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Although your yard or garden is a great place for kids and pets
to enjoy, it can also be extremely dangerous. Common outdoor items
can be toxic to humans and animals. Being safe, however, is easy
when you know how to go about it.
Being outside in the spring or summer is a joy to
humans and pets. Outdoor enjoyment must, however, be accompanied
by a measure of caution to keep those dear to you safe. Common
yard and garden items such as plant food, fertilizer, petals and
leaves can be toxic, if not fatal, to animals and humans, especially
children. A recent USA Weekend article offers the following tips
to be safe outdoors:
Be a Label Reader. As with all
products, reading labels can be important for your health and
safety. Not only will reading labels on lawn and garden products
inform you about how to use the product correctly, you will also
learn whether the product is toxic. Newer pesticides have toxicity
warnings, but if you want to be completely safe, you can avoid
chemicals by using organic or chemical-free products, such as
Organic-Gro or Serenade Garden Disease Control. If you do have
to use toxic lawn and garden products, be sure to use child- and
pet-resistant packaging and lock the products up.
Know Toxic Plants. Many beautiful
plants can be toxic to humans and animals if ingested. Some non-toxic
plants can also cause irritation or allergic reactions if touched.
Also, keep in mind that some plants are safe for humans but toxic
to animals. For instance, aloe, English ivy, Easter lilies, daffodils
and tulips are all poisonous to animals. For a list of toxic and
non-toxic plants, visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
through the ASPCA’s Web site at www.aspca.org. You can also
access a list of toxic regional plants by calling your local poison
control center (via 1-800-222-1222).
Use Natural Repellants. You can
keep dogs and cats out of your flower and vegetable gardens by
planting natural repellants. According to Cheryl Smith, author
of Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs, dogs and cats find
the scent of Coleus canina distasteful. You can plant this annual
with lavender flowers around your gardens to keep pets out. You
can keep your children out of certain areas in the yard or garden
by teaching them where they can and cannot go and by putting up
attractive borders or fencing.
Give Everyone Their Place.
If animals and kids have appealing areas outside to explore and
enjoy, they are less likely to go where you don’t want them.
For example, you can give your dog his or her own digging pit.
A pit should be twice as long as the animal and filled with dirt
or sand. Cat owners can try planting catnip or catmint in an outdoor
plot, large planter or window box. Kids should also have their
own area, filled with plenty of things to do. Although not always
attractive, swing sets are always good for hours of entertainment
and exercise. You can also choose to set up a soccer net or basketball
net.
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