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[gentle music]

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- Jamie Viebach:
Good afternoon, everybody.

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My name is Jamie Viebach.

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I'm a horticulture educator

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with the University of Illinois
Extension,

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based out
of the Chicago suburbs.

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So, today I am here
to talk with you

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a little bit about
pet-friendly landscaping.

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So, in addition to being
a horticulture educator,

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I am also a dog mom.

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I also have three aquatic
turtles and a box turtle.

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And so, quick poll here,
who here has a dog?

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Cat?

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I asked this yesterday--
chickens?

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Something else I didn't mention?

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- Attendee 1: Ducks.
- Jamie: Ducks?

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Okay, fantastic.

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So, as a homeowner
and a dog owner for many years,

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I hadn't really considered

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how my landscape practices
might impact my pets,

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until one day
I was over at a friend's house

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and I saw her dog
start chewing on some mulch.

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And it kind of dawned on me,
"Ooh, maybe this is something

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that we really
need to think about,"

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and, you know, having to wonder,

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"How is what I'm doing
in my yard

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potentially impacting my pets?"

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So, what do you want
out of your yard?

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Well, you wanna have
a beautiful garden

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maybe to show off
to your friends and neighbors.

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You wanna be able to relax
and enjoy it.

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You want it to be functional

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from both a use
and a maintenance standpoint,

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maybe reduces
maintenance efforts and costs,

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reduces the need
for fertilizers, pesticides,

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equipment, water, et cetera.

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I would say I'm a lazy gardener.

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I heard, somebody today said,
"No, no, no, don't say lazy.

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Say efficient."

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I need to be
an efficient gardener

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because I got a full time job,
right?

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I am also a mom
to a human kid, too,

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and he's got all his
activities and things.

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So, I got a lot going on.

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I don't have all this time

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to spend in my garden,
as much as I want to.

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So, I need to be efficient
in what I do.

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And maybe you have
an energetic dog

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who gets the zoomies
every now and then,

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or is more bull in a china shop
than, you know, calm lapdog.

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I have a cattle dog.

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You will see
a picture of her later.

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She is not calm lapdog.

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Five minutes a day,
I get five minutes a day

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of calm cuddles,

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and the rest of the time,
she's a cattle dog.

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You're gonna wanna make sure

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that your pots don't
get knocked over

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or your plants get rearranged

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to make room
for that prized bone, right?

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But there are some things that
your pet's gonna want

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out of your yard too.

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So, they're gonna want safety,
right?

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We wanna make sure
that we keep them safe

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while they're in our yards.

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They're gonna want water
to drink or to play in,

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shade or shelter,

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someplace to answer
nature's call,

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some play space,
maybe some space to dig.

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All depends on your dog
and what they're interested in.

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So, my talk today is gonna be
in kind of two parts.

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The first part,
we're gonna talk about

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more of the hardscaping
design kind of elements

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that we're going to do
in our yard.

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And the second part,
we're gonna do

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more of a deep dive
into specific plants.

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So, if you're here
just to hear about plants,

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I will get there, I promise.

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- Attendee 2: Oh, no!
[audience laughs]

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- Jamie: Sometimes,
your pets also

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wanna rearrange the furniture.

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That is not one of mine.

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That is my friend Deb's.

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His name is Tank.

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[audience laughs]

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So, one of the biggest conflicts
with dogs and lawns

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are these dreaded burn spots.

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Female dogs are the
primary culprits of lawn damage

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since they'll urinate
pretty much anywhere

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on a lawn,
and usually all at once.

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Unlike male dogs
that are gonna dribble it out

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all over the place
to mark their territory,

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females tend to go all at once.

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So, this is gonna result
in a large volume of urine

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concentrated
into a small patch of grass.

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The ammonia overload
at the center of the patch

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is what causes the grass burn.

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Studies have shown
that tall fescue

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and perennial ryegrass
are the most resistant

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to these urine effects.

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And in fact, the urine routinely
produced a fertilizer effect

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on these grasses
at diluted concentrations.

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Kentucky bluegrass
and Bermuda grass

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are very sensitive
to urine concentrations,

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and severe burns can result
that last even over 30 days

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after the initial exposure

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to even just four ounces
of concentrated urine.

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It's really sort of an issue of
the dose makes the poison here.

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So, how much is the area
getting?

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How concentrated is it?

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That's what's gonna determine

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whether you get that burn spot
or not.

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Watering that spot
after urination

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will accomplish a dilution

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without any ill effects
on the lawn.

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So, in this case,
if you can dilute that urine

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even up to eight hours later,

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that can help prevent
those lawn burn spots.

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Over 12 hours, that's usually
when those burns develop.

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So, if it's a real issue

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for you and how you feel
about your lawn,

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maybe just set up a sprinkler to
go off in the evenings, right?

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We all know evening's
not the best time to water,

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but after your dog goes,
that may help to reduce that

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if you're having those issues.

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Now, also, you'll want to avoid
synthetic chemicals

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and fertilizers
whenever possible.

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Even if your dog
doesn't eat the plants,

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he can be affected by walking on
or laying in treated areas.

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You'll wanna use best practices
and manual weeding

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if necessary, for safety's sake.

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If your lawn does require
frequent pesticide use,

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especially herbicides,
you may have

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an underlying problem
that's causing

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these repeated invasions
of things like weeds.

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Correcting that problem's gonna
lead to a healthier lawn

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that's going to be better
able to resist those invasions.

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Good soil conditions
are also really important

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for healthy lawns.

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Many lawns are growing
on soils high in clay,

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at least in my area
of northern Illinois.

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We have very,
very heavy clay soils here.

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Again, depending on where you're
at, that may be different.

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But heavy clay is
not always the best for lawns.

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So, aerating and top dressing
with organic matter

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can improve these conditions.

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Repeated aeration
might be necessary

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to adequately reduce
soil compaction

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and increase your levels
of oxygen, right?

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That's gonna give you
that healthier plant,

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that individual grass plant.

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Another option is,
if you can start over,

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if you've got
a small enough spot

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that you're just gonna
completely start over on,

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then maybe you can address those
soil issues on the front end

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before you sod or seed.

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That can be a lot easier to do

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than trying to fix it
after the fact.

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A soil test is recommended
to be sure

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that other factors
like pH and levels of nutrition

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are adequate for grass growth.

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You'll also wanna make sure

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that you're using the proper
grass species on the site.

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So, full sun or sun shade
environments

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both call for different types
of grasses.

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So, in addition,
you can consider

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the quality
that you're looking for.

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Some people want
that golf course-looking

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perfect lawn.

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Other people are okay
if it's got a few dandelions

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and maybe a little
creeping Charlie

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and some violets and whatever.

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I think they're pretty,
I don't know.

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Not everybody
likes that, though, so...

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So, selecting the proper
grass type for your site

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will also help there.

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So, Kentucky bluegrass
is the primary species

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in northern Illinois lawns
in full sun.

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In some cases, it'll be mixed
with a perennial ryegrass

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and/or fine fescues.

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But in shadier areas,

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a shade-tolerant Kentucky
bluegrass cultivar

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is commonly mixed
with fine fescues,

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but they don't always stand up
to activity very well,

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even though there are

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those Kentucky bluegrass
cultivars in the mix.

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Your cultural practices are
also gonna play a big role

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in the health of the lawn
and your need for pesticides.

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Proper watering includes
irrigating the lawns

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as they need it and getting the
moisture down to the root zone.

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You wanna water less often,
but for a longer period of time

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to ensure that deeper
root growth.

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If you're only watering
for a little bit

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and just getting that water
in the top inch or so of soil,

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that's where your roots
are gonna grow.

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If you water it more deeply,

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that's going to encourage
deeper root growth,

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which is gonna mean, A, you
have to water less frequently,

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but you'll still have
that nice, healthy lawn

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that's going to be better able
to resist grubs,

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resist weeds and all of that.

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And then, proper fertilizing,

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includes supplying
adequate nutrients

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and proper soil pH.

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In particular, you want to avoid
excess or lack of nitrogen

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when using synthetic
fertilizers.

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Fertilize during cooler weather,

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especially early fall
and late fall,

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and use a controlled release
nitrogen fertilizer

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to avoid the swings
in food availability.

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And you also
don't want to apply

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really high rates of nitrogen
in the spring.

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Proper mowing
is also going to have an impact

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on your lawn health.

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Many lawns are mowed too short,

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allowing the weeds to invade
and other problems to appear.

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You want to mow between two
and a half and three inches

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and mow often enough
so that you're never

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removing more than a third
of the leaf blade at a time.

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So, if you go away on vacation
for a couple of weeks

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and come back and your lawn is,
like, super out of control,

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you'll wanna mow
as high as you possibly can

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and then, a couple days later,

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a little bit shorter
to bring it back

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into that two and a half
to three-inch rate.

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You never wanna remove more
than a third of that leaf blade

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at a time, or it's really
gonna stress out your grass.

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And you also wanna manage
lawn stress factors,

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like thatch, shade,
and soil compaction, right?

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Urban soils usually tend to be
really compacted and really bad.

