The benefits of fertilizing your lawn are not limited just to the look of your lawn.
A healthy lawn will also help keep your family safe from ticks, mosquitoes and other disease-carrying pests.
However, lawns that have been freshly fertilized may not be safe for pets because of the risk of ingesting fertilizer chemicals.
How Long Should Pets Be Kept Off A Lawn After Fertilization?
The amount of time that pets should be kept off a lawn after fertilization depends on the type of fertilizer used.
For example, if you use a slow-release fertilizer, it may take several weeks for it to completely release all of its nutrients.
To take the guess work out of this, most lawn fertilizers will tell you how long pets should be kept off the lawn after application.
For most lawns, we recommend waiting 24 hours to one week before allowing pets on the lawn.
This will allow the fertilizer to be absorbed by the grass and give it time to break down any fertilizer that may have been spilled onto the lawn.
Additional Considerations
Many pets love getting wet! But did you know that fertilizer is often spread over lawns at times when sprinklers are used?
This means that your pet could be coming into direct contact with fertilizer from sprinkler water as well as from rainwater that may run off of a freshly fertilized lawn!
Keep pets away from all sources of water for about 2-3 days after fertilization so that they do not accidentally drink contaminated water or get sprayed by sprinkler water when you aren’t looking!
After 2-3 days, make sure your pet is supervised when outside so no direct contact occurs between your pet and any source of water (including sprinklers) until you know how their body will react to the fertilizer in the soil around them!
Why Freshly Fertilized Lawns Are Harmful To Pets
Here are 5 reasons pets should be kept off a lawn after fertilization:
Harmful Chemicals
Fertilizers are designed to be absorbed by plants and grass. They contain nutrients that are taken up through the roots, causing the grass to grow.
Pets don’t have a way to absorb these nutrients, so they end up ingesting fertilizer when they eat grass. This can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other digestive problems.
Danger to Eyes & Skin
Fertilizers can also burn a pet’s skin and eyes if they come into contact with it while playing on a lawn that has been recently fertilized.
This burns are caused by chemicals such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which may be found in some fertilizers.
Eating Hazard
Pets can also ingest small amounts of fertilizer while eating grass or drinking from puddles after it rains or if sprinklers have been used recently on the lawn where they live or play outside.
If your pet is not currently showing any signs of illness, it may be best to wait until the lawn has had time to grow before letting them back out onto it again so that their digestive systems can adjust to having more nutrients available for their bodies to absorb (about 1-2 weeks).
If you notice your pet has always been an avid eater of grass, try feeding them some indoor treats during this time period instead of letting them roam free outdoors without supervision until you know how their body will react to the fertilizer in the soil around them.