Making An Eco Friendly And Safe Backyard For Your Dog

Making An Eco Friendly And Safe Backyard For Your Dog

By Mary Jane Gallagher

In a recent survey, 84% of South Africans said that the environment should be a priority. Helping the planet can definitely begin at home, and one of the small changes that you can make is using garden products that are eco-friendly and free of harmful chemicals. Not only is this important for the planet, but it is also essential for your dog. If you have an eco-friendly backyard, there will be nothing harmful that your dog could accidentally ingest or lie in. In particular, you should switch to using natural products on your lawn, or for cleaning your patio. This way, you know that your backyard is always safe for your special canine companion.

Lawn products

There is nothing that a dog likes more than lying on a soft patch of warm grass on a beautiful, sunny day. But if you have used harmful lawn fertilisers, your grass is not a safe place for your dog to have a nap. Commercial fertilisers often contain chemical herbicides, pesticides, iron, and bone marrow, which are all toxic to dogs. If ingested, they can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, and an inflamed pancreas. Instead of using commercial fertilisers, you can use green alternatives. Compost is an eco-friendly natural fertiliser that is good for the planet and safe for your dog. Making compost is also a great way to recycle your lawn cuttings and garden waste. All you need to do is create a compost pile in your backyard, leaving any leaves, grass cuttings and plants on it to break down. The compost will enrich your soil and provide essential nutrients to your lawn.

Natural fertilisers

Commercial fertilisers often contain harmful chemicals that can make your dog unwell. They are also damaging to the environment. Instead you can easily make a natural fertiliser that is rich in nitrogen and just as effective for helping plants and trees to grow. In a large bucket, put a half a dozen stinging nettle plants or comfrey leaves. Top the bucket up with water, and leave it for a couple of weeks. The result is a concentrated fertiliser that you can use to feed your plants. You will only need to use this fertiliser once a month during the summer to give your garden a boost.

Patio Cleaning products

Patio cleaning products are not safe for dogs, and many of them are harmful to the environment. Toxic chemicals, including Sodium Hypochlorite, Hydrochloric Acid and Benzalkonium Chloride, are commonly found in garden cleaning products. It is easy, however, to make your own eco-friendly patio cleaner using all-natural ingredients – one that is effective enough to remove green algae and moss from tiles. A solution of white vinegar and water is all you need for cleaning the patio and garden furniture. Simply spray it over the surfaces, leave for half an hour, and then scrub with a good, firm brush. It is much better for the environment and safer for your dog.

Your backyard should be a safe haven for your dog and free from harmful chemicals. By switching to eco-friendly ways of looking after your lawn, trees and plants, you are protecting your dog as well as the environment.