We all want a green healthy lawn, but some of the chemicals in lawn fertilizers can prove dangerous to your dog. There are a number of dog-friendly organic alternatives to chemical lawn fertilizers that you can produce yourself or purchase at home and garden stores.
Seaweed
Nitrogen-rich dried and ground seaweed applications or liquid seaweed extract spray applications work to stimulate the soil and promote healthy lawn-grass root growth. If you love near a coastline you can collect all you need from the shore and leave it for a day or two in the rain to remove some of the salt. If that is not an option, seaweed is available in liquid form from most garden centers.
Grass Clippings
Dried grass clippings naturally contain nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and other lawn healthy dog-friendly trace elements. Make sure your mower blades are sharp and pull off your grass catcher when mowing to fertilize your lawn with fine grass clippings. If the lawn is thick and wet, run over the clippings again to further mulch them. The clippings also shade out weeds, slow water evaporation and provide important organic material for your soil.
Manure
Manure from horses, cows or chicken are excellent natural lawn fertilizers that contain different levels of nutrients, depending on the animal source. If farm animals are available, manure can be collected, dried and spread on your lawn. Commercially produced, pet-safe manure can also be purchased from your local garden center. The applied manure will slowly break down, adding nitrogen and organic trace elements to your lawn and improving the soil texture below.
Fish Emulsion
Organic, nitrogen-rich fish emulsion is a dog-safe fertilizer that can be applied to your lawn to keep it green and healthy. Available at garden centers in liquid or dry form, fish emulsion is a quick-release fertilizer that works quickly but could burn the grass if not applied in recommended doses and intervals.
Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.
