Having a great yard means having a safe yard. A family yard means it’s a safe place for children and pets. We all know how much children and pets love the outdoors.
So how can you keep your yard safe? Don’t just really on common sense. There are many items out there used treat and maintain lawns that can be harmful to children and pets. We’re talking about things like fertilizer and weed killer. There are many organic options on the marketplace today. It may be worthwhile to do some homework to find out what is and isn’t toxic before applying it to your yard. If you do have chemicals, make sure they are stored out of the reach of children and pets.
It’s also a good idea to do some “housework” around your yard. This means performing a thorough walk-through of your yard and picking up debris that could be potentially harmful to pets and children. Pick up jagged rocks and broken glass. Look for branches or small tree limbs that have fallen.
Next, keep eyes peeled for ditches and holes that could be dangerous for smaller feet. Those holes may need to be filled. Some may need to be filed or covered up.
Consider kids and pets when doing yard maintenance. It may seem harmless to be mowing the lawn, it’s better to be safe than sorry. There is always the danger of flying debris when using a lawnmower, especially if the mower runs over an unseen rock or piece of wood.
Make sure that children understand that things like lawn sprinklers are not toys (even when water is coming out of the sprinkler) and be aware of where sprinkler heads are in relation to where children and pets will play. Also make sure that children know they are not allowed near things like outdoor grills.