If you have pets, then this can make caring for your lawn very difficult. Both your pets and your lawn are precious, but things that are safe for your pets aren’t safe for your lawn and vice versa. Due to this, fertilizing your lawn can be difficult. In this article we look at is Scotts turf builder safe for pets.
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Fertilizer often isn’t safe for dogs, so more often than not you will find yourself struggling to control your animals and keep them away from your lawn.
But thankfully, some fertilizers have been designed specifically to be less dangerous to pets. Scotts Turf Builder is just one of these products.
But, just because these products are less dangerous, this doesn’t mean that they are safe for your pets. In this quick guide, we’ll be taking a look at whether Scotts Turf Builder is actually safe for pets, and lots more.
Is Scotts Turf Builder Safe for Pets?
Scotts Turf Builder is a product that comes in lots of variations. Due to this, there is no straightforward answer to this question.
This is because some Scotts Turf Builder fertilizers are safe for pets, while others are toxic. So, it is incredibly important that you read the packaging for each fertilizer carefully before you buy.
There are two products by Scotts Turf Builder that you should always avoid using if you have pets. These products are Scotts Turf Builder with Halts and Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Plus.
Both of these have a ‘moderately’ toxic rating, which means that they will not endanger your dog’s life, but they will irritate their skin, nose, and eyes. So, they are not safe for animals.
But, there are plenty of other Scotts Turf Builder products which are safe for pets. These include the basic Scotts Turf Builder Fertilizer, which is perfectly safe for your dog.
This fertilizer isn’t at all toxic, as it doesn’t contain any weed killer. So, you can use this product, and your dogs will not be at any harm if they go on the lawn after you have fertilized it.
When is Scotts Turf Builder Dangerous for Pets?
Aside from the products that we looked at which are rated as toxic, there is a possibility that even ‘safe’ Scotts Turf Builder products could be dangerous for your pets.
These products are tested and are safe, but that is only as long as you follow the instructions on the box by the letter.
All fertilizers will come with recommended measurements, and how to dilute them. Some people pay very little attention to these recommendations. But, if you have pets, then it is very important that you do follow these instructions.
This is because the company will have only tested if the product is safe for animals based on their recommendations and instructions. So, while that measurement might be safe for dogs, a higher measurement could be very dangerous.
The responsibility for following the instructions falls on your shoulders, so if you fail to do this (and harm comes to your pets as a result), then that is on you. This is why you must follow the instructions on the packaging when you fertilize your lawn.
How Long After Fertilizing the Lawn is it Safe for Pets?
The exact length of time that you should leave between fertilizing your lawn and letting your pets out on it will depend on the product that you have just used. However, with most fertilizers, it is recommended that you leave your lawn for 48-72 hours before you let your pets back out on it.
This can seem like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, it really isn’t. These 48 – 72 hours will give the fertilizer plenty of time to soak into the lawn, which will ensure that it completely treats your grass.
Once the fertilizer has soaked in, it will also pose zero risks to your pets, which is why it is best to wait for this time to pass.
However, some Scotts Turf Builder fertilizers are safe for animals as soon as they have been applied.
As we said earlier, this is dependent on you using the exact amount of product that the packaging says, and following the instructions to the letter.
However, even with these products, it is best to try to keep your dogs off the lawn for the first 48 hours. The fertilizer will not pose a risk to your dogs, but your dogs could pose a risk to your lawn. So, if you can, it is best to wait.
Summary
In short, some Scotts Turf Builder products are safe for pets, but some are not.
So, before you use any of their products, it is best to check. It is also important that you always follow the instructions on the packaging, as even the ‘safe’ options could become unsafe if you don’t.
