Is Scotts Step 2 safe for pets

Having a beautiful, thick, green lawn is the goal of most homeowners. But many worry that having a nice lawn is not worth the possible hazard it will cause to any children who will play on the lawn. Scott's fertilizers are popular choices that give great results, but it is vital to understand the possible risks to children before use.

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Ingredients

Scott's is committed to creating fertilizers made with ingredients that are safe for both children and pets to be exposed to. The main ingredients--urea, ammonium phosphate, and potassium sulfate--are found in every day household products.

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Safety Standards

Scott's fertilizers meet all Environmental Protection Agency standards. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration considers all Scott's products generally recognized as safe.

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Eye Contact

While generally safe, Scott's fertilizers can cause a burning sensation if they come in contact with a child's eyes. Flush the eyes with water and if the child complains of continued pain, see a doctor.

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Ingestion

Fertilizer can cause an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea if ingested. While Scott's fertilizer is not life-endangering, you should call poison control if your child swallows any of the product.

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Proper Use

Always use and store Scott's fertilizers according to the package instructions. Proper use ensures that the product is applied to the lawn correctly, making the lawn safe for your children and pets to play.

My dog eats grass sometimes. I'm concerned about my dog's health and don't want him to get sick or even die after fertilizing my lawn. Should I just quit fertilizing?

Answer:

Scotts Turf Builder Weed and Feed 3 is safe for pets when it is used according to the product label. You want to make sure pets are not in the area while applying the product. Once the treated areas dry completely, chewing or eating grass will not be harmful and your pet can resume normal activity within the area. 

Most people want to have a lush lawn that knocks our neighbors away. But did you know that many lawn fertilizers are harmful and even deadly for your pets? If you have dogs who go outside often, you need to make sure you keep them safe from all the toxic chemicals in most lawn care products.

Fortunately, you have some pet-friendly lawn fertilizers that can help you achieve your grass goals. Surprisingly, there aren’t many pet-safe lawn products on the market, so we’ve done our research to help you find your best options.

At-A-Glance: Our Top Picks

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Is Scotts Step 2 safe for pets
Is Scotts Step 2 safe for pets
Is Scotts Step 2 safe for pets
Is Scotts Step 2 safe for pets

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Table Of Contents

  1. At-A-Glance: Our Top Picks
  2. How Do I Know If A Lawn Fertilizer Is Harmful?
  3. Best Pet-Safe Lawn Fertilizer
  4. Is Weed And Feed Safe For Dogs?
  5. What’s The Most Toxic Lawn Chemical For Pets?
  6. How Do I Save My Lawn From Dog Urine?

How Do I Know If A Lawn Fertilizer Is Harmful?

Our best advice is to read labels and avoid all lawn care products that aren’t marketed as safe for pets. If the ingredients aren’t all-natural, they’re likely not entirely safe for your pets. The biggest culprits are products that contain insecticides and snail bait. But some products also contain herbicides and pesticides that could cause anything from an upset stomach to seizures if ingested. This consideration is essential if your dog is a grass eater.

TIP: When you apply fertilizer, water your lawn immediately and wait a couple of days before letting your pet play outside on the grass. Watering right after applying fertilizer allows the granules or spray to settle into the ground, and that minimizes the risk to your pets.

Best Pet-Safe Lawn Fertilizer

We’ve chosen our top picks based on pets’ safety, quality of ingredients, performance, customer reviews, and other factors.

Winner: Sunday Review

Is Scotts Step 2 safe for pets

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Sunday is a customized lawn care subscription that offers all-natural, pet-friendly spray fertilizer and organic, iron-based spot weed killer. Every plan is based on your unique soil, climate, and lawn.

You start by entering your address, and they give you an instant regional soil, climate, and lawn analysis. You then answer a few questions about your lawn care habits and the current state of your lawn, and Sunday determines exactly what your lawn needs every season.

Depending on the time of year you make your purchase, most Sunday lawn plans include three shipments of nutrients with two to four pouches each. Your climate and grass growth drive each shipment date. Your subscription automatically renews, but you can cancel anytime. And they offer a satisfaction guarantee.