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So, doing things like core
aeration on a regular basis,

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that's an excellent practice
to consider to help remove

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some of that compaction.

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And occasionally, problems
are still gonna come up

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that require special management.

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You wanna start by identifying
the problem first, right?

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Can't treat what you
don't know what it is.

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So, identify what
that problem is first

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and then look
at control options.

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You'll wanna start
with cultural options first.

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Can you just pull that weed?

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Is there something-- Can
you remove the pest physically?

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And then, go on to organic
and then chemical practices

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when the situation warrants.

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Even if you're using
organic management practices,

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some weeds, there's just no way
to get rid of 'em

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without chemical means, right?

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00:11:04,198 --> 00:11:06,400
Sometimes, we just
have to employ chemical warfare

249
00:11:06,466 --> 00:11:07,801
if we're gonna get rid of things

250
00:11:07,868 --> 00:11:11,538
like buckthorn, honeysuckle,
stuff like that.

251
00:11:11,605 --> 00:11:13,874
Sometimes, you just
can't pull it out.

252
00:11:13,941 --> 00:11:16,844
So, when you do
have to use that,

253
00:11:19,346 --> 00:11:24,251
read, understand,
and follow all label directions.

254
00:11:24,885 --> 00:11:27,354
[audiences coos and laughs]

255
00:11:27,421 --> 00:11:29,323
That's my cattle dog.

256
00:11:29,389 --> 00:11:31,058
[laughs]

257
00:11:31,725 --> 00:11:33,126
You may wanna consider
creating

258
00:11:33,193 --> 00:11:37,531
a specific bathroom area
for your dog to go in.

259
00:11:37,598 --> 00:11:39,600
That'll make it easier
for you to clean up

260
00:11:39,666 --> 00:11:42,169
and maybe have to worry less

261
00:11:42,236 --> 00:11:44,872
about those burn patches
in the yard.

262
00:11:44,938 --> 00:11:48,108
And you can--
Maybe it's a mulched area.

263
00:11:48,175 --> 00:11:50,811
I've seen some people use
artificial turf on it.

264
00:11:50,878 --> 00:11:54,481
All depends on your dog and
what your dog's gonna prefer.

265
00:11:54,548 --> 00:11:57,117
You wanna consider the location
if you're gonna do this.

266
00:11:57,184 --> 00:11:58,385
You probably don't
wanna put it

267
00:11:58,452 --> 00:12:00,687
right next to, you know,
the patio,

268
00:12:00,754 --> 00:12:02,823
where you're gonna
be sitting out in the summer.

269
00:12:02,890 --> 00:12:05,425
But you also don't want it
to be too far away

270
00:12:05,492 --> 00:12:08,195
for when there's six inches
of snow on the ground.

271
00:12:08,262 --> 00:12:12,599
So, be mindful with where
you locate that area.

272
00:12:13,500 --> 00:12:16,570
You might be able to train your
dog to go in a specific area.

273
00:12:16,637 --> 00:12:19,740
If this isn't something you've
done before, go to the spot.

274
00:12:19,806 --> 00:12:21,008
Give their command,

275
00:12:21,074 --> 00:12:23,143
you know, "Go potty,"
whatever you tell them.

276
00:12:23,210 --> 00:12:24,311
And then, when they do,

277
00:12:24,378 --> 00:12:26,313
treat, treat, treat, treat,
treat, right?

278
00:12:26,380 --> 00:12:30,384
So, same way you train
your dog to do anything.

279
00:12:30,450 --> 00:12:31,585
Or you can spray the area.

280
00:12:31,652 --> 00:12:33,220
They have pheromone-scented
products

281
00:12:33,287 --> 00:12:34,721
that you can put in there that-,

282
00:12:34,788 --> 00:12:36,456
you know, dogs always sniff
before they go,

283
00:12:36,523 --> 00:12:37,624
so you put those

284
00:12:37,691 --> 00:12:38,959
pheromone-scented products
there.

285
00:12:39,026 --> 00:12:40,360
The dog sniffs, goes,
"Oh, this is

286
00:12:40,427 --> 00:12:43,597
where I'm supposed to go,"
and there you go.

287
00:12:43,664 --> 00:12:45,432
And again, some dogs
prefer grass or mulch.

288
00:12:45,499 --> 00:12:49,002
I had a dog who would not go
on anything but grass,

289
00:12:49,069 --> 00:12:50,938
which was really fun
in the winter.

290
00:12:51,004 --> 00:12:52,439
[audience laughs]

291
00:12:52,506 --> 00:12:55,142
But you know your dog best,

292
00:12:55,209 --> 00:12:58,679
so whatever
is gonna work for your dog.

293
00:12:58,745 --> 00:13:00,747
Not all mulches are safe
for dogs.

294
00:13:00,814 --> 00:13:03,817
We're gonna discuss
that shortly.

295
00:13:03,884 --> 00:13:08,455
For your hardscaping,
creating paths can be a way

296
00:13:09,923 --> 00:13:13,527
to keep your dog
out of certain areas.

297
00:13:13,594 --> 00:13:15,762
So, if you give them
a runway to go,

298
00:13:15,829 --> 00:13:18,265
you make it easy on them
to get through there,

299
00:13:18,332 --> 00:13:22,569
that's what they're gonna do
most of the time.

300
00:13:23,704 --> 00:13:26,006
If just trying to get
from point A to point B,

301
00:13:26,073 --> 00:13:29,476
they're going to look
for an opener area

302
00:13:29,543 --> 00:13:31,512
than they will for, you know,

303
00:13:31,578 --> 00:13:33,313
something where they're gonna
have to fight their way

304
00:13:33,380 --> 00:13:35,249
through shrubs
and tall grasses and stuff.

305
00:13:35,315 --> 00:13:38,285
That said, tall grasses can hide

306
00:13:38,352 --> 00:13:43,357
lots of interesting little
critters and can also be fun.

307
00:13:43,423 --> 00:13:45,993
But when you do create pathways,

308
00:13:46,059 --> 00:13:47,594
if you use flagstone,
stuff like this,

309
00:13:47,661 --> 00:13:48,929
watch out for sharp edges

310
00:13:48,996 --> 00:13:51,932
'cause you don't want your dog
to cut their feet on 'em.

311
00:13:51,999 --> 00:13:54,468
And you can use fences
and pathways

312
00:13:54,535 --> 00:13:57,938
also to help establish
these kind of boundaries.

313
00:13:58,005 --> 00:13:59,573
When it comes to fences,

314
00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:01,808
there may be some zoning
restrictions where you live,

315
00:14:01,875 --> 00:14:03,877
so you'll wanna make sure
you understand

316
00:14:03,944 --> 00:14:08,015
what you can and can't do
before you start down that path,

317
00:14:08,081 --> 00:14:10,551
whether there's restrictions
on height, type.

318
00:14:10,617 --> 00:14:13,387
Some communities prohibit
chain-link fences.

319
00:14:13,453 --> 00:14:16,256
Black or green might blend in
better with the landscape,

320
00:14:16,323 --> 00:14:19,326
but that may not be the
aesthetic you're looking for.

321
00:14:19,393 --> 00:14:21,595
Now, a note on invisible fences.

322
00:14:21,662 --> 00:14:23,397
They're really not recommended.

323
00:14:23,463 --> 00:14:26,433
The veterinarians,
the companion animal specialist

324
00:14:26,500 --> 00:14:28,335
at the University of Illinois
that I spoke with,

325
00:14:28,402 --> 00:14:30,704
they really don't recommend
invisible fences

326
00:14:30,771 --> 00:14:32,039
for a couple of reasons.

327
00:14:32,105 --> 00:14:35,108
One is--
Like, I know with my dog,

328
00:14:35,843 --> 00:14:39,046
if there is a squirrel
outside of her boundary,

329
00:14:39,112 --> 00:14:42,049
that one-time shock's
gonna be worth it.

330
00:14:42,115 --> 00:14:43,550
So, she will run
right through it

331
00:14:43,617 --> 00:14:46,286
and take the shock so that
she can go after the squirrel.

332
00:14:46,353 --> 00:14:47,888
I don't know what she has
against squirrels,

333
00:14:47,955 --> 00:14:49,890
but, man, yeah.
[audience laughs]

334
00:14:49,957 --> 00:14:54,795
So, invisible fences are really
not recommended for that reason.

335
00:14:54,862 --> 00:14:56,830
And then, when they try
to come back,

336
00:14:56,897 --> 00:14:59,032
they remember that
they got that shock last time

337
00:14:59,099 --> 00:15:02,169
and they may be hesitant
to come back.

338
00:15:02,236 --> 00:15:05,172
I think some of the newer
models, they've fixed that,

339
00:15:05,239 --> 00:15:07,107
but the dog may not know that.

340
00:15:07,174 --> 00:15:09,243
So, the other thing
about invisible fences

341
00:15:09,309 --> 00:15:11,345
is they don't keep
other animals out.

342
00:15:11,411 --> 00:15:15,749
So, you still have that
to contend with as well.

