Friday, April 3, 2009

Garden Toxins

Spring is in the air!  That means trips to the garden center for many of us.  A little bit of warm weather and we are itching to get out there and beautify our homes.  And in doing so, we may very well be poisoning our family members.  Household pesticides and fertilizers are a leading source of pet poisoning.  Slug baits, rodents poisons, weed killers, weed-and-feed products and commercial nitrogen-based fertilizers are all toxic when ingested.  "Well" you are thinking, "I wasn't planning on feeding it to my pet!"  
But your pets are much closer to the environment than you are.  They lay on the newly fertilized grass, lick their feet and fur, and swallow toxic doses of nitrates, organophosphates, heavy metals and other inorganic compounds.  These can cause signs ranging from a little bloody diarrhea to seizures, depending upon the chemical ingested, the size of the pet, and the amount they ingest.
But don't despair!  There are many safer ways to have a beautiful yard for your pet, your children and the environment.  Products made from fish meal, corn by-products and other organic sources can provide all the weed control and soil health for a great looking lawn or flower border, without the toxic risks. ( Please note that ANY product with very high nitrogen levels can cause illness if large amounts are ingested.)
Go to www.gardensalive.com www.greenlivingtips.com www.gardenweb.com to find ideas and products to create your most beautiful, healthy garden ever.

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