than good? This includes harm towards both people and pets. Over the years, numerous studies—such as those conducted by Purdue University, The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, and even the EPA—have shown that exposure to chemicals in lawn and garden products can lead to a number of health problems, including: cancer, birth defects, and skin conditions. The National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides offers the following statistics (in regards to the 30 most commonly used pesticides):

• 28 are sensitizers and/or irritants
• 20 are linked to kidney or liver damage
• 18 are linked to neurotoxicity and reproductive effects
• 14 are linked to birth defects
• 13 are possible carcinogens

Given that information, it makes you wonder if using those chemicals is really worth the dangerous side-effects they can cause.

Does this mean you have to give up gardening and let your yard turn into a barren wasteland? Of course not! It simply means that it’s better for you (and your dog) to use safer, organic methods. You may wonder: “What does this have to do with my dog? She can’t garden, or use a lawn mower.” This may be true, but your dog is most likely exposed to your yard a lot more than you are.

How often is your dog outside? This can include playing, going to the bathroom, or simply lazing about—all of which (usually) take up a considerable amount of the dog’s time each day. Now, consider the fact that they are naked. They don’t wear shoes, protective gloves, or other clothing. Therefore, those chemicals you spray or sprinkle on your lawn are much easier absorbed through your dog’s skin and feet. Also, consider the fact that many dogs like to eat grass, which means they’re also exposed internally to the toxic chemicals, via ingestion.

These chemicals have been linked to a number of cancers and other health concerns in dogs, and unfortunately, in this case size does not matter. It does not matter if your dog is small like a Beagle, or a big German Shepherd, these chemicals are still highly toxic to all dogs, regardless of their size or type. So, what can you do to prevent exposure?

To find out more about tips and things you can do to help create a happy, healthier lawn for you and your dog, visit our post  “Organic Lawn Care Methods and Dog Friendly Solutions” tips and resources on organic lawn care methods.

Below are some of the links to products I have personally use and currently I have had my Neuton Lawn Mower for almost three years.  I also currently use the Fire Belly Lawn Care products and have read the Organic Lawn Care Manual that is jam packed with all kind of resources and tips for creating and maintaining an organic lawn.

Additional Resources and Tools for Creating a Chemical Free, All Natural Lawn:

• Organic Lawn Care in a Box
• My Eco Lawn
• Organic Lawn Care Manual. This is a personal favorite of mine and is a great resource for anyone looking to start a natural lawn care program.
• Natraturf.com – SpotGone All Natural Lawn Care product geared toward dogs.
• Neuton Lawn Mowers – Zero Emission Lawn Care.

To find out more about Natural Pet Grocer and how your pet can benefit from natural and holistic pet products, be sure to visit us online at NaturalPetGrocer or drop us a line anytime at Harry @ NaturalPetGrocer.com  To raising a Happy, Healthy Pet, Naturally.