343
00:15:16,617 --> 00:15:20,954
A high solid fence isn't
going to quiet a barky dog,

344
00:15:21,021 --> 00:15:22,689
no matter
how much you want it to.

345
00:15:22,756 --> 00:15:26,226
They're still gonna be
able to smell and hear

346
00:15:26,293 --> 00:15:28,529
the people or the animals
on the other side of it,

347
00:15:28,595 --> 00:15:30,497
so that may not work.

348
00:15:31,265 --> 00:15:34,134
If your dog jumps fences
or tunnels under them,

349
00:15:34,201 --> 00:15:35,802
there are things
you can do there.

350
00:15:35,869 --> 00:15:38,238
If they tunnel under 'em,
maybe you put a planter

351
00:15:38,305 --> 00:15:41,008
in the areas where they've been
trying to dig.

352
00:15:41,074 --> 00:15:44,144
You know, looks nice
and also is a physical barrier

353
00:15:44,211 --> 00:15:46,780
to keep them
from being able to dig.

354
00:15:46,847 --> 00:15:49,917
Or if they like to jump--
I've seen it done.

355
00:15:49,983 --> 00:15:51,552
It's actually really cool.

356
00:15:51,618 --> 00:15:54,521
String a wire up a little ways

357
00:15:54,588 --> 00:15:56,356
and then put a pool noodle
on there.

358
00:15:56,423 --> 00:15:59,359
So, as they jump, they're gonna
try and grab onto something,

359
00:15:59,426 --> 00:16:01,562
but the pool noodle's gonna
roll,

360
00:16:01,628 --> 00:16:05,132
and that's gonna roll them
right back into the yard.

361
00:16:05,199 --> 00:16:06,733
So, I've seen that done

362
00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:08,635
as, like, a coyote boundary,
as well,

363
00:16:08,702 --> 00:16:11,138
because it works either way.

364
00:16:11,205 --> 00:16:14,675
So, that is an option
that you can try.

365
00:16:16,009 --> 00:16:17,244
Now, when it comes to water,

366
00:16:17,311 --> 00:16:19,346
you wanna make sure that,
while your dog's outside,

367
00:16:19,413 --> 00:16:22,749
they always have access to clean
water, especially on hot days.

368
00:16:22,816 --> 00:16:26,019
If you're planning a pond
in your area,

369
00:16:26,086 --> 00:16:27,855
make sure that,
if your dog gets in it,

370
00:16:27,921 --> 00:16:29,590
whether you want him to or not,

371
00:16:29,656 --> 00:16:31,725
there's a way
for him to easily get out.

372
00:16:31,792 --> 00:16:33,927
The last thing you want
is the dog to fall in

373
00:16:33,994 --> 00:16:36,630
and then not be able to pull
himself out of it again.

374
00:16:36,697 --> 00:16:39,233
And decide if you even
want him to be able to climb in

375
00:16:39,299 --> 00:16:41,535
if, you know, he's gonna
be tracking that pond

376
00:16:41,602 --> 00:16:43,971
right back into your house.

377
00:16:44,037 --> 00:16:49,209
So, you also will wanna be
mindful of cyanobacteria blooms.

378
00:16:49,276 --> 00:16:52,079
This is something
that happens in warmer weather

379
00:16:52,145 --> 00:16:54,181
when the blue-green algae
reproduce quickly,

380
00:16:54,248 --> 00:16:56,617
which is what's referred to
as the bloom.

381
00:16:56,683 --> 00:16:59,219
It resembles blue or green
paint spilled in the water,

382
00:16:59,286 --> 00:17:03,257
or it might have a blue
or green crust at the shoreline.

383
00:17:03,323 --> 00:17:05,759
It can also be a thick, puffy
foam on the water's surface.

384
00:17:05,826 --> 00:17:08,529
Basically, water looking
like it's not supposed to look.

385
00:17:08,595 --> 00:17:10,430
Now, this is different
from duckweed

386
00:17:10,497 --> 00:17:12,266
or regular algae on there.

387
00:17:12,332 --> 00:17:14,201
Duckweed is that little,
teeny, tiny plant.

388
00:17:14,268 --> 00:17:15,802
You can see
the individual leaves on it

389
00:17:15,869 --> 00:17:17,504
if you look up close.

390
00:17:17,571 --> 00:17:20,874
And algae, you know,
the stringy-type stuff.

391
00:17:20,941 --> 00:17:22,509
This is very different
from that.

392
00:17:22,576 --> 00:17:25,712
This is actually very toxic
to humans and dogs.

393
00:17:25,779 --> 00:17:28,315
If you're at dog parks and
stuff, keep an eye out for this,

394
00:17:28,382 --> 00:17:30,317
for the ones that have
ponds on 'em.

395
00:17:30,384 --> 00:17:32,386
A lot of times,
at least where I'm at,

396
00:17:32,452 --> 00:17:34,888
the forest preserves
actively monitor that

397
00:17:34,955 --> 00:17:36,890
and may put a warning out
ahead of time,

398
00:17:36,957 --> 00:17:39,960
but it's just something
to be aware of

399
00:17:40,027 --> 00:17:43,597
if you have a pond
on your own property.

400
00:17:44,531 --> 00:17:46,500
Now, your dog's also
gonna need shade or shelter

401
00:17:46,567 --> 00:17:49,536
if he's spending a lot of time
outside in the summer

402
00:17:49,603 --> 00:17:51,538
or inclement weather.

403
00:17:51,605 --> 00:17:54,041
Maybe he's the type to lay
under a tree, and that's fine,

404
00:17:54,107 --> 00:17:56,810
or they'd prefer something
softer to lay on.

405
00:17:56,877 --> 00:17:58,178
If you provide a doghouse,

406
00:17:58,245 --> 00:18:01,381
make sure it's in the shade
or create shade with a canopy.

407
00:18:01,448 --> 00:18:03,050
Now, I don't love the photo

408
00:18:03,116 --> 00:18:04,651
on the right
for a number of reasons.

409
00:18:04,718 --> 00:18:07,821
This is not a long-term place
for your dog to hang out.

410
00:18:07,888 --> 00:18:09,623
But it was really one
of the few photos

411
00:18:09,690 --> 00:18:11,658
I could find
that actually had a canopy

412
00:18:11,725 --> 00:18:14,728
or, like, some shade cloth
over the top of it.

413
00:18:14,795 --> 00:18:17,931
And that's a great way to
provide some shade for your dog,

414
00:18:17,998 --> 00:18:20,634
if you need that kind of thing.

415
00:18:23,637 --> 00:18:25,439
Now, let's talk about mulch.

416
00:18:25,506 --> 00:18:27,841
Cocoa mulch is super popular.

417
00:18:27,908 --> 00:18:30,043
I think I've even seen some
for sale here.

418
00:18:30,110 --> 00:18:32,813
It is highly toxic to dogs
for the same reason

419
00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:34,948
that chocolate is toxic to dogs,
right?

420
00:18:35,015 --> 00:18:37,484
It's made from--
Cocoa mulch is made from

421
00:18:37,551 --> 00:18:39,553
the hulls of cocoa beans.

422
00:18:39,620 --> 00:18:42,523
And it's still high
in theobromine,

423
00:18:42,589 --> 00:18:48,228
which is that toxic component,
why dogs can't have chocolate.

424
00:18:48,295 --> 00:18:50,497
It may also contain
pesticide residue

425
00:18:50,564 --> 00:18:54,835
and mycotoxin-producing molds,
which can be dangerous for pets.

426
00:18:54,902 --> 00:18:57,738
So, pine needle mulch
is also considered harmful

427
00:18:57,804 --> 00:18:59,173
if it's swallowed.

428
00:18:59,239 --> 00:19:00,707
If your dog's a chewer,

429
00:19:00,774 --> 00:19:04,211
avoid mulch with large chunks,
as they can cause obstructions.

430
00:19:04,278 --> 00:19:06,513
You'll wanna stick
to untreated wood mulch,

431
00:19:06,580 --> 00:19:08,448
sometimes called arborist chips.

432
00:19:08,515 --> 00:19:11,018
Rocks as mulch
is really never a good idea,

433
00:19:11,084 --> 00:19:13,720
as it can compact the soil,
it can heat up the soil

434
00:19:13,787 --> 00:19:15,889
and cause problems
for your plants as well.

435
00:19:15,956 --> 00:19:19,860
Also bad if your dog likes
to swallow them.

436
00:19:20,761 --> 00:19:22,196
Cedar and cypress mulch,
though,

437
00:19:22,262 --> 00:19:25,532
are good and digestible
if your dog is one to eat it.

438
00:19:25,599 --> 00:19:28,869
So, those are ones
that you could look at as well.

439
00:19:28,936 --> 00:19:31,672
And I should mention,
I did have a handout

440
00:19:31,738 --> 00:19:33,240
that goes along
with this presentation

441
00:19:33,307 --> 00:19:34,575
that's on the
conference website,

442
00:19:34,641 --> 00:19:36,610
so feel free to download that.

443
00:19:36,677 --> 00:19:39,980
And it's got
all of this information on it.

