There are several pet-friendly weed and feed products on the market. You can safely use many brand-name weed and feed fertilizer/herbicide combinations in your yard without harming your pets. However, chemical-based weed and feed products require that you keep your pets off the lawn until the weed and feed has had time to work for 1–2 days before being watered into the soil. If you wish to avoid this waiting period, you can use an organic weed preventer combined with an organic fertilizer.
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Is There a Lawn Weed and Feed that is Safe For Dogs?
Most weed and feed products are pet-friendly as long as you follow the label instructions for proper use. This means that you can use most standard weed and feed products in a lawn with dogs. However, you may have to keep your dog off the lawn for a few days after applying the weed and feed. This is because most commercial weed and feed products contain chemical herbicides that can be harmful to dogs if swallowed. So, until it is the right time to water after applying weed and feed, you should protect your dog by keeping it off the grass.
- Most weed and feed products are safe for dogs if they are used properly.
- Safe use of a weed and feed with chemical herbicide may make it necessary for you to keep your dog off a treated lawn for 1–2 days.
- Organic weed and feed options are pet-safe and do not require you to keep your dog off the lawn.
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of keeping your dog off the lawn after spreading weed and feed, you can use a combination of organic weed-prevention products plus organic fertilizer. This combo will keep your lawn pet safe even as you feed your grass and prevent weeds from sprouting.
When Can Pets Go On Your Lawn After Weed and Feed?
Pets should not be allowed on a lawn that has been treated with weed and feed until the weed and feed has been given time to work and has then been watered into the soil. Weed and feed should be applied to a lawn and allowed to work for 1–2 days, depending on the type of weed and feed. Then, you can water the feed and feed to dissolve it and pull it into the soil. Once the weed and feed has been watered in and the lawn is dry, it’s safe for your pets to go in the grass.
- Pets can use a lawn once the weed and feed has been watered into the soil and the lawn is dry.
- Weed and feed should not be watered into the soil immediately after application. It needs 1–2 days to work before you water.
- When you water a lawn treated with weed and feed, the granules of weed and feed will dissolve and be pulled into the soil.
- Once the weed and feed has been watered into the soil, your lawn is safe for pets.
- Your pet can become sick if it is allowed to go on a lawn where weed and feed has not yet been watered in.
Do not let your pet go onto a lawn if the weed and feed has not been watered into the soil. Weed and feed granules contain fertilizers and herbicides. These granules can stick to paws and fur. Then, when your pet licks itself clean, it will eat these chemicals. While this isn’t typically life-threatening, it can cause pets to experience vomiting, excessive drooling, and diarrhea. It’s best to protect your pet until the weed and feed has been watered into the soil and the lawn is once again dry.
What is the Safest Weed and Feed for Pets? [Top 5 Options]
When you’re searching for a weed and feed product that will kill weeds, boost grass growth, and keep your pets safe, there are several options to choose from. Below are pet-safe products. We’ve included both commercial weed and feed products and organic options.
Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed 3
Scotts Turf Builder is completely safe for pets when it is used according to the label instructions. This powerful weed and feed product combines a well-balanced lawn fertilizer with 2,4-D and Mecoprop herbicides. These herbicides are considered safe for use around mammals. So, it is a very good choice.
Once you spread Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed on your yard, allow 2 days for the weed killer to get to work, killing actively growing weeds. Then, you can water your lawn to dissolve the weed and feed. Once your lawn is dry, it is safe for your pets to roll and play in the grass, or even chew on the grass!
Organic Pre-Emergent Weed Control
Instead of using a weed and feed product with synthetic fertilizer and commercial weed killers, you can go the all-natural route to keep your lawn safe for pets. Start by spreading this organic weed-preventer at the right time to spread pre-emergent weed killer. This organic weed preventer made from corn gluten meal will dry out weed seeds as they attempt to sprout, killing them before weeds overtake your yard. Plus, you don’t need to keep your pets off the grass. Your dog can go out into the lawn right after you spread this organic product.
The two drawbacks of this organic method is that organic weed-preventer doesn’t provide fertilizer and doesn’t kill existing weeds. You can follow up with an organic, pet-safe fertilizer after applying this weed preventer for well-rounded lawn care. Then, you can tackle any remaining weeds by hand-weeding.
Milorganite Fertilizer
If you decide to go the organic route for your weed and feed needs, you’ll need to combine your organic pre-emergent weed control with an organic fertilizer. Our favorite choice is Milorganite. It’s an organic slow-release fertilizer that will help you grow a green lawn. Even better, Milorganite is safe for pets.
Follow up your pre-emergent weed control with an application of Milorganite fertilizer according to the rates on the product label. By combining these two products, you’ll get the benefits of weed-preventer and fertilizer without using any chemicals. This means your pets can use the yard uninterrupted. So, there’s no need to keep your pets off the grass with this method.
BioAdvanced 3-in-1 Weed and Feed
This Weed & Feed from BioAdvanced is pet-friendly when used as directed. It is one of the most powerful weed and feed products on the market because it provides fuel for your lawn at the same time it kills actively growing weeds and prevents new weeds from sprouting. So, if you’re trying to reclaim a weedy lawn, this is the top choice.
When using BioAdvanced 3-in-1, make sure to keep your pets off the grass for 48 hours after spreading the weed and feed. Then, water the lawn for 30–60 minutes with a sprinkler. Once this is complete, allow the lawn to dry thoroughly. This gives time for the dissolved granules to be pulled into the soil. Once this is done, your lawn is completely safe for your pets and family.
Pennington Ultragreen Weed and Feed
Pennington makes excellent, pet-safe fertilizers, so it’s no surprise their weed and feed meets this standard as well. The 30-0-4 fertilizer ratio is ideal for established lawns at least one-year-old. As with other weed and feed products containing chemical herbicides, keep your pets off the lawn for 48 hours after application. Then, water your lawn and allow it to dry. After you’ve completed this process, you’re free to let your pets onto your lawn again.
Pennington Ultragreen contains 3 herbicides designed to kill actively growing broadleaf weeds such as dandelions, clover, and henbit. Its formula is similar to Scotts Turf Builder Weed & Feed, except Pennington’s product contains Dicamba. This makes it more effective at killing weeds in most lawns. However, Dicamba can harm Centipede and St. Augustine grass. So, if your lawn consists of one of these grasses, choose another product from this list.
Which Weed and Feed is Pet-Friendly?
When choosing a pet-friendly weed and feed product for your lawn, keep the following rules in mind:
- Any weed and feed product containing chemical herbicides must be allowed to work for 1–2 days before it can be watered in.
- It is unsafe to let your pets into the yard before your commercial weed and feed has been watered into the soil.
- 1–2 days after you spread weed and feed, water your lawn and allow it to dry.
- Once your lawn is dry after watering, it is safe for your pets to go in the grass.
- You can use a combination of organic weed prevention and fertilizer products to achieve the same results without the need to keep your pets off the grass for 1–2 days.
Although the chemicals in weed and feed are not highly dangerous to pets, keeping an energetic dog off the lawn for 2 days can be a challenge. If you choose organic products, you can apply them to your yard and allow your pets on the grass as soon as you’re through spreading the product. This can make organic fertilizer and weed control a big winner over a chemical lawn care product.
