warning for 1st time home owners

[Serena+Eluane B.C.]

I thought it'd be important for me to post this to save any new first time home owners from experiencing what happened to us. I bought my new home in 2006 and hired a supposedly very reputable lawn company to spray weed killer during certain seasons. I have to use weed killer because of my specific neighborhood- very cookie cutter/pristine/manicured lawns. Anyway, I specifically specified to the lawn care people that weedkiller was the only thing that my lawn needed. Well, last year everything was exactly according to my instructions. But then! of this year (2 months ago) the lawn people sprayed grub killer without my permission. I called them up and said that I was not!!! happy about this and to never do this again.

 

Eluane loves playing frisbee in our backyard and it was our routine to play fristbee in the backyard. I waited until it rained for a full day before playing frisbee in the backyard. Well, just a day later, constant diarrhea. And then 2 days later, tons of blood in her stools and the day after some more blood but that stopped since the vet had given her some meds plus the Pepto Bismol to calm her digestive system. And of course I let the lawn people know about what happened to Eluane.

 

Sad to say, it took an entire month for her stools to get back to normal vs. the constant mush-like appearance. I also immediately stopped playing frisbee with Eluane outdoors.

 

It was not until 2 whole months later, and after a 2 whole weeks of almost straight rain that we had in September that I now dare let Eluane play in my backyard.

 

I am so mad at the company and had wished I had waited for at least 2 weeks of rain, perhaps the weed killer wouldn't have affected her so badly. So please if anyone has lawn care maintenance people be sure to call them every year to make sure to emphasize about not having that grub-killer. It can do nasty things...

 

Eluane is doing absolutely fantastic now but I always worry about long-term effects especially with regard to cancer....

[bc4ever]

Eluane is doing absolutely fantastic now but I always worry about long-term effects especially with regard to cancer....

 

I understand. We have the same issue here--perfectly manicured lawns, no dog houses allowed, etc. I hate that we have to "wait twenty-four hours before letting pets or children on the grass." DH wants our lawn to look as good as everyone else's, but I'm not willing to risk Scooter's health (and probably ours) to get it. My sister's dog died of cancer several years ago, and she's pretty sure it was all the chemicals that were used in the yard. Of course, she couldn't prove it, but it makes sense. When we called the lawn service this year, before they started putting their poison down, they told DH that they'd never had a problem. Hmmm.... No chemicals next year!

[Barb Scott]

I used to have a lawn service spray my lawn for weeds also. They, too, said wait 24 hours before kids or pets could play on it. I quit the service when my Aussie (with white socks) came in from playing with the neighbor's dog (2 or 3 days after the application) with yellow/green socks. Evidently, the dew made the weed killer stick to the dogs rolling on the lawn.

Barb S

[stockdogranch]

Nothing much to add here, other than I really sympathize with those who live in places where all these chemicals are "necessary." I have a real phobia about animals and chemicals, and pretty much refuse to use sprays for bugs or weeds or whatever. Probably good thing I live where I do, where there are bugs and mice, and lots of weeds grow, and that's just life.

 

At a place I used to rent (house on acreage), the landlord first left out a bucket of antifreeze (didn't tell me), which my dog got into, and of course, it killed her. Then, months later, same landlord opened a 20 pound bag of squirrel bait (the bleed out stuff) and left it out on the property (again, said nothing), which 2 of my dogs got into. ER trip, weeks of Vitamin K shots, and they were OK. The same day I had to take them to the ER, I found a new place to live. But it left me extremely paranoid about such things.

 

A

[Shetlander]

At a place I used to rent (house on acreage), the landlord first left out a bucket of antifreeze (didn't tell me), which my dog got into, and of course, it killed her. Then, months later, same landlord opened a 20 pound bag of squirrel bait (the bleed out stuff) and left it out on the property (again, said nothing), which 2 of my dogs got into.

 

Wow, how incredibly careless that landlord was! What if kids got into that stuff? That is just awful for your poor dogs -- and you.

 

I admit that I finally broke under peer pressure a few years ago when the dandelions had taken over my front yard. I made it clear to the yard service to only do the front yard. Backyard is behind a security fence. I also won't spray any weedkiller in the backyard. It's the compromise I came up with.

[nancy]

Luckily, we were sharp enough to buy a house with about an acre and no covenants. Only because I asked whener we looked at a house.