Fertilizer ingredients: seaweed, nitrogen, soluble potash, soy protein, iron, molasses, potassium, manganese, and other micronutrients

Price

  • Lawn plans start at $119 per year

Coupon

Looking for a Sunday Lawn Care promo code? Click here for the best deal we can find.

Full Sunday Lawn Care Review

Runner-Up: Scotts Natural Lawn Food Review

Is Scotts Step 2 safe for pets

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Scotts Natural Lawn Food is made from all-natural ingredients and contains no harmful or toxic chemicals. You can use it around pets and kids, and it’s safe to walk on right after spreading the granules. It also doesn’t have an unpleasant odor.

Scotts recommends using it four times a year for an optimal lawn. One bag will cover 4,000 square feet of your yard. Most customers say it delivers fantastic results.

Ingredients: nitrogen, phosphate, soluble potash, calcium, and sulfur

Price

  • 29.1-lb bag: Check on Amazon

Third Place: GreenView Turf Nurture Review

Is Scotts Step 2 safe for pets

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GreenView Turf Nurture Natural Base Lawn Fertilizer is rich in natural and organic materials to give your lawn the boost it needs while keeping your pets safe. It contains 70% slow-release nitrogen and no harmful chemicals. You apply the granules on any grass type in spring, summer, and fall. One bag covers 2,500 square feet.

Ingredients: nitrogen, soluble potash, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur

Price

  • 8.33-lb bag:$16.96 ($0.13 / Ounce)

Fourth Place: Espoma EOLB30 Organic Lawn Food

Is Scotts Step 2 safe for pets

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Espoma is a well-known manufacturer of a variety of organic lawn and garden products. This lawn food is all-natural, environmentally friendly, and kid and pet safe. One bag feeds a 5,000 square-foot lawn. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but most customers say it works well if you want an organic product.

Ingredients: feather meal, pasteurized poultry manure, and gypsum

Price

  • 30-lb bag: $43.57 ($1.45 / Count)

Is Weed And Feed Safe For Dogs?

“Weed and feed” is a universally used term for any lawn care product that contains a combination of fertilizer and herbicides to help kill weeds and promote a healthy lawn. Most of these products contain chemicals that can harm your pets if they get the toxins on their paws or fur. We’re not aware of any pet-safe weed and feed products, so what can you use instead?

Pet-Safe Alternatives

Is Scotts Step 2 safe for pets

We recommend using one of the pet-friendly lawn fertilizers we’ve reviewed above and a separate pet-safe weed killer, like Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer. Green Gobbler is a certified-organic weed killer derived entirely from corn and formulated into a powerful vinegar acidic spray containing no harmful chemicals like found in Roundup.

You can also use a pet-safe weed preventer to keep those pesky weeds from growing in the first place. Espoma Organic Weed Preventer is made from corn gluten meal and is safe for pets and children after application. You sprinkle the granules in early spring and fall to inhibit weed root growth. It also provides long-lasting nitrogen for a healthy lawn.

What’s The Most Toxic Lawn Chemical For Pets?

See what one veterinarian reveals as the most toxic lawn chemical for pets and some symptoms to watch out for if your pet gets ill from being around a variety of lawn care products.

How Do I Save My Lawn From Dog Urine?

Using pet-safe lawn products is likely only one of your concerns when dogs are in your yard. Is your dog doing a great job of harming your grass when he pees outside? If so, be sure to check out our article on how to stop dog urine from killing your grass. We have some expert tips for you and some suggestions on eliminating pet odors outdoors.

Is Scotts Turf Builder Plus 2 safe for pets?

Scotts Turf Builder fertilizer is pet safe. As long as you follow the directions on the bag, you will not harm your dog, other pets, or family members by spreading Scotts Turf Builder on your lawn. Fertilizer-only products like Turf Builder contain non-toxic compounds that don't put your pet at risk.

Is Scotts lawn Builder safe for dogs?

The latest addition to our well known and proven Scotts Lawn Builder™ range, Premium will rapidly green your lawn in just a few days, thanks to its soluble nitrogen that is immediately available to grass roots. When used as directed, this product is safe to use around domestic pets and children.