chemicals on the lawn

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

When I took Cooper out to go potty this morning, I noticed fawn coloured pellets on the mud patches between the grass. I live in one of 2 suites on the ground floor of a house, land lords live upstairs. All 3 suits have a dog (old toy poodle upstairs, Jack Russel/Min Pin next door). Im assuming the land lords wouldnt put down anything harmful without telling us, but we have in the past had them put something down and had to ask them what it was (it was just chalk). The landlords, also just open their door and let their dog go potty and never clean up his poop - I have to go truffle hunting every day. I have emailed them asking what it is..... but I just took the garbage out and found an empty bag of Feed and Weed.....  Cooper is a biggish dog (60lbs) but do I need to keep her off the lawn for a while? Wash her paws? Make sure she doesnt eat any grass? How long for? Make sure she doesnt track any of it in as we have 3 cats too

[F, Calla & Luca]

The weed killers are all bad for living things. The likely culprit in Weed and Feed is 2,4D which kills broad leaf weeds while leaving the grass alone. Here is the info on it but it is bad stuff. I'd keep the dog away from the lawn for at least a couple of weeks, but the timing is just my guess.

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

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

We have a lawn service that sprays our lawn - they say 24 hours and if there is no rain 48 hours.  We have them do the front yard and the back yard on 2 seperate days - they charge us like $12 more so it seems worth it to me.  Weed & Feed is a really strong product because it contains the weed killers and fertilizers.  Personally, I would be very cautious for 3 to 4 days considering the recommended time for the products that do not contain both are 1 to 2 days.   I would also be pretty ticked off at my landlord but sometimes its hard to have any control over certain situations. 

I just thought of something else, my neighbor gets his lawn done to and they have 2 really small dogs, I forget what they are.  He has them wear boots for a few days after they spray - that might be an option for you.....  Hunter would never leave boots on!  LOL

 

[Jennifer and Jack]

I put weed and feed in my front grass. Jack never goes on it, The bag said that it is good about 48 hours later, I do not trust that. I did it a few weeks ago, it killed the weeds and crab grass but I would not put it in the back yard where he goes all the time. I know it is a pain but I would leash walk him elsewhere for a good few weeks at least. Until you have had many rains and time for it to dry, or if he is watering the grass, after a few weeks to make sure it is gone.

 

Also when walking, I have stopped letting Jack go on other people's lawns because I don't know who has done what.

 

Sorry you are dealing with this.

[Kristin & Hudson]

I would be careful and keep her off the lawn if you can for at least a week or two.  I brought a brand new puppy home four weeks ago and the same day my landlord put fertilizer down without telling us.  Hudson ended up eating a clump of it and got very sick.  His nitrogen levels were through the roof.  Thankfully he is just fine now.  We had to start walking him on the side walks but two weeks later he found another clump of fertilizer on a neighbors lawn.  We didn't know how much he ate and we were closing on our house in a few hours so we had to give him a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting.  He threw everything up and was just fine.  We didn't have to bring him to the vet again.  We started letting him go potty again on our lawn because it had been about 2 1/2 - 3 weeks since the fertilizer was put down and we have had lots of rain lately.  So far we have not had anymore problems (knock on wood!!)

 

My 18lb puppy is much smaller than Cooper so I'm thinking a small amount would do more damage to him than Cooper.  But still be careful because fertilizer is serious stuff.  This is such a hard time of year because everyone is treating their lawns and they don't post signs.  I'm sorry to have to deal with this like we are.  It is frustrating.  Luckily for us we are moving to our own home next week so we won't have to worry about it anymore since we are an organic household!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Organic gardening is the way to go.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm with you F!!

[Sharon & Monty]

Personally I'm into organic when I can.  I am not a fanatic but I do try to eliminate the bad stuff when possible.  For example I would never put chemicals on my lawn.  What is the point?  I had a neighbor that once informed me that he would not have to work so hard to eliminate the dandelions in his yard if I would participate and nuke my yard of this vermin.  I dont understand that thinking.  First of all we were living in the middle of the countryside, fields and woodlands surrounding every inch of our yards.  Second of all, dandelions attract lots of different good bees and insects that benefit our garden, trees, flowers and bushes.  For example, my acre yard was always organic.  I had no trouble with my garden regarding incests.  He on the other hand was always spraying and trying to kill everything.  I would watch with amusement at his frustration and be disgusted at the same time.  I spent no money nor time nor chemicals, things were better on my acre than his.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Im so with you on this! I like the "weeds" in the lawn!

 

If my landlords insist on having a perfect lawn (which Cooper turned to 50% mud this winter) they can at least let us know what they are putting down and when. I checked the empty bags and am about to google them

Dolopril Natures Intent Lime

Scotts corn based Turf Builder Nitrogen

Weed and Feed

 

My landlady tells me they are all pet friendly products!!!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Your landlady is a liar! The Weed and Feed is definitely not pet friendly and I doubt the fertilizer is either. The lime is probably OK.

[F, Calla & Luca]

OK, maybe that's harsh. She might just be misinformed.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

you would still think she would check it, seeing as she has a dog herself!!!!! But then, she doesnt clean up his poop.....

[F, Calla & Luca]

Right.