What kind of Fertilizer - YorkieTalk.com Forums

RMKC · 02-22-2008, 11:26 AM

does everyone use on their lawns that is safe for our Furbutts ? Or is there such a thing ?

patty58 · 02-22-2008, 04:46 PM

I can't give you any advice since I don't do yard work

RMKC · 02-22-2008, 05:51 PM

Anyone ???

RowdysMom · 02-22-2008, 06:58 PM

Yes, there are many fertilizers that are safe for our babies. They are all organic and cannot be found at any of the chain stores. Generally, they are found at small independent organic nurseries. Sometimes they are granular, sometimes they may be a spray on topical. If you google "organic gardening" you'll find lots of information.

Natural organic fertilizers are much much better for your yard than chemical fertilizers. In fact the chemical fertilizers, e.g., Scott's, are extremely harmful and toxic to humans and animals. The nitrates get in our ground water and it is very bad.

Also, did you know that the weed and feed products can actually kill your trees and landscape shrubs, etc. Yes, it is true. In addition to being very harmful to ground water, humans, and animals, it can actually kill trees and shrubs.

Seaweed is very good as a topical spray. Compost tea is a wonderful fertilizer. There are also treatments that introduce micro-organisms into the soil which loosen the soil and make it more amenable to taking in rain and water.

Top dressing with compost is a great thing to do. Also, aerating your yard will help tremendously with how it grows and looks.

Another thing that is as good as any fertilizer is using a mulching mower. If your mower shoots (mulches) the grass clippings down into the lawn, that is a great fertilizer.

The city where I live, Austin, Texas, encourages its citizens to go organic and they ask us to NOT use the chemical fertilizers. You can find lots of helpful information at the Austin city website. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/default.htm

Here are a couple of websites from a natural gardening store in Austin - just to give you more information to read about organic gardening.
http://naturalgardeneraustin.com/inf...lawn_care.html

http://naturalgardeneraustin.com/inf...lawn_care.html

I've been using only organic products for over 10 years and my yard is really nice.

MissSophie · 02-22-2008, 07:03 PM

Thank you for this information. This has always been a concern for us. I appreciate this thread!

RowdysMom · 02-22-2008, 07:14 PM

You are very welcome. Chemical fertilizers are a big concern to me and to my babies.

I also use natural organic treatments for fleas and I do not have any flea problems. Here's what I do.

I really try to not use chemicals on my babies, so this is what I do. I realize that some people have large yards or there may be other reasons that this won’t work for everyone, but here goes……

Beneficial nematodes are the answer to flea control in your yard. Read more about them here http://www.marchbiological.com/L/ben...nematodes.html They are microscopic organisms that feed on a variety of soil insects and they will keep fleas, etc. out of your yard. If you have fleas in your yard, then you will never get them off your baby. Of course, if you live in an apartment, then this solution won’t work for you.

Also, that does not mean that your baby won't get a flea when they go on a walk or that a flea might crawl over into your yard from the neighbors yard. But that can be controlled by bathing your babies in Dawn dishwashing soap or some other non-toxic method. If there are no fleas in your yard, then you CAN win the battle.

The nematodes will also keep the fire ants out of your yard and that is a great benefit to those of us who live in the south. I have used the nematodes for 6-7 years and have not had a flea problem in all that time. I have outdoor dogs living on both sides of my yard too. The nematodes work great!

You can usually get them at any organic gardening store. They can also be ordered, but they must be kept cool or they will die, so if you order them, be sure the supplier plans to cool ship them. Also, follow the directions EXACTLY for putting them on the yard. You will have to water your yard in the summer when it is very dry, enough so that the nematodes do not dry up and die - maybe once a week or so, if it is not raining.

I have outdoor dogs on both sides of my yard so I put diatamaceous earth around the perimeter of my yard to keep the fleas from crawling into my yard. It works great, but it must be reapplied after a heavy rain. It is also a non-toxic pest control substance. http://www.hydromall.com/happy_grower16.html I sprinkle it on my roses to control little pesky bugs who want to chew the leaves!!!

I know is sounds a little nutty, but it really works!
Good luck!

RMKC · 02-23-2008, 07:20 AM

Thanks for the info !

