Pet-safe herbicides allow you to feel at ease when your dog plays in the yard.
Our pets are members of the family, and we want to protect them from harm just as we do our children. Pets are snoopy creatures and enjoy sniffing and digging in the yard. This means they risk being exposed to herbicides and other toxins that could pose a risk to their health. It is our responsibility to provide them with a safe outdoor environment. Weeds are a nuisance, but you can live with a few. When an army of the plants invades, it's time to break out the weed-killer. Making a home version of the solution is a great way to ensure that it is non-toxic and will not harm your pets. Does this Spark an idea?
Types of Weeds
The method of attack on weeds will vary according to the kind of weed. There are annual and perennial weeds. Annuals are primarily grasses, and they seed prolifically, which gives them the advantage of numbers. Perennial weeds often will have rhizomes that will overwinter and produce new plants in warmer temperatures. Annuals are not that hard to get rid of if you remove them before they seed. Perennials are more difficult. A systemic herbicide is necessary to achieve control in the roots and rhizomes.
Boiling Water
There is really nothing fancy about the boiling water method. The idea is to basically cook the weeds. The extreme heat will destroy the cells and plant tissue, and the weed will die. The boiling water method needs to be applied when pets and children are not near. The water could splatter a curious pet and scald him. As soon as the weed has cooled down, it is safe to allow the pet back outdoors.
Vinegar and Salt
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is a powerful caustic fluid. It will cause burns on the plant. When salt is added to the mixture, the sodium draws out the moisture in the plant. Unfortunately, the salt will stay in the soil and make it unsuitable for other plants unless it is leached out with quantities of water. The vinegar and salt combination is powerful and works without harming pets. In a quart spray bottle, put 1 cup vinegar, 1 tsp. liquid soap and 1 tbsp. salt. Fill the rest of the way with water and spray the weeds.
Cornmeal
This product is a bit hard to believe in, but Iowa State University did a study that proves cornmeal is a pre-emergent weed killer. When cornmeal is spread across a garden bed, it prevents weed seeds from germinating. The cornmeal was broken down into its components and tested. The protein portion of the grain was the active ingredient. It is not effective in all weed species but works well against the annual grasses and some broad leaf weeds.
Tags: boiling water method, they seed, water method