444
00:19:40,047 --> 00:19:43,784
So, I am a native plant person
kind of--

445
00:19:43,851 --> 00:19:49,022
I shouldn't say by trade, but I
am a big native plant person.

446
00:19:49,089 --> 00:19:51,859
That's what I learned
a lot about.

447
00:19:51,925 --> 00:19:53,727
Kind of an ecologist.

448
00:19:53,794 --> 00:19:56,463
So, a lot of what we talk about

449
00:19:56,830 --> 00:19:58,732
is removing lawns,
getting rid of lawns.

450
00:19:58,799 --> 00:20:02,402
However,
sometimes lawns make sense.

451
00:20:02,469 --> 00:20:04,338
Sometimes lawns have a function.

452
00:20:04,404 --> 00:20:06,306
Your kids play soccer on 'em.

453
00:20:06,373 --> 00:20:09,710
You know, it's kind of hard
to play soccer in a prairie.

454
00:20:09,776 --> 00:20:12,746
Or maybe you want space for your
dog to be able to run around in.

455
00:20:12,813 --> 00:20:16,583
So, having that lawn
is a functional thing.

456
00:20:16,650 --> 00:20:18,785
How much room does
your dog need to run?

457
00:20:18,852 --> 00:20:21,355
Bigger dogs typically need
more room,

458
00:20:21,421 --> 00:20:22,823
but it depends on
their personalities.

459
00:20:22,890 --> 00:20:24,424
You know,
maybe they are a couch potato

460
00:20:24,491 --> 00:20:27,594
who is happy walking out three
feet and coming back inside.

461
00:20:27,661 --> 00:20:31,031
Or maybe they're one who likes
to run laps around the yard.

462
00:20:31,098 --> 00:20:33,300
Whatever the case may be,

463
00:20:33,367 --> 00:20:35,869
keeping in mind
what kind of space

464
00:20:35,936 --> 00:20:39,039
your dog's gonna want will help.

465
00:20:39,106 --> 00:20:41,241
Dense landscaping,
as I mentioned before,

466
00:20:41,308 --> 00:20:43,043
can sometimes lead to wildlife.

467
00:20:43,110 --> 00:20:46,079
But in the case of my dog,
that's what she loves.

468
00:20:46,146 --> 00:20:48,782
So, I've got some big tufts
of grass that I know,

469
00:20:48,849 --> 00:20:51,218
like, bunnies will hide in
or mice will hide in.

470
00:20:51,285 --> 00:20:52,753
And that's the first place
she checks

471
00:20:52,819 --> 00:20:56,490
when she goes outside
to do her patrols.

472
00:20:58,492 --> 00:21:01,762
Now, as I mentioned,
I also have turtles,

473
00:21:01,828 --> 00:21:03,764
so I thought I would throw
a slide in here

474
00:21:03,830 --> 00:21:07,868
on some suggestions if you have
turtles that spend time outside.

475
00:21:07,935 --> 00:21:09,169
The suggestions are gonna change

476
00:21:09,236 --> 00:21:11,972
depending on what type of turtle
or tortoise you have.

477
00:21:12,039 --> 00:21:13,807
You'll want to recreate
your shelled friend's

478
00:21:13,874 --> 00:21:15,475
natural habitat
as best as you can,

479
00:21:15,542 --> 00:21:16,810
and this is gonna change

480
00:21:16,877 --> 00:21:19,546
depending on whether you have
a forest-dwelling species

481
00:21:19,613 --> 00:21:21,982
or a desert-dwelling species.

482
00:21:22,049 --> 00:21:24,651
For example, an adult sulcata
is not gonna be as agile

483
00:21:24,718 --> 00:21:28,722
climbing a fence as a slider,
but he will be a better digger.

484
00:21:28,789 --> 00:21:32,659
So, research is warranted,
but some general guidelines are

485
00:21:32,726 --> 00:21:38,098
the fencing in that area should
be buried one to two feet down

486
00:21:38,165 --> 00:21:41,802
and also at least two feet high
to prevent climbing.

487
00:21:41,869 --> 00:21:45,372
Every year, I see on these
Facebook neighborhood pages

488
00:21:45,439 --> 00:21:46,907
people talk about
their turtles escaping,

489
00:21:46,974 --> 00:21:49,576
and everyone's like, "What?!
[audience laughs]

490
00:21:49,643 --> 00:21:50,744
"Your turtle?

491
00:21:50,811 --> 00:21:51,912
"Did he run away?

492
00:21:51,979 --> 00:21:54,414
Like, how did
your turtle escape?"

493
00:21:54,481 --> 00:21:58,418
'Cause they are actually faster
than you think they are.

494
00:21:58,485 --> 00:22:00,654
And they are escape artists.

495
00:22:00,721 --> 00:22:02,256
They will dig under your fence

496
00:22:02,322 --> 00:22:04,057
no matter how good
you think you did it.

497
00:22:04,124 --> 00:22:05,792
They will climb over it.

498
00:22:05,859 --> 00:22:07,794
And they are like toddlers.

499
00:22:07,861 --> 00:22:10,564
There is nothing
more attractive to them

500
00:22:10,631 --> 00:22:14,034
than being able to see something
that they can't get to.

501
00:22:14,101 --> 00:22:16,803
So, if a little red ball
catches their eye

502
00:22:16,870 --> 00:22:19,406
and it's on the other side
of the fence,

503
00:22:19,473 --> 00:22:22,409
that fence is no longer
a problem.

504
00:22:22,476 --> 00:22:26,480
So, you know, fences are
suggestions, in their mind.

505
00:22:26,547 --> 00:22:29,950
So, again, making sure
you do what you can

506
00:22:30,017 --> 00:22:34,121
to fortify this area
to prevent their escape

507
00:22:34,188 --> 00:22:35,355
is always a good thing.

508
00:22:35,422 --> 00:22:38,225
I found a Hermann's tortoise
in my neighborhood,

509
00:22:38,292 --> 00:22:41,195
and thank God
I finally found the owner.

510
00:22:41,261 --> 00:22:44,198
But I said,
"How did he get out?"

511
00:22:44,264 --> 00:22:46,633
And they said, "Oh, we had
this great outdoor enclosure,

512
00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:49,236
and our friends came over to see
him and left the gate open."

513
00:22:49,303 --> 00:22:51,071
[audience groans]

514
00:22:51,138 --> 00:22:53,140
So, making sure, you know,

515
00:22:53,207 --> 00:22:55,275
if you have gates
and stuff like that,

516
00:22:55,342 --> 00:22:58,412
making sure that they are
always closed.

517
00:22:58,478 --> 00:23:02,282
So, again, making sure that
they can't get out is important.

518
00:23:02,349 --> 00:23:04,918
You'll also want a solid fence.

519
00:23:04,985 --> 00:23:07,454
And make sure they're protected
from predators like raccoons.

520
00:23:07,521 --> 00:23:09,590
Raccoons are also
very determined,

521
00:23:09,656 --> 00:23:13,894
and turtles make
great little snacks, sadly.

522
00:23:14,928 --> 00:23:17,064
So, make sure that it--

523
00:23:18,465 --> 00:23:20,200
You know,
you might need a top to it.

524
00:23:20,267 --> 00:23:22,069
If your raccoons are gonna be--
"If your raccoon"--

525
00:23:22,135 --> 00:23:25,806
If your turtles
are gonna be out overnight,

526
00:23:25,873 --> 00:23:27,407
you know, just try and--

527
00:23:27,474 --> 00:23:30,143
Like I said, it's pretty hard
to defeat a determined raccoon,

528
00:23:30,210 --> 00:23:32,546
but, you know, keep that in mind

529
00:23:32,613 --> 00:23:35,616
when you're looking at things
to do.

530
00:23:35,682 --> 00:23:38,151
Also, regardless of the kind
of turtle you have,

531
00:23:38,218 --> 00:23:39,620
you'll wannna have
a water feature

532
00:23:39,686 --> 00:23:41,755
that they can easily
get in and out of.

533
00:23:41,822 --> 00:23:44,258
Even if you have
more of a forest-dwelling

534
00:23:44,324 --> 00:23:46,293
or a land-based turtle,

535
00:23:46,360 --> 00:23:48,495
they do like to spend some time
soaking in the water,

536
00:23:48,562 --> 00:23:50,297
so make sure that there's
a shallow water dish

537
00:23:50,364 --> 00:23:52,399
that they can get in and out of.

538
00:23:52,466 --> 00:23:56,236
If you have more of an aquatic
species that needs deeper water,

539
00:23:56,303 --> 00:23:58,572
they're still gonna wanna
be able to get out and bask.

540
00:23:58,639 --> 00:24:01,308
So, having some rocks or logs

541
00:24:02,643 --> 00:24:05,179
or something that they can get
out of the water and bask on

542
00:24:05,245 --> 00:24:07,381
is great, especially having it
south facing

543
00:24:07,447 --> 00:24:11,451
so they get a lot of that warmth
from the sun.

544
00:24:11,518 --> 00:24:14,755
Now, having plants in there
is also good.

