Provide a safe lawn and garden for your pets this Spring!

  Posted on March 19, 2010  by Joy of Living  No comments

It is Spring Break and Bo and Jessie are taking a temporary vacation from this blog. They may be sipping Mai Tais on a luxurious island, or, more than likely, they are arguing in the back room about who needs to take out the trash this week. At any rate, we have given them a reprieve from their writing duties and present to you this post about preparing your garden for Spring while still making it safe for your pets.

With Spring in the air, many folks are putting their green thumbs back into action, and with that endeavor comes a responsibility to keep your pets safe when they roam around the yard. We all love our gardens and yards, but we also want to make sure our animal friends are free from harm and poisonous substances.

For example, when applying fertilizer to your lawn, please follow the instructions carefully and allow for the proper waiting period after application and before letting your pet run free across the yard. If your pet digests any of the fertilizer, it could cause stomach upset or even a life-threatening intestinal obstruction.

When using insecticides, be sure to store them in areas inaccessible to your pets. Be sure to follow the label for proper use and storage. While these products are necessary for a healthy garden, they can be quite dangerous to a dog or a cat.

Cocoa mulch is frequently used in landscapes for it attractive odor and color. However, its sweet, chocolately scent can attract dogs. If consumed by a dog, this mulch can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, seizures, and hyperactivity. Consider using shredded pine, cedar, or hemlock bark, but make sure you also keep an eye on your four-legged buddy when he or she is out in the yard sniffing around!

Are you composting? Good for you! Mother Nature loves you! However, be aware of what types of food you may be putting into you garden soil that could be potentially harmful to your pet, such as coffee, moldy foods, and certain types of fruits and vegetables. Those can prove toxic to your pet.

And when using your garden tools, please be sure to put them away when you are finished using them. They may seem harmless, but if a dog pokes himself on a rake or on any other sharp tool, he or she can risk tetanus.

So, go ahead and enjoy your beautiful yard this Spring! Just be sure to employ a few safety tips into your endeavors so you and your pet can safely and happily play in the yard!

Now, go fetch!

(Information for this post was obtained at www.aspca.org)