Are Tree and Shrub Treatments Safe if You Have Pets

Are you worried that you’re barking up the wrong tree by desiring to have vibrant plants while keeping your furry friends safe from harm?

Contrary to what you may have heard, you can have it all: beautiful, lush trees and shrubs and safe, healthy pets.

With a few precautions and the right plant health care program in place, you can make your Northeast Ohio yard an outdoor oasis that’s both beautiful and pet-friendly.

Why Tree and Shrub Treatments Can Be Safe for Pets

Your pets aren’t like family. They are your family, so it’s understandable to be concerned that the products used to keep your trees and shrubs thriving might be dangerous to them. However, those concerns often come from misinformation.

In fact, the key to protecting your pets is enlisting the help of a professional plant health care provider. After all, professional plant health care is much safer and effective than DIY alternatives. Here’s why. 

How Professional Tree and Shrub Care Keeps Pets Protected

Our expert technicians are not only certified but also extensively trained in the precise art of applying plant health care treatments, whether it be nutrient-rich fertilizers or targeted pest control solutions.

At Turf Pride, we use only top-tier products. They are powerful enough to conquer insects and disease, yet gentle enough to keep your family and pets perfectly safe.

3. Correct Timing and Application Techniques 

Thanks to their advanced training and certification, our technicians know precisely how much product to apply, when to apply it, and the exact techniques needed to do the job right. 

They also have plenty of experience identifying and eradicating pests and diseases common in Northeast Ohio. 

4. Clear Answers to Your Safety Questions

If you have any questions about the safety or efficacy of our products, our technicians are more than happy to walk you through the specifics. 

What’s Included in Turf Pride’s Pet-Safe Tree and Shrub Program

At Turf Pride, our safe and effective plant health care program entails the following steps: 

Fertilization Treatments (Organic and Safe for Pets)

Our technicians apply both a spring and fall fertilizer treatment. While the spring application encourages flowering and budding, the fall application bolsters the root system ahead of winter.

No matter what time of year the fertilizer is put down, you don’t have to worry about the products harming your animals because we use an organic-based fertilizer. 

Insect and Fungus Control — Safe After Two Hours

For our insecticide and fungicide treatments, we apply a liquid product to trees and shrubs. 

Once the products are dry, it’s completely safe for your pets to play outside. We typically allow a two-hour window for the product to be absorbed by the trees and shrubs. 

Horticultural Oil for Year-Round Protection

Our horticulture oil treatment is sprayed directly onto the plants to contend with overwintering eggs and remaining adult pests. 

This product is also nontoxic and leaves no harmful residue. 

Pet Safety Precautions Before, During, and After Treatment

Now that you’ve learned that tree and shrub treatments aren’t harmful to your pets, let’s take a look at a few things you can do surrounding your visit to keep your pets extra safe and allow our technicians to properly do their jobs. 

Before Tree and Shrub Pest Control Treatment

• Clean Up After Your Pets

• Clear Your Yard of Pet Toys

Keeping your lawn and landscaped areas free of pet toys and other items helps keep our technicians safe from rolling an ankle or tripping while servicing your property. 

During Tree and Shrub Pest Control Treatment

• Keep Your Pets Indoors

It’s important that during your visit, you keep your pets inside your home. This allows our technicians to do their job without interruption and also ensures the products can dry following application. 

After Tree and Shrub Pest Control Treatment 

• Don’t Allow Pets Outdoors for Two Hours

For the best results, keep your pets indoors for about two hours after treatment. This gives the product plenty of time to dry completely.

If your furry friend does happen to wander outside early, no need to panic.Simply bring them back in and gently wipe off any residue from their fur and paws.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet-Safe Tree and Shrub Care

How long after treatment can pets go outside?

We typically recommend that you wait about two hours after our treatments to let your pets outside.

Are your products organic or synthetic?

At Turf Pride, the fertilizers we use are 40% organic material. The organic-based fertilizers help stimulate microbe activity, which makes the soil more nutritious for the grass. These products also last longer in the soil so the grass can stay green over a longer period of time. Because the products are made from elements already found in the ground, these kinds of fertilizers can be safer for pets.

What if it rains after a treatment?

Our technicians at Turf Pride follow the label instructions when it comes to application during variable weather conditions. 

We can apply these products in a light drizzle with no problem, but in heavier downpours, the liquid portions of the treatments can be affected or diluted. 

If a customer thinks rain affected their treatment, we ask them to wait 10-14 days, and if it appears the treatment has not been effective after that window, we come out for a service call. 

During long-lasting rainfalls, our technicians will simply not treat that day, and we will reschedule treatments for when the weather is better. In instances of quick-moving rain showers, our specialists will simply wait it out and continue when it's over.

Choose Pet-Safe Tree and Shrub Care in Northeast Ohio

You can rest assured that with a professional tree and shrub health care provider, it’s more than feasible to keep your pets’ tails wagging and your plants from sagging.

To create a pet-safe pest control plan for your trees and shrubs in Mentor and surrounding areas, give us a call today or request a free quote online.