Lawn Chemicals

[Jennifer and Jack]

Since getting Jack I completely stopped getting any chemical of any kind on my yard. Now three years later my grass has tons of weeds coming up through it.

The lawn doctor and one other company both have sent me flyers saying they have pet and kid safe treatments..the thing is I don't know how to trust the and even if I saw the list of ingredients I would not know what is safe.

I live in a small development basically on a postage stamp piece do property and we have rules that our grass can not look junky...

Jack has a fenced in back yard and he plays in it often.... The other day I had company and they had kids, the kids were picking flowers (weeds) in the (flower garden) aka my back yard. I have never planted a single flower, so I guess that tells you I need to do something g but what is safe?

[Sharon & Monty]

i'm an advocate, if its green it gets to grow!  I dont live in a hood with rules or prissy yards and its a good thing.  I have some grass, but mostly moss.  I know that a lot of folks would just go nuts over that but it sure is pretty.

 

although i think if I were to do something about it, I'd try this.

 

http://eartheasy.com/article_corn_gluten.htm

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have read about corn guten and it's interesting but expensive.

[Sharon & Monty]

I did not know it would draw critters to the yard.  ugh, I have enough chipmunks and mice already.  I guess the yard will be just what it is.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Many lawn chemicals are not safe if ingested and dogs ingest things just by licking their feet etc. Although the liability would be great if it could be proven many of these chemicals are approved and therefore the company would have an out. And cancers have many causes and take time to occur. Look in the Garden Group , where we have discussed this issue and problems with chemicals like 2,4 D. That would be a likely chemical to control things blooming in the lawn. Get the lawn cut regularly, follow good lawn "hygiene" like cutting high and it will look acceptable without chemicals. For the dogs' sake I no longer use any lawn chemicals and virtually no others outdoors.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Those are good points, F.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks I will look. I do have the grass cut every two weeks in the summer but since the grass did not go I to hibernation this winter the weeds took off. Infill read the group. I may have the front yard treated since neither Jack or Molly go on the lawn and leave the back since it is fenced in and only I can see it....


Jack is not a grass eater but Molly is. I am going to get a list if the Ingredients do the chemicals used that they call safe and read up on it. I will also look in the garden group. I have a black thumb so I have never been in there I don't think. Thanks for the advice.

[F, Calla & Luca]

You really should cut the lawn a little bit every week if you can. I know it becomes expensive but it's less of a shock to the grass.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I wish I could afford to but that is just not an option. I have centepede grass it doesn't grow high very fast, just the weeds. Right now getting it done twice a month is more then I should be doing...sorry to my grass but my stomach and eating over rules that one!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Totally understood and a different kind of grass than I'm used to.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I loved New Jersey grass so soft on your feet, thin. Blades. Here the grass is thick and hard. It grows out sideways more then upwards so you have to get your walkways and drive way edged be ause the grass will grow right over it. It is supposed to be real hardy and survive droughts.

To me I wou.d rather have NJ grass but that won't grow here at least not in the summer. Some people. Grow rye grass here in the winter right over the centepede ...

Oh well...thanks for the info?

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Perhaps you could do with some Irish grass, it's soft and very green and it grows like a weed, we have to cut twice a week!  No chemicals going down here with Riley running around it... I will just put up with the weeds and keep it mowed low so it all blends in.

[F, Calla & Luca]

It is unlikely soft Irish grass, which doesn't get high heat and gets frequent rain would do well in South Carolina : )