545
00:24:14,821 --> 00:24:19,560
There is a great site out there
called The Tortoise Table

546
00:24:19,626 --> 00:24:22,863
that has plant recommendations
on there.

547
00:24:22,930 --> 00:24:25,098
And to prevent the turtles

548
00:24:25,165 --> 00:24:27,301
from completely decimating
your plants,

549
00:24:27,367 --> 00:24:28,936
you can go to, like,
the dollar store

550
00:24:29,002 --> 00:24:31,205
and get those wire garbage cans.

551
00:24:31,271 --> 00:24:32,606
Put 'em upside down
on the plant.

552
00:24:32,673 --> 00:24:34,908
That way,
the plant can grow through it,

553
00:24:34,975 --> 00:24:37,077
they get plenty of light,
plenty of water,

554
00:24:37,144 --> 00:24:39,847
but your turtle can only
kind of nibble the ends of it.

555
00:24:39,913 --> 00:24:43,851
They can't tear up
the whole thing, so...

556
00:24:43,917 --> 00:24:45,419
Also good if you've got bunnies.

557
00:24:45,485 --> 00:24:46,787
That's a good technique to use

558
00:24:46,854 --> 00:24:51,058
if you've got bunnies
you're trying to thwart.

559
00:24:51,124 --> 00:24:53,026
All right, so, cats.

560
00:24:54,461 --> 00:24:57,731
Domestic cats
kill 1.3 to 4 billion--

561
00:24:57,798 --> 00:25:01,268
that is "billion" with a B--
birds in the U.S. annually,

562
00:25:01,335 --> 00:25:03,837
according to an article
in <i>Nature Communications.</i>

563
00:25:03,904 --> 00:25:05,706
They also kill many
other small animals,

564
00:25:05,772 --> 00:25:07,741
including mammals and reptiles.

565
00:25:07,808 --> 00:25:08,976
And additionally, outdoor cats

566
00:25:09,042 --> 00:25:11,278
only have a life expectancy
of two to three years,

567
00:25:11,345 --> 00:25:14,648
compared to 12 to 15 years
for indoor cats.

568
00:25:14,715 --> 00:25:17,184
Their reduced mortality is due
to things like poisoning,

569
00:25:17,251 --> 00:25:20,120
vehicle strikes,
and predators like coyotes.

570
00:25:20,187 --> 00:25:22,456
I know I have coyotes
in my neighborhood,

571
00:25:22,523 --> 00:25:24,725
and I have cats
in my neighborhood, and I just--

572
00:25:24,791 --> 00:25:26,460
[sighs] Yeah.

573
00:25:27,794 --> 00:25:30,731
So, programs exist
to help transition outdoor cats

574
00:25:30,797 --> 00:25:35,135
to indoors, like Ohio State's
College of Vet Med program.

575
00:25:35,202 --> 00:25:37,237
They have an indoor pet
initiative.

576
00:25:37,304 --> 00:25:40,107
And there's other steps you can
take, like creating a catio,

577
00:25:40,174 --> 00:25:41,408
which is an enclosed space

578
00:25:41,475 --> 00:25:45,679
where kitty can be outside,
but not get into things.

579
00:25:45,746 --> 00:25:48,582
So, here, this is my--
one of my coworker's cat.

580
00:25:48,649 --> 00:25:51,118
She has this very nice
little pop-up screen tent

581
00:25:51,185 --> 00:25:54,721
that her cat goes in,
can see the bunny,

582
00:25:54,788 --> 00:25:58,358
but both the cat and the bunny
are protected in this case.

583
00:25:58,425 --> 00:26:00,961
You know, very fun,
exciting for the cat,

584
00:26:01,028 --> 00:26:03,263
but safe for everybody.

585
00:26:04,164 --> 00:26:08,435
And you can also train
your cat to walk on a leash,

586
00:26:08,502 --> 00:26:10,437
is another way
to get them outside

587
00:26:10,504 --> 00:26:14,041
and get all that outside
stimulation that they like.

588
00:26:14,107 --> 00:26:15,776
Having an assortment of toys
for cats

589
00:26:15,843 --> 00:26:17,444
can keep them
from getting bored,

590
00:26:17,511 --> 00:26:18,879
and having cat-friendly
houseplants

591
00:26:18,946 --> 00:26:22,482
like spider plants and cat grass
can also help entertain them.

592
00:26:22,549 --> 00:26:25,152
Of course, if your cat spends
any time outdoors,

593
00:26:25,219 --> 00:26:28,322
you'll wanna have 'em fixed
just in case

594
00:26:28,388 --> 00:26:29,923
to prevent unwanted litters.

595
00:26:29,990 --> 00:26:32,326
Anybody remember
the old <i>Price is Right?</i>

596
00:26:32,392 --> 00:26:34,161
What did Bob Barker
always tell us

597
00:26:34,228 --> 00:26:36,663
at the end of every episode?
[audience murmurs]

598
00:26:36,730 --> 00:26:40,534
"Always spay and neuter
your pets," yes.

599
00:26:42,135 --> 00:26:45,739
All right, so, using herbicides
and insecticides

600
00:26:45,806 --> 00:26:48,609
are a very common part
of home landscaping,

601
00:26:48,675 --> 00:26:50,811
but knowing what's being applied
to your landscaping

602
00:26:50,878 --> 00:26:53,647
is even more important
if you have a pet.

603
00:26:53,714 --> 00:26:55,249
Chemicals can be absorbed

604
00:26:55,315 --> 00:26:58,685
through your pet's pads
on their feet,

605
00:26:58,752 --> 00:27:01,421
those cute little toe beans.

606
00:27:02,389 --> 00:27:04,525
And that can sometimes be fatal.

607
00:27:04,591 --> 00:27:06,760
So, the risk can be reduced

608
00:27:06,827 --> 00:27:08,829
if the pesticides are allowed
to dry completely

609
00:27:08,896 --> 00:27:11,131
before allowing your dog
to walk on them.

610
00:27:11,198 --> 00:27:13,500
A good rule of thumb
is allowing 24 hours

611
00:27:13,567 --> 00:27:15,502
to make sure the area
is completely dry

612
00:27:15,569 --> 00:27:17,838
before your dog enters
that area.

613
00:27:17,905 --> 00:27:20,073
Of course, reducing
or eliminating chemical use

614
00:27:20,140 --> 00:27:22,776
is another way
to keep our furry friends safe.

615
00:27:22,843 --> 00:27:25,012
Pet-safe alternatives
could include fertilizing

616
00:27:25,078 --> 00:27:27,447
with worm castings
or fish fertilizer,

617
00:27:27,514 --> 00:27:29,616
mechanical removal,
like pulling,

618
00:27:29,683 --> 00:27:32,419
and controlling things like
aphids with horticultural oils.

619
00:27:32,486 --> 00:27:33,987
But, again,
read the labels first.

620
00:27:34,054 --> 00:27:36,557
Not everything
that's organic is safe,

621
00:27:36,623 --> 00:27:39,726
so always read that label
first.

622
00:27:39,793 --> 00:27:42,863
If your pet does come
into contact with pesticide,

623
00:27:42,930 --> 00:27:45,098
contact your vet
for guidance.

624
00:27:45,165 --> 00:27:47,167
You'll always wanna store
your garden chemicals

625
00:27:47,234 --> 00:27:48,769
properly in sealed containers,
right?

626
00:27:48,836 --> 00:27:51,138
We all know
all the safety things

627
00:27:51,205 --> 00:27:54,741
that go along with using
chemicals in our garden.

628
00:27:54,808 --> 00:27:57,444
Read the labels
to understand the restrictions.

629
00:27:57,511 --> 00:28:00,280
Like, the big thing on
there is the reentry period.

630
00:28:00,347 --> 00:28:04,017
Reentry period means the time
period between the application

631
00:28:04,084 --> 00:28:06,286
and when you or anybody else

632
00:28:06,353 --> 00:28:08,388
should be going back
in that area.

633
00:28:08,455 --> 00:28:11,825
So, that gives the chemical
a chance to work, to dry,

634
00:28:11,892 --> 00:28:15,395
and everything
to reduce the risk.

635
00:28:15,462 --> 00:28:19,233
Rodenticides, which are poisons
for rodents like mice and rats,

636
00:28:19,299 --> 00:28:24,004
are extremely toxic to dogs
and should not be used.

637
00:28:24,071 --> 00:28:26,406
Once a mouse or a rat
has eaten the poison,

638
00:28:26,473 --> 00:28:27,941
it doesn't die right away.

639
00:28:28,008 --> 00:28:31,578
Sometimes, it can
take several hours,

640
00:28:32,546 --> 00:28:36,383
and in the meantime,
it can be lethargic and confused

641
00:28:36,450 --> 00:28:37,784
and just kind of wandering
around,

642
00:28:37,851 --> 00:28:39,353
not afraid of anything,

643
00:28:39,419 --> 00:28:43,090
which could give dogs or cats
a chance to get at them.

