Pet Safe Weed Killer

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

This is a question I would really like answered.  Does anyone know of a "Pet Safe" weed killer.

We don't want to use chemicals in our yard that might cause any harm to our dogs and all the

products we have seen do not appear to be safe.  I know we can make our own out of vinegar, but

we are wondering if there is a product we could get that won't also kill the yard and other plants as well. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

There are no really pet safe weed killers. We have had discussions on what you can do in the Garden Group.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/gardengroup/forum/topics/dandelio...

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/gardengroup/forum/topics/doodle-f...

There are other discussions and points in the group.

But 2,4 D is bad as are other weed controls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic_acid

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

We use one called Burn Out II which is pet safe but is NOT weed specific. I'm pretty sure there isn't a non-toxic herbicide that is weed specific because I have been looking for one for years. But if you DO find one please let me know!  I have used vinegar too with limited success. I just don't have the perseverance to see it through to the last dandelion and if you don't well you know you will have more next year. :) So my backyard is pretty much a dandelion haven and the wild birds just love them. So I may turn my yard into a bird sanctuary! LOL!

http://www.dirtworks.net/BurnOut-Organic-Herbicide.html

Perhaps if you used one of the pre-emergent type weed control formulas along with spot treating with Burn Out II or vinegar you could keep ahead of them.

Here is one of the pre-emergent types:

http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=3115

[F, Calla & Luca]

This Burn Out is good to know about. I will try to remember it in the spring.

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Thank you F and Ricki,   my DH  will be most appreciative to hear about Burn Out.  We have a lawn that he works hard to keep up with (S. Fla.- always warm enough to grow weeds).   He took me with him yesterday to get weed killer and was surprised when I refused to let him get any until I made him read the warning labels.  I will now join the Garden Group and learn all I can.   You guys  are the BEST!  

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Since I got my doodles my backyard sod is kind of non existant :(  I only use fertilizers on my front lawn which the dogs do not go on.  I wanted to go totally organic and pet safe for my back yard and found a pet safe organic lawn fertilizer this past summer but the weeds were starting to pop up as usual.  I did some research and found vinegar kills everything - LOL so you have to be careful when spraying and make sure your sprayer is on a stream instead of the wide sprayer because it will kill your grass to.  I have used this with success and the doodles don't even bother where I have sprayed.  I get real close with the sprayer and give the weeds a good shot and by the end of the day they are almost dead.  Good luck and happy gardening :)

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Barbara B.  Thank you!  I checked out the price of Burn Out and it looks rather expensive.  Think we will definitely try vinegar to begin with.  We have a sprayer we haven't used yet, so today it will have its first try.  Just hope DH doesn't mind finding all the weeds and there are lots of them!  LOL !   I also just joined the Garden Group and am enjoying reading all the info there, too.   

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

No problem Sally, glad I could help.  Vinegar is much cheaper than the organic weed killers and works just as good if not better.  I buy vinegar by the gallon - LOL  its natural and works for lots of house hold things, I wish it came in 55 gallon drums :)

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Barbara B, again, thank you!  I also use vinegar all the time.  I took a  health class years ago where I learned that vinegar can actually be used to disinfect items (replacing the need for bleach) when diluted.  I guess it "pickles" full strength. I have been using it ever since for cleaning almost everything.  I get it by the gallon, too.  Just never tried it in the garden, guess we'll have pickled weeds!   LOL!   Gonna be another busy day!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think bleach is a more effective disinfectant.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

This is a very good botanical disinfectant which does not have the undesirable characteristics of chlorine bleach.

http://www.benefect.com/

[F, Calla & Luca]

Hmm. Would like to see the data they talk about. Not saying hokum yet though. Do the school kids drink the hand sanitizer? Not very good supervision then : )

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Update!  My DH used vinegar this morning on the weeds and they are dying!  He can't wait to get to the store to buy more vinegar and finish off the job.  Thank you all for your suggestions.    He was amazed at how well it works!