 

I can (and have done) string rope from tree to tree to hang out my laundry when my official clothesline was either full or storm-damaged. I can paint my house any color. When we moved in we could direct people by the house that was painted (honest) to match the pool. And we have a neighbor who rivals "Sanford & Son" - and one who tries to rival him.

 

But that's the fun of an eclectic neighborhood. When we were kids, no one could tell you what color you could paint your house of how much lawn you had to have. Zoning is great; I don't want a car wash or an abattoir next door. A pub would be just fine. But niddling neighbors are not. As long as I don't put an addition too close to the property line, the property is mine.

 

We have decided that lawn is vastly over-rated. Most of our acre is trees. Not a "natural area" but just plain natural. Pine needles, moss, English ivy (Yeah, I imported that exotic invasive when our son was removing it from his yard. Traded it for the chickweed he wanted. We are a tad strange.), and whatever else volunteers unless it's poison ivy or has nasty prickers and no blackberries.

[powerfulgazelle]

www.gardensalive.com

 

They used to be a bit closer to me---they have relocated further north in OH, but I believe they do mail order. We used to use their lawn "stuff"---it was a big bag of high nitrogen stuff made from corn, I think. Helped take care of the weeds, safe for the critters. I imagine there might be sources similar to this co. other places?

[Laurae]

When Taz was a puppy, I used to bring him into work with me. During the day on my breaks, we'd take walks around the office grounds. One Monday, after the maintenance folks had put down fertilizer/insecticide over the weekend (and of course didn't notify any of the office workers), Taz became seriously ill. He exhibited scary neurological symptoms, unable to stand up or walk, with one eyeball much more dilated than the other. I brought him to the emergency room and he vomited twice in the car on the way there. He was better after that. The e-vet thought he had a life-threatening reaction to the toxins in the fertilizer/insecticide. Very scary stuff indeed!

[bc4ever]

I made it clear to the yard service to only do the front yard. I also won't spray any weedkiller in the backyard. It's the compromise I came up with.

That's what we've come up with too. Fine..do the front. Scooter doesn't play in the front yard anyway. If the neighbors behind us don't like our back yard, let them plant more trees. They've sure cut down enough of them!

[Serena+Eluane B.C.]

DH wants our lawn to look as good as everyone else's, but I'm not willing to risk Scooter's health (and probably ours) to get it. My sister's dog died of cancer several years ago, and she's pretty sure it was all the chemicals that were used in the yard. Of course, she couldn't prove it

 

Thank you so much everyone for highlighting this very important issue and what your experiences have been. Believe me I want to emphasize that 24 hours wait time is not!!! enough. I had 24 hours plus! an additional day of rain. Don't let the lawn care people fool you when it comes to grub killer. It is nasty, nasty stuff. As for weedkiller, it is to kill plant life, and specifically only certain plant life. Grub killers and insecticides kill animal life, therefore that in itself is the bad and why from the get-go I specifically prohibited it from my lawn.Hopefully what happened with Eluane with the bloody stools will really help prevent anything like this happening to others. It makes me especially mad because I told the lawn people not to use this in my yard and they did! plus of course, they continue to deny that their product is responsible wall-bashing!

 

Larae, I am so sorry to hear also what happened to your puppy. A puppy's system is even more tender and fragile and its long-term effects quadruple the worry, and it makes me really bad that your poor puppy got sick...

 

Powerfulgazelle, that is a really helpful site for you to recommend the www.gardensalive.com and can give those with these concerns some good ideas about internet searching for replacement alternatives...

[Shetlander]

That's what we've come up with too. Fine..do the front. Scooter doesn't play in the front yard anyway. If the neighbors behind us don't like our back yard, let them plant more trees. They've sure cut down enough of them!

 

I love my privacy fence. It makes good neighbors. My backyard is a wreck. To paraphrase, Attila the Hun, "where my Border Collie has trod, the grass will never grow."

 

 

[bc4ever]

I love my privacy fence. It makes good neighbors. My backyard is a wreck. To paraphrase, Attila the Hun, "where my Border Collie has trod, the grass will never grow."

 

Ohhh, what I wouldn't give for a privacy fence. We had one at the last house, but that's one more thing we're not "allowed" to have here. I'm surprised dogs are allowed!! Would love a few acres out away from everyone! Maybe some day!