644
00:28:43,156 --> 00:28:45,559
Many pets and wild animals
like coyotes and owls

645
00:28:45,626 --> 00:28:47,561
are sickened and/or die
every year

646
00:28:47,628 --> 00:28:50,397
from ingesting poisoned rodents.

647
00:28:50,464 --> 00:28:52,065
I don't know about up here,

648
00:28:52,132 --> 00:28:56,270
but the wildlife rescues
by my house every year

649
00:28:56,336 --> 00:29:00,574
have raptors usually coming in,
hawks, owls.

650
00:29:01,842 --> 00:29:04,511
And, you know,
if it's not lead poisoning

651
00:29:04,578 --> 00:29:07,247
from getting into, like,
lead shot or something,

652
00:29:07,314 --> 00:29:09,683
it's always rodenticides.

653
00:29:09,750 --> 00:29:13,086
So, please, please
don't use those.

654
00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:16,657
If you need to control mice
or rats on your property,

655
00:29:16,723 --> 00:29:19,893
snap traps are quick
and way more humane

656
00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:22,429
than using rodenticides.

657
00:29:23,363 --> 00:29:25,032
Now, salt.

658
00:29:25,399 --> 00:29:27,201
I know it's a big thing up here,

659
00:29:27,267 --> 00:29:29,870
as well as down by me
in Illinois.

660
00:29:29,937 --> 00:29:33,106
Most deicers contain some form
of a chloride,

661
00:29:33,173 --> 00:29:35,409
sodium chloride,
potassium chloride,

662
00:29:35,475 --> 00:29:38,412
magnesium chloride,
et cetera,

663
00:29:38,478 --> 00:29:40,447
and sometimes other chemicals
as well.

664
00:29:40,514 --> 00:29:43,383
These can cause burns
on the pads of your pet's feet,

665
00:29:43,450 --> 00:29:46,353
especially if granules
get stuck between their toes.

666
00:29:46,420 --> 00:29:47,754
It can also cause toxicity

667
00:29:47,821 --> 00:29:50,257
if they lick their feet
after walking on it.

668
00:29:50,324 --> 00:29:53,393
Signs of salt toxicity
include thirst, vomiting,

669
00:29:53,460 --> 00:29:56,496
lethargy, confusion,
kidney damage,

670
00:29:56,563 --> 00:29:57,998
lots of bad stuff.

671
00:29:58,065 --> 00:30:01,235
If you're concerned, you should
contact your vet for advice.

672
00:30:01,301 --> 00:30:04,204
But to help prevent this,
wash your dog's feet and belly

673
00:30:04,271 --> 00:30:06,940
when you come back inside.

674
00:30:07,007 --> 00:30:09,409
I know my dog does not
have mud flaps.

675
00:30:09,476 --> 00:30:11,478
And when I bring her
back inside,

676
00:30:11,545 --> 00:30:14,381
her whole belly is soaking wet
and muddy and dirty,

677
00:30:14,448 --> 00:30:18,185
and I just wanna give
her a bath right away

678
00:30:18,252 --> 00:30:20,921
because, you know,
she's so dirty.

679
00:30:20,988 --> 00:30:23,824
But that can have salt and stuff
in there too.

680
00:30:23,891 --> 00:30:25,425
And then,
as the dog cleans themselves,

681
00:30:25,492 --> 00:30:28,629
they're now ingesting that salt.

682
00:30:28,695 --> 00:30:30,230
You can also get booties
for your dog

683
00:30:30,297 --> 00:30:32,266
to help prevent contact
and keep their feet warm.

684
00:30:32,332 --> 00:30:35,068
And then, you can make those
really cute videos of your dog

685
00:30:35,135 --> 00:30:37,638
standing there like a statue
when you put the booties on them

686
00:30:37,704 --> 00:30:39,907
because they now
can no longer walk.

687
00:30:39,973 --> 00:30:41,742
[audience laughs]
That's what happened every time

688
00:30:41,808 --> 00:30:43,343
I tried to put booties
on my dog.

689
00:30:43,410 --> 00:30:45,512
She somehow forgets how to walk

690
00:30:45,579 --> 00:30:48,849
and stares at me like,
"Why did you do this?"

691
00:30:48,916 --> 00:30:50,918
But you know, whatever.

692
00:30:52,419 --> 00:30:55,355
You can also use a paw wax,
which acts as a barrier.

693
00:30:55,422 --> 00:30:56,657
You wanna keep your walks
short

694
00:30:56,723 --> 00:30:59,760
and watch for limping or dryness
and cracking of the pads.

695
00:30:59,826 --> 00:31:01,795
And when clearing
your own sidewalk,

696
00:31:01,862 --> 00:31:05,065
you wanna shovel as much snow
and ice off as possible first.

697
00:31:05,132 --> 00:31:07,367
And then, use your salt
sparingly.

698
00:31:07,434 --> 00:31:10,137
A coffee cup, not like my giant
thing over there,

699
00:31:10,204 --> 00:31:13,207
but, like, a regular coffee mug.

700
00:31:14,141 --> 00:31:19,713
That much salt should be able
to cover ten sidewalk squares.

701
00:31:21,582 --> 00:31:24,084
We all use way, way,
way too much salt.

702
00:31:24,151 --> 00:31:25,786
And then, what happens
to that salt?

703
00:31:25,853 --> 00:31:27,354
Afterwards, it's gonna dissolve,

704
00:31:27,421 --> 00:31:29,690
and that salt then
is gonna go into the drains.

705
00:31:29,756 --> 00:31:31,592
It's gonna go into our soils.

706
00:31:31,658 --> 00:31:34,228
And then, we're gonna end up
with salt burn on our plants.

707
00:31:34,294 --> 00:31:37,865
Or it's going to go
into our waterways,

708
00:31:39,867 --> 00:31:43,770
and we're gonna end up
with too salty water,

709
00:31:43,837 --> 00:31:46,707
which is bad for our fish, so...

710
00:31:46,773 --> 00:31:49,276
You really don't need that
much salt to be effective.

711
00:31:49,343 --> 00:31:50,811
They've done these studies.

712
00:31:50,878 --> 00:31:54,114
Minnesota does a whole bunch
of great studies on this too.

713
00:31:54,181 --> 00:31:57,184
So, you really don't need
nearly as much salt

714
00:31:57,251 --> 00:31:59,052
as you think you do.

715
00:31:59,119 --> 00:32:00,487
And then, afterwards,

716
00:32:00,554 --> 00:32:03,223
you can sweep up that
leftover salt to get rid of it

717
00:32:03,290 --> 00:32:06,527
so, again, it's not going
into our streams

718
00:32:06,593 --> 00:32:08,395
and into our soils.

719
00:32:08,829 --> 00:32:11,031
And using pet-safe products,

720
00:32:11,098 --> 00:32:13,233
even though they may be
a little bit pricier,

721
00:32:13,300 --> 00:32:15,435
not only benefits you,
but also everyone else

722
00:32:15,502 --> 00:32:17,437
who walks their dogs
in your neighborhood too.

723
00:32:17,504 --> 00:32:18,839
But even the pet-safe salt

724
00:32:18,906 --> 00:32:20,240
should not be consumed
by the dog.

725
00:32:20,307 --> 00:32:21,642
So, while it is nontoxic,

726
00:32:21,708 --> 00:32:24,645
it can still cause drooling
and vomiting if it's ingested.

727
00:32:24,711 --> 00:32:28,649
Antifreeze or ethylene glycol
is a big no-no.

728
00:32:28,715 --> 00:32:30,350
Every year,
dogs and sometimes kids

729
00:32:30,417 --> 00:32:32,352
are poisoned
by consuming antifreeze

730
00:32:32,419 --> 00:32:35,155
because not only is it
super toxic,

731
00:32:35,222 --> 00:32:37,024
it tastes sweet.

732
00:32:37,090 --> 00:32:38,525
I don't know this
from experience,

733
00:32:38,592 --> 00:32:40,561
but that's what they tell me.

734
00:32:40,627 --> 00:32:44,498
So, because it's sweet, they
are more likely to consume it.

735
00:32:44,565 --> 00:32:47,134
So, definitely don't use that
as a deicer,

736
00:32:47,201 --> 00:32:48,802
and make sure if you have any

737
00:32:48,869 --> 00:32:52,940
that it's stored up and away
from your pets.

738
00:32:53,006 --> 00:32:55,108
Other tips,
make sure any compost bins

739
00:32:55,175 --> 00:32:56,276
are sealed or fenced,

740
00:32:56,343 --> 00:32:58,679
as rotting vegetation
can cause tummy upset.

741
00:32:58,745 --> 00:33:00,514
Frequently check your pet
for ticks

742
00:33:00,581 --> 00:33:03,150
and remove debris
that might harbor ticks.

743
00:33:03,217 --> 00:33:05,319
It should be noted
that some plants, like barberry,

744
00:33:05,385 --> 00:33:08,155
are noted to be a favorite
of ticks.

745
00:33:08,222 --> 00:33:12,826
So, not only is it invasive,
not only does it have thorns,

746
00:33:12,893 --> 00:33:14,361
it also harbors ticks.

