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Go green and clean
A guide
to animal-friendly lawn care
by
Andy Lopez
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Spraying
savvy
Learning to make a natural spray is crucial
to a healthy lawn. There are many safe,
organic products available. A few examples
are liquid seaweed such MaxiCrop or SeaBorn,
and liquid organic fertilizers like Nitron
A-35 or ArgiGro Bountyfull Harvest. Bradfield
Fertilizers are made from alfalfa, while
Gardens Alive has a great variety of pet-friendly
organic fertilizers. I also make my own
liquid called Superseaweed, which I first
formulated in 1972. I spray this on all
my plants and lawns once a month –
or once a week, for even better results
– and it’s completely animal-friendly.
Watering
wisdom
Watering requirements differ from one
section of the country to another, so
your best bet is to follow these simple
rules:
 Water
long and deep and at regular intervals.
Allow
the lawn to dry between waterings.
Water
in the early morning, never at night or
in the evenings.
Put
your watering system on an automatic timer.
Avoid water run-off and waste.
What
about weeds?
The best way to control weeds naturally
is to provide your lawn with the best
conditions for the types of grasses you
are growing. Weeds grow in mineral deficient
soil, so get into the habit of a twice-yearly
feeding, giving your lawn an application
of rock dust and then raking it in. (Your
animal will probably love this and roll
in it, so it’s best to keep him
away until after the application and raking
are done.)
Hand-picking is initially the safest way
to control weeds. You can also use a natural
weed control made from corn gluten, which
prevents weeds from growing. While this
stuff is just corn, I would not let my
animals eat it (they will try) so it’s
best to keep them off the lawn until the
control has been applied and allowed to
work in for a few days. If you’re
going to use a natural weed control, it’s
best to apply it in the early spring.
Try WOW (Without Weeds) sold by Gardens
Alive.
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Published
in the October/November 2005 issue of
Animal Wellness
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