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Intro & Q about fertilizer
Hello! DH and I are mid-20s, married 2 years in Oct. who just bought their first home. I've been on the get-green train for awhile now (the basics like recycling and buying local/organic (as much as I can) to the more challenging like making my own body and cleaning products). DH is slowly getting on board (he's learning more about issues such as Monsanto and the benefits of eating less meat), which is helpful. 
I'm excited to learn anything more that I can from all of you!
Now on to my question: we bought a condo, and we are not responsible for anything outside our drywall...this includes the yard. About every 2-3 months, a yard service comes in and fertilizes the heck out of the grass. What's more: they don't put up signs everywhere that they sprayed.
Unfortunately, it makes my dog sick, really sick, because the lawn and every grassy patch is covered in this crud. Being owners, we are part of a condo association that takes concerns and questions from residents to make our neighborhood better. Do you know of any pet-friendly/eco-friendlier fertilizers I could suggest they switch to? TIA!
Re: Intro & Q about fertilizer
Hello and welcome! We're glad to have you here.
I'm sorry about your dog getting sick! I don't have any product recommendations, but to be honest I think it's highly unlikely that their landscaper will switch products just for you. The landscaper likely has a contract with a specific manufacturer. I think a better and more effective course of action than switching products is to get the landscaper not to spray your yard. I would have your vet draft a letter saying the fertilizer makes your dog sick, ask the condo association for the contact info for their landscaper, and send a letter along with the vet memo certified mail to the landscaper's General Manager telling them not to spray your yard. I would also request their spraying schedule (it's likely they do your neighborhood at the same time every month/quarter/year) and unfortunately keep your dog off the grass for about a week after they spray.
Luckily our HOA's landscaper puts up little flags in areas they spray, so I have to keep my dog out of the grass for about a week after the flags show up.
SuperGreen-that's a good idea-figuring out their schedule and asking not to spray our yard. We have a great vet that might work with us on this.
I'm just worried because the entire condo complex is FULL of dogs, so I'm not just worried about my dog-its every dog in the complex. They even have waste stations around and green spaces *for dogs*, but they spray these areas too. Makes me crazy
I think I may start calling around-maybe even call anonymously to the lawn care they have a contract with-see if anyone has suggestions other than those stinkin' white pellets.
Thanks for your ideas!
I know, right. I'd be "ok" if flags were everywhere-but alas.
BTW- I love your sig photo!
I don't have grass to fertilize, but there are many natural fertilizers including kelp meal, cottonseed meal, fish emulsion, and bone meal. I'm not sure if these are available in large quantities that a landscaping company would use for a condo complex, but it's worth checking. Also fyi cottonseed meal and kelp meal don't have any animal products.
Compost tea is also great - if the landscaping company composts, they can mix some compost with water to make a "tea" (or use the liquid that might seep to the bottom of the compost pile). Compost tea is full of the nutrients found in good compost, and it's a liquid so it can be easily sprayed on grassy areas. Since there are no chemicals, it should be all good for pets, wildlife, and people walking or playing in the grass. Your local cooperative extension office at the state university may also be able to help with suggestions and more info. Do some research and approach the condo association - hopefully you can get enough people on board to make a positive change!
Thank you for the suggestions. This is a great list to take to the condo association!
@Jen&Joe06-I'm not totally sure to be honest. Its the white pellets. They irrate the ground, then spray the pellets all over. And leave one sign...just one in the middle of the complex. So cute.
Are there EF pesticides we can suggest as well (just in case)?
TIA!