747
00:33:14,428 --> 00:33:17,564
So, get rid of 'em.
[attendee chuckles]

748
00:33:17,631 --> 00:33:19,933
Mosquitoes will breed
in standing water,

749
00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:22,102
so if you have birdbaths,
change the water frequently,

750
00:33:22,169 --> 00:33:23,437
at least once a week.

751
00:33:23,504 --> 00:33:25,272
And watch for buckets,
wheelbarrows,

752
00:33:25,339 --> 00:33:27,908
and other things
that act as containers

753
00:33:27,975 --> 00:33:29,543
that can hold rainwater

754
00:33:29,610 --> 00:33:32,379
and become breeding grounds
for mosquitoes.

755
00:33:32,446 --> 00:33:36,083
Doug Tallamy--
Anybody know Doug Tallamy?

756
00:33:36,149 --> 00:33:39,152
You're all gardeners,
I'm assuming a lot of you do.

757
00:33:39,219 --> 00:33:43,757
Noted entomologist
and <i>Nature's Best Hope</i> and--

758
00:33:43,824 --> 00:33:47,995
His recommendation for helping
to prevent mosquitoes

759
00:33:48,061 --> 00:33:49,997
is something he calls
the bucket of doom,

760
00:33:50,063 --> 00:33:53,000
[audience laughs]
which, A, has an amazing name,

761
00:33:53,066 --> 00:33:55,068
and, B, is a technique

762
00:33:55,802 --> 00:33:57,371
that will target only
mosquitoes.

763
00:33:57,437 --> 00:33:59,873
It won't hurt any
of our other pollinators.

764
00:33:59,940 --> 00:34:01,408
And it's so easy to do.

765
00:34:01,475 --> 00:34:03,076
You take a five-gallon bucket,

766
00:34:03,143 --> 00:34:07,014
put about, you know,
six inches of water in it,

767
00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:11,185
a handful of weeds, leaves,
straw, whatever you got,

768
00:34:11,251 --> 00:34:13,453
and a quarter
of a Mosquito Dunk.

769
00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:15,756
So, those are those
little things they sell.

770
00:34:15,822 --> 00:34:17,424
They're, you know,
about, like, this big.

771
00:34:17,491 --> 00:34:20,260
Cut those into quarters,
throw a quarter of it in there,

772
00:34:20,327 --> 00:34:24,698
and it contains BT,
which targets mosquito larvae.

773
00:34:24,765 --> 00:34:26,834
So, it's gonna kill
the mosquitoes.

774
00:34:26,900 --> 00:34:28,435
The mosquitoes
are gonna fly in there like,

775
00:34:28,502 --> 00:34:31,038
"Hey, water, this is where
I wanna lay my eggs."

776
00:34:31,104 --> 00:34:32,639
And they're gonna lay
their eggs in there,

777
00:34:32,706 --> 00:34:33,807
they're gonna hatch,

778
00:34:33,874 --> 00:34:36,343
and they're gonna kill
those larvae right away.

779
00:34:36,410 --> 00:34:38,145
So, you won't have to worry
about the adults.

780
00:34:38,212 --> 00:34:40,914
The foggers and things,
much less effective,

781
00:34:40,981 --> 00:34:43,116
much worse for the pollinators.

782
00:34:43,183 --> 00:34:45,686
This technique
only targets mosquitoes,

783
00:34:45,752 --> 00:34:48,088
which makes it super awesome.

784
00:34:48,155 --> 00:34:52,192
And it's nontoxic
for pets and for humans too.

785
00:34:52,259 --> 00:34:54,094
If you're concerned
about your dog getting in there

786
00:34:54,161 --> 00:34:56,096
and, like, trying
to get a drink out of there,

787
00:34:56,163 --> 00:34:58,098
just put some chicken wire
over the top of it,

788
00:34:58,165 --> 00:34:59,933
and it'll be fine.

789
00:35:01,802 --> 00:35:04,404
All right, so, let's start
talking about some plants here.

790
00:35:04,471 --> 00:35:05,839
There are, first off,

791
00:35:05,906 --> 00:35:09,376
some snacks that you can grow
for your pets.

792
00:35:09,443 --> 00:35:12,579
Green beans are a great treat
for dogs, either raw or cooked,

793
00:35:12,646 --> 00:35:14,481
as long as they're not prepared
with other ingredients

794
00:35:14,548 --> 00:35:15,716
like salt.

795
00:35:15,782 --> 00:35:17,918
Carrots are also a treat
many dogs like.

796
00:35:17,985 --> 00:35:21,121
Even the tops
are safe for them to eat.

797
00:35:21,188 --> 00:35:23,724
Cranberries, blueberries,
raspberries, and strawberries

798
00:35:23,790 --> 00:35:25,959
are safe in small quantities,

799
00:35:26,026 --> 00:35:27,861
and herbs like rosemary,
basil, and thyme

800
00:35:27,928 --> 00:35:29,696
all contain
healthy antioxidants,

801
00:35:29,763 --> 00:35:31,698
as well as vitamins
and minerals.

802
00:35:31,765 --> 00:35:35,269
Curly leaf parsley is okay,
but it can be a diuretic,

803
00:35:35,335 --> 00:35:38,405
so you don't wanna give
them too much.

804
00:35:38,472 --> 00:35:40,607
Spring parsley
can be toxic, though,

805
00:35:40,674 --> 00:35:42,976
so you'll wanna make sure
you avoid that.

806
00:35:43,043 --> 00:35:44,878
Tomatoes are okay,
though they're high in acid,

807
00:35:44,945 --> 00:35:46,780
which can cause
some tummy upset.

808
00:35:46,847 --> 00:35:49,149
But the tomato plants themselves
are toxic.

809
00:35:49,216 --> 00:35:53,220
So, you know, feel free to give
your dog the occasional tomato,

810
00:35:53,287 --> 00:35:55,155
but you don't wanna have
the plants--

811
00:35:55,222 --> 00:35:57,524
If they're prone
to chewing on things,

812
00:35:57,591 --> 00:36:00,093
you don't wanna have
the plants there too.

813
00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:01,595
Dandelions are also fine,

814
00:36:01,662 --> 00:36:02,996
but make sure they
haven't been treated

815
00:36:03,063 --> 00:36:04,665
with any pesticides.

816
00:36:04,731 --> 00:36:06,567
And anything
in the <i>Allium</i> genus,

817
00:36:06,633 --> 00:36:09,503
garlic, onions, chives,
can all be toxic,

818
00:36:09,570 --> 00:36:11,371
so it's best to avoid
planting those

819
00:36:11,438 --> 00:36:13,340
where your dog
might get to them.

820
00:36:13,407 --> 00:36:16,076
And while cooked asparagus
can be okay for dogs to eat,

821
00:36:16,143 --> 00:36:17,878
when it's raw,
the high fiber content

822
00:36:17,945 --> 00:36:20,047
may be difficult to digest.

823
00:36:20,113 --> 00:36:22,082
And the seeds
can be poisonous--

824
00:36:22,149 --> 00:36:25,485
to humans, too--
if ingested, so...

825
00:36:26,553 --> 00:36:28,488
And a note about mushrooms.

826
00:36:28,555 --> 00:36:30,958
Many wild mushrooms
are poisonous.

827
00:36:31,024 --> 00:36:33,360
I know not all of 'em,
and some are delicious,

828
00:36:33,427 --> 00:36:34,761
if you like that kind of thing.

829
00:36:34,828 --> 00:36:37,264
But I know the ones
that pop up in my yard

830
00:36:37,331 --> 00:36:39,499
tend to be
the not-safe-to-eat kind.

831
00:36:39,566 --> 00:36:42,736
So, they can cause everything
from vomiting and diarrhea

832
00:36:42,803 --> 00:36:43,971
to seizures and comas,

833
00:36:44,037 --> 00:36:46,974
so try and keep your dog
away from those.

834
00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:48,442
If they are ingested,

835
00:36:48,509 --> 00:36:50,410
you wanna talk to your vet
immediately.

836
00:36:50,477 --> 00:36:53,881
Save any leftover parts of it
for possible identification.

837
00:36:53,947 --> 00:36:56,783
We at the University of Illinois
Extension

838
00:36:56,850 --> 00:36:58,519
do not identify mushrooms,

839
00:36:58,585 --> 00:37:03,323
but we do have a mycologist
on university staff.

840
00:37:03,390 --> 00:37:05,926
So, if you send me pictures
of mushrooms to ID,

841
00:37:05,993 --> 00:37:08,662
I will be sending them to him.

842
00:37:11,098 --> 00:37:12,733
Now, some plants to avoid.

843
00:37:12,799 --> 00:37:18,272
These are toxic to dogs, cats,
pretty much everybody here.

844
00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:23,644
There are different levels
of toxicity to these plants.

845
00:37:23,710 --> 00:37:26,213
Some may just cause a little
tummy upset, like elderberry,

846
00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:27,848
while others
are far more serious,

847
00:37:27,915 --> 00:37:30,350
like lily of the valley
and castor bean.

848
00:37:30,417 --> 00:37:33,253
If you suspect your pet's
ingested any of these plants,

849
00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:35,222
call your veterinarian
immediately.

