Question
Is there any data if either of these 2 brands is harmful for humans (especially kids walking/playing/rolling) in the lawn? Would appreciate if you could you shed some light on this.  Thanks


Answer
None of them are harmfull to kids/dogs, etc if used properly.

Apply on a calm day to dry soil and then water in well using plenty of water. Allow atleast 1/2 inch of water to dissolve the pellets. This can take 2-3 hours using a garden hose sprinkler or a day long rain in most cases.


Once the product is washed down into the root zone it is safe to let kids back on the lawn.

Do not let kids or adults eat the products, and if you apply it, wash hands before using. Wear protective clothing when applying and wash the clothes. This does not only apply to the synthetic (man-made) fertilizers but also if you use organic lawn fertilizers like manure, etc.

The man-made (synthetic) fertilizers are salt based (like table salt) but they also contain high levels of nitrates, phosphorous and potassium all of which can be harmfull if eaten or if you get it in the eyes, etc.

With proper common sence use it is harmless.

Often these products are described as harmfull by the organic gardening community and often the comments are more emotially laden than factual. Provided you apply as above and water in well, you can resume normal activities immediately. I still don't recommend that the childen eat the grass or put dirt in their mouths, but I dont recommend that on regular basis either.

Organic fertilizers can be just as harmfull as synthetic fertilizers if eaten or not handled properly. The nutrients inside synthetic fertilizer pellets are produced by a chemical process in factories (as opposed to being produced by microbes in the soil eating the organic fertilizer and releasing the nutrients; which is how organic fertilizers work). This has also given synthetic (man-made) fertilizers the nick-name "chemical fertilizers". Some people misunderstand this to think that adding Vigoro/Scotts etc to their lawn is like pouring hazardous waste with toxic residues on the ground. This is NOT the case (although many organic lawn care sites have no problems "suggesting" this).


Under no circumstances should the products be eaten and I always recommend using gloves when handling because the materials are salts (I always wear gloves when handling rock salt in winter, too).

If you apply when rain is anticipated, you should be fine.

Just one note of caution:
- some synthetic (man-made) products are mixed with herbicides (weed killers) and/or insecticides (pesticides). Personally, I do NOT use these mixed products. I only use straight synthetic lawn fertilizers. Fertilizers which says that they fight insects or weeds are typically mixed. Descriptions like "summer guard", "insect proof", "weed-and-feed", "crabgrass killer" are all indications of a mixed product (fertilizer w/herbicide/insecticides).

Herbicides and insecticides can leave hazardous residues in the soil and grass plants, and in the vast majority of cases they are absolutely unnecerssary. In my opinion the use of insecticides and herbicides on home lawns are unacceptably high and there is really no reason for their use. A small amount of weeds and insects in a regular home lawn is fully acceptable in my book.

Therefore, when buying fertilizers, avoid those with pesticides and weed killers.

You can use synthetic (man-made) lawn fertilizers like Vigoro or Scott's Turfbuilder without fear of impact to the kids. It requires common sence use, however. It is not food or toys (threat it as you would household cleaners).

Kenneth