Yorkiedaze · 02-23-2008, 10:25 AM

I use Scotts winter guard and Scotts turf builder, but I section off the yard and do one side then two weeks later do the other side.

RMKC · 02-23-2008, 11:03 AM

I am just so worried , as my 2 allways root in the grass

i swear they act like moles

Yorkiedaze · 02-23-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMKC

I am just so worried , as my 2 allways root in the grass

i swear they act like moles

They are rooting for little grubs that live directly under the grass, right by the roots. Once dogs find these, it's impossible to break them from digging and rooting for them. You just have to be right on top of them at all times.

RMKC · 02-23-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

They are rooting for little grubs that live directly under the grass, right by the roots. Once dogs find these, it's impossible to break them from digging and rooting for them. You just have to be right on top of them at all times.

aah great,i think thats exacly what they are doing, they did that last yr too. Obiously they must be pretty tasty too them, yuck !

RowdysMom · 02-23-2008, 02:49 PM

If you spray your yard with beneficial nematodes as described in my post above about flea control, you won't have any grubs - the nematodes eat the grub eggs -

so bye bye grubs!

RMKC · 02-23-2008, 04:57 PM

Not realy having a flea problem, but problem is moles (not my 2 Moles

) fertiizer seems to keep them away, or least in the past so my Mom says. moved in with her when my Stepdad died and i dont want to leave her here alone . But we got 5 acres, so it is pretty much pasture grass, so it would be allmost to much to spray, could do it around the house i guess ! This place just drives me crazy as it is too much for her and i to take care of. I tried talking her into selling, but she started crying telling me she dont want to move anymore, so what can you do... try to make the best !

RowdysMom · 02-23-2008, 06:30 PM

You don't have to have a flea problem to spray on the beneficial nematodes - I just suggested them to get rid of the grubs so the doggies won't be rooting in the grass!

RMKC · 02-24-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RowdysMom

You don't have to have a flea problem to spray on the beneficial nematodes - I just suggested them to get rid of the grubs so the doggies won't be rooting in the grass!

Thank you, i will def. look into it , least for around the house, as it will be impossible to do the 5 acres with 7 acres ajoining ours....

02-22-2008, 11:26 AM	#1
RMKC Rosi & Poli's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 5,428	What kind of Fertilizer does everyone use on their lawns that is safe for our Furbutts ? Or is there such a thing ? __________________ ROSI & POLI Love my Babies

02-22-2008, 04:46 PM	#2
patty58 Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: texas Posts: 5,272	I can't give you any advice since I don't do yard work __________________ Decide To Make It A Good Day

02-22-2008, 05:51 PM	#3
RMKC Rosi & Poli's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 5,428	Anyone ??? __________________ ROSI & POLI Love my Babies

02-22-2008, 06:58 PM	#4
RowdysMom Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,624	Yes, there are many fertilizers that are safe for our babies. They are all organic and cannot be found at any of the chain stores. Generally, they are found at small independent organic nurseries. Sometimes they are granular, sometimes they may be a spray on topical. If you google "organic gardening" you'll find lots of information. Natural organic fertilizers are much much better for your yard than chemical fertilizers. In fact the chemical fertilizers, e.g., Scott's, are extremely harmful and toxic to humans and animals. The nitrates get in our ground water and it is very bad. Also, did you know that the weed and feed products can actually kill your trees and landscape shrubs, etc. Yes, it is true. In addition to being very harmful to ground water, humans, and animals, it can actually kill trees and shrubs. Seaweed is very good as a topical spray. Compost tea is a wonderful fertilizer. There are also treatments that introduce micro-organisms into the soil which loosen the soil and make it more amenable to taking in rain and water. Top dressing with compost is a great thing to do. Also, aerating your yard will help tremendously with how it grows and looks. Another thing that is as good as any fertilizer is using a mulching mower. If your mower shoots (mulches) the grass clippings down into the lawn, that is a great fertilizer. The city where I live, Austin, Texas, encourages its citizens to go organic and they ask us to NOT use the chemical fertilizers. You can find lots of helpful information at the Austin city website. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen/default.htm Here are a couple of websites from a natural gardening store in Austin - just to give you more information to read about organic gardening. http://naturalgardeneraustin.com/inf...lawn_care.html http://naturalgardeneraustin.com/inf...lawn_care.html I've been using only organic products for over 10 years and my yard is really nice. __________________ Rex & Rowdy's Mom

