Pet Friendly Weed Killer: Does it Exist?

Weed killers are filled with chemicals. Some of those chemicals are hazardous to pets, people and surrounding plants.

Perhaps weed killer chemicals are especially toxic to dogs. Many of the natural or organic products are given a second thought when it comes to choosing the best herbicide because the strength of weed killer is high enough to remove weeds effortlessly. On the other hand, the more natural ways are not promoted as much because they require a little bit more exertion.

Thank you for being a caring and conscious pet owner/pet-lover. Whether you are a proud owner of a dog, cat, bird, rabbit, turtle, tortoise, frog, fish, guinea pig, horse, chicken, or bees then you need to choose the right weed control method. Stick with this guide and we’ll match you to the best pet-friendly weed killer customized to your needs.

What is a weed?

A weed is a plant that is growing in an unwanted place where the weed is not desired. There are two main types of weeds which are annual and perennial. Weed killers are often used on perennial plants because they are the hardest type of weed to control.

What are the best pet-friendly weed preventing products?

Whether you are a pet owner, a parent with children, horticulturist, or simply want to enjoy a backyard B&Q without compromising a beautiful lawn then you will need the right herbicide for your needs.

Most weed killers contain Glyphosate. Glyphosate is a chemical widely used to control weeds.

Many will claim that Glyphosate is a toxic chemical that can pose health risks to pets and children, but this is not an accurate claim. Most weed killers contain a small dose of glyphosate that poses less risk than that of a cup of coffee.

Natural Weed Control

Fiskars Weed Puller

The Fiskars Weed Puller is a clawing tool that grips onto a weed’s roots and removes it from the soil. It is a manual option for weeding but not as labor intensive as weeding using a dutch hoe or a weeder chisel.

The Fiskars’s W52 weed puller mainly requires the user to do most of the weeding work with your feet, so there is no need to kneel, bend, or to use a chemical weed killer.

Weed Burning

A method to remove weeds that you may or may not have heard of is to burn the plants using a flame torch. A weed burner works by using a hot flame to fry the weeds. Most weed burners will use a butane or propane heat source that will not present a health risk for children or pets.

Plus, what is more fun than burning them like a madman!! <<Insert evil laugh here>>

Marko Gardening manufactures one of the best selling weed burners, it is easy and safe to use and has an ergonomic handle design for comfortable carrying. The unique cylinder locks the canisters so that they don’t leak butane gas. It is environmentally friendly since no toxic chemicals have been used.

Homemade herbicide

By using some of the products in your kitchen, you can put together a natural, organic, homemade weed killer. Here’s the recipe:

Equipment and ingredients needed:

• Spray bottle
• Large cup
• A few drops of clove oil or lemon oil
• 500 ml of boiling water
• 250 ml of white vinegar

Mix the ingredients in the large cup until the mixture is well stirred. Wait until the mixture is cooled before putting it in the plastic bottle. After all, you do not want the plastic to melt and invade your homemade weed killer.

A word of caution when using this homemade herbicide is that it is a non-selective weed killer which means it will kill any plant it makes contact with. As a result, you want to ensure that you only target the unwanted weeds when spraying.

Weed killers

If you do not plan on using any the other methods of weed removal mentioned earlier, then it is time you plan what weed killer that is safe for children and pets you should purchase.

Here’s the catch, almost any weed killer that uses an active chemical is safe for children or pets once the product is DRY. Therefore, you are free to shop around for whichever herbicide without having to stress on choosing the best pet friendly weed killer.

Another key point is to decide whether you want to choose a selective or non-selective weed killer. Selective weed killers will only target the weeds and not affect the surrounding plants. Non-selective herbicides will kill off anything in the yard that it makes contact with.

A thing to take note of is there is a difference between weed preventing/controlling and weed killing. Many other websites will pitch you weed control methods such as mulching, suppressing membrane, or a weed preventer product. However, when you’re dealing with a landscape that is already infested with weeds then you need to resort to weed killing products such as those below:

EverGreen Complete Lawn Food, Weed, and Moss Killer Spreader

This product feeds lawns and targets and kills weeds and moss. When you do not ensure your lawn is fertilized, then the remaining nutrients in the soil are used by the grass until there is no more and then the grass becomes yellow and thin.

It uses a special Watersmart formulation that helps the grass to be more resistance to heat, drought, and other stressful environment conditions. It will nourish your lawn to make it appear greener within a week! How? Evergreen has used a N+ formula that controlled releases nitrogen into the soil.

With the purchase, you will get a spreader which will make your job of applying the weedicide easier. This product is only intended to be used on lawns.

Do not use in aquatic areas as it may harm the organisms.

Consider rotavating your lawn prior to applying this product.

Algon ORGANIC Path and Patio Cleaner

If you need a pet-friendly weed killer that removes unwanted plants from paths and patios, then this product is the best choice. A 2.5 Litre concentration will be able to treat 60 square meters when applied with a good garden sprayer. Like some other weed killers you do not need to wash your paths or patio. Instead, Algon Organic Path and Patio Cleaner will begin working the moment you spray it. Results will start to show within a week and will last for approximately one year.

Rosate 36

Rosate 36 is the strongest industrial weed killer on the market. It is used to control weeds in amenity, industrial, and forestry scenarios. It is super concentrated and mega strong. The main ingredient is glyphosate which can be harmful to pets and children if they make direct contact with the product. Rosate 36 is safe for pets and children once the product is completely dry which usually takes a couple of days.

The reason behind putting this weed killer into our list of suggestions is because many garden owners require a strong weed killer for heavy-duty weeding tasks.

It is strictly not to be used in marine areas. For more information read the safety data sheet or read our review of Rosate 36.

By now we have given you an option controlling weeds in lawns, paths and patios, and industrial areas.

Conclusion

By now you should have a good idea on how you wish to pursue killing weeds in your garden, allotment, field, or yard. To be extra safe it’s wise to get your pet’s veterinarian’s opinion before you proceed.

Once you have killed all the weeds you don’t want, then the next step is to look for ways to control and suppress new weeds.