02-22-2008, 07:03 PM	#5
MissSophie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 807 Blog Entries: 1	Thank you for this information. This has always been a concern for us. I appreciate this thread! __________________ Sophie's Mom :

02-22-2008, 07:14 PM	#6
RowdysMom Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,624	You are very welcome. Chemical fertilizers are a big concern to me and to my babies. I also use natural organic treatments for fleas and I do not have any flea problems. Here's what I do. I really try to not use chemicals on my babies, so this is what I do. I realize that some people have large yards or there may be other reasons that this won’t work for everyone, but here goes…… Beneficial nematodes are the answer to flea control in your yard. Read more about them here http://www.marchbiological.com/L/ben...nematodes.html They are microscopic organisms that feed on a variety of soil insects and they will keep fleas, etc. out of your yard. If you have fleas in your yard, then you will never get them off your baby. Of course, if you live in an apartment, then this solution won’t work for you. Also, that does not mean that your baby won't get a flea when they go on a walk or that a flea might crawl over into your yard from the neighbors yard. But that can be controlled by bathing your babies in Dawn dishwashing soap or some other non-toxic method. If there are no fleas in your yard, then you CAN win the battle. The nematodes will also keep the fire ants out of your yard and that is a great benefit to those of us who live in the south. I have used the nematodes for 6-7 years and have not had a flea problem in all that time. I have outdoor dogs living on both sides of my yard too. The nematodes work great! You can usually get them at any organic gardening store. They can also be ordered, but they must be kept cool or they will die, so if you order them, be sure the supplier plans to cool ship them. Also, follow the directions EXACTLY for putting them on the yard. You will have to water your yard in the summer when it is very dry, enough so that the nematodes do not dry up and die - maybe once a week or so, if it is not raining. I have outdoor dogs on both sides of my yard so I put diatamaceous earth around the perimeter of my yard to keep the fleas from crawling into my yard. It works great, but it must be reapplied after a heavy rain. It is also a non-toxic pest control substance. http://www.hydromall.com/happy_grower16.html I sprinkle it on my roses to control little pesky bugs who want to chew the leaves!!! I know is sounds a little nutty, but it really works! Good luck! __________________ Rex & Rowdy's Mom

02-23-2008, 07:20 AM	#7
RMKC Rosi & Poli's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 5,428	Thanks for the info ! __________________ ROSI & POLI Love my Babies

02-23-2008, 10:25 AM	#8
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	I use Scotts winter guard and Scotts turf builder, but I section off the yard and do one side then two weeks later do the other side.

02-23-2008, 11:03 AM	#9
RMKC Rosi & Poli's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 5,428	I am just so worried , as my 2 allways root in the grass i swear they act like moles __________________ ROSI & POLI Love my Babies

02-23-2008, 02:49 PM	#12
RowdysMom Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,624	If you spray your yard with beneficial nematodes as described in my post above about flea control, you won't have any grubs - the nematodes eat the grub eggs - so bye bye grubs! __________________ Rex & Rowdy's Mom

02-23-2008, 04:57 PM	#13
RMKC Rosi & Poli's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 5,428	Not realy having a flea problem, but problem is moles (not my 2 Moles ) fertiizer seems to keep them away, or least in the past so my Mom says. moved in with her when my Stepdad died and i dont want to leave her here alone . But we got 5 acres, so it is pretty much pasture grass, so it would be allmost to much to spray, could do it around the house i guess ! This place just drives me crazy as it is too much for her and i to take care of. I tried talking her into selling, but she started crying telling me she dont want to move anymore, so what can you do... try to make the best ! __________________ ROSI & POLI Love my Babies

02-23-2008, 06:30 PM	#14
RowdysMom Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,624	You don't have to have a flea problem to spray on the beneficial nematodes - I just suggested them to get rid of the grubs so the doggies won't be rooting in the grass! __________________ Rex & Rowdy's Mom