850
00:37:35,289 --> 00:37:37,157
Don't wait to see
if symptoms appear

851
00:37:37,224 --> 00:37:39,226
because in som
poisoning cases,

852
00:37:39,293 --> 00:37:43,330
by the time symptoms appear,
it's kind of too late.

853
00:37:43,397 --> 00:37:46,200
All that said, most toxic plants
taste really bad,

854
00:37:46,266 --> 00:37:49,236
and many animals will avoid
chewing on milkweed,

855
00:37:49,303 --> 00:37:52,372
for example, 'cause it just
doesn't taste very good.

856
00:37:52,439 --> 00:37:56,076
So, it's still better
to be safe than sorry, though.

857
00:37:56,143 --> 00:37:58,378
This is only a selection
of toxic plants.

858
00:37:58,445 --> 00:38:00,013
I mean,
there's a billion and one

859
00:38:00,080 --> 00:38:01,415
different kinds of plants
out there,

860
00:38:01,481 --> 00:38:06,520
so this is just a selection
of some of the more common ones.

861
00:38:06,587 --> 00:38:09,189
Make sure, if you're bringing
anything new into your garden,

862
00:38:09,256 --> 00:38:11,258
you double-check that it's okay

863
00:38:11,325 --> 00:38:15,796
if it's gonna be in an area
where your pets are at.

864
00:38:16,330 --> 00:38:18,966
Again, anything
in the <i>Allium</i> family is out.

865
00:38:19,032 --> 00:38:21,168
That includes ornamental
varieties of things.

866
00:38:21,235 --> 00:38:25,372
So, those big, pretty,
puffbally <i>Allium</i> things

867
00:38:25,439 --> 00:38:27,341
are also very toxic.

868
00:38:29,076 --> 00:38:33,180
And that's because of the
presence of propyl disulfide.

869
00:38:33,247 --> 00:38:36,617
And solanine is present in all
members of the <i>Solanum</i> family,

870
00:38:36,683 --> 00:38:39,119
like tomatoes,
potatoes, and eggplants.

871
00:38:39,186 --> 00:38:40,921
So, if your dog is prone
to eating things,

872
00:38:40,988 --> 00:38:42,422
you'll wanna do, make sure

873
00:38:42,489 --> 00:38:44,691
you're doing
even more careful research.

874
00:38:44,758 --> 00:38:47,761
The ASPCA has a
really thorough list of plants

875
00:38:47,828 --> 00:38:53,734
and whether or not they're toxic
to dogs, cats, and even horses.

876
00:38:54,001 --> 00:38:57,471
So, this is
the pet poison control hotline.

877
00:38:57,538 --> 00:39:00,407
It should be noted, there is
a fee to use this service.

878
00:39:00,474 --> 00:39:03,110
The human poison control
hotline is subsidized,

879
00:39:03,177 --> 00:39:04,978
so that's why that one's
free to call.

880
00:39:05,045 --> 00:39:06,580
This one, there is a fee to use,

881
00:39:06,647 --> 00:39:09,650
but it could be faster
to ask them

882
00:39:10,117 --> 00:39:11,718
than to get your pet
to your vet.

883
00:39:11,785 --> 00:39:15,522
Or maybe your vet's closed,
maybe it's a holiday, whatever.

884
00:39:15,589 --> 00:39:18,959
They are open 24 hours,
I believe.

885
00:39:19,026 --> 00:39:22,429
And that ASPCA list of toxic
and nontoxic plants,

886
00:39:22,496 --> 00:39:25,232
that's where I got a lot
of the information

887
00:39:25,299 --> 00:39:27,835
that I use
in this presentation here.

888
00:39:27,901 --> 00:39:31,071
Huge, huge,
very comprehensive list.

889
00:39:31,138 --> 00:39:33,140
It's pretty awesome.

890
00:39:34,341 --> 00:39:37,511
All right, so, now we're gonna
get into the fun plant part

891
00:39:37,578 --> 00:39:39,246
of this talk here.

892
00:39:41,582 --> 00:39:44,318
So, <i>Celosia,</i>
<i>"Celo-sia,"</i> depending on--

893
00:39:44,384 --> 00:39:45,986
I've heard it both ways.

894
00:39:46,053 --> 00:39:48,856
It's a large plant group
that's got a great variety

895
00:39:48,922 --> 00:39:50,157
and flower type.

896
00:39:50,224 --> 00:39:52,626
Got the cockscomb type,
the feather type,

897
00:39:52,693 --> 00:39:56,029
the wheat type,
whatever type you like.

898
00:39:56,096 --> 00:39:57,865
I like the cockscomb type

899
00:39:57,931 --> 00:40:00,734
because I think it looks like
brains and I like weird flowers.

900
00:40:00,801 --> 00:40:02,603
[audience laughs]

901
00:40:03,303 --> 00:40:07,641
Those kind may need to be staked
due to the heavy flower head.

902
00:40:07,708 --> 00:40:09,476
Use of fertilizer
with higher phosphorus

903
00:40:09,543 --> 00:40:10,644
to promote blooming.

904
00:40:10,711 --> 00:40:12,412
Deadhead
to promote new flowers.

905
00:40:12,479 --> 00:40:14,081
They are good
for cut flower displays,

906
00:40:14,147 --> 00:40:15,682
and if you wanna use 'em
for that,

907
00:40:15,749 --> 00:40:17,484
you just kind of cut 'em,
bundle 'em together,

908
00:40:17,551 --> 00:40:19,086
and hang 'em upside down
for two weeks,

909
00:40:19,152 --> 00:40:20,721
and you're good to go.

910
00:40:20,787 --> 00:40:24,124
Snapdragons can also work well
as a cut flower

911
00:40:24,191 --> 00:40:25,659
with the right cultivar.

912
00:40:25,726 --> 00:40:28,829
Tons of cultivars exist now in
a variety of colors and heights.

913
00:40:28,896 --> 00:40:30,631
Look for taller ones
if you wanna use 'em

914
00:40:30,697 --> 00:40:32,065
in cut flower arrangements.

915
00:40:32,132 --> 00:40:34,234
Otherwise, shorter ones are a
great addition to window boxes,

916
00:40:34,301 --> 00:40:36,436
porch pots,
or just in the ground.

917
00:40:36,503 --> 00:40:37,938
They can also be overwintered.

918
00:40:38,005 --> 00:40:40,541
If you have 'em in a pot
and you bring the pot inside,

919
00:40:40,607 --> 00:40:41,742
you can overwinter 'em
like that.

920
00:40:41,808 --> 00:40:45,045
And they're edible for humans
too.

921
00:40:45,579 --> 00:40:47,514
They're not just non-toxic;
they're actually edible.

922
00:40:47,581 --> 00:40:49,316
So, you could, like,
put these in your salad.

923
00:40:49,383 --> 00:40:50,517
You can play with 'em first.

924
00:40:50,584 --> 00:40:52,319
Anybody else like
playing with them as a kid?

925
00:40:52,386 --> 00:40:55,489
Okay, how about--
and like now, too?

926
00:40:55,556 --> 00:40:57,891
But, yeah, you, like, pinch the
little sides and make 'em talk.

927
00:40:57,958 --> 00:41:01,662
And then you can eat 'em
afterwards, so there you go.

928
00:41:01,728 --> 00:41:05,065
Hollyhocks may need staking
to prevent wind damage.

929
00:41:05,132 --> 00:41:07,401
You'll wanna pinch the
main stem early in the season

930
00:41:07,467 --> 00:41:09,269
to produce a bushier,
shorter plant

931
00:41:09,336 --> 00:41:11,438
that's less likely
to need staking.

932
00:41:11,505 --> 00:41:14,908
Or just, you know, let 'em grow
as tall as they'd like.

933
00:41:14,975 --> 00:41:17,511
It's your garden,
you do what you like.

934
00:41:17,578 --> 00:41:19,580
Plant 'em somewhat far apart
to get good airflow

935
00:41:19,646 --> 00:41:21,715
'cause they can be
prone to rust.

936
00:41:21,782 --> 00:41:25,652
They can do okay in shade,
but, or part shade,

937
00:41:25,719 --> 00:41:27,654
but they may get
a little floppy then.

938
00:41:27,721 --> 00:41:29,957
So, they really do like
full sun.

939
00:41:30,023 --> 00:41:31,725
They'll be fine
in less than perfect soils,

940
00:41:31,792 --> 00:41:34,094
but if your soils
are, like, really bad,

941
00:41:34,161 --> 00:41:35,762
you might need to amend 'em
with something

942
00:41:35,829 --> 00:41:38,498
like organic matter
or fish emulsion.

943
00:41:38,565 --> 00:41:40,234
Deadhead 'em
to prevent spreading

944
00:41:40,300 --> 00:41:42,436
'cause they can get
a little spready out there.

945
00:41:42,503 --> 00:41:44,671
So, make sure you deadhead 'em.

946
00:41:44,738 --> 00:41:48,242
Remove any seed pods
before they go to seed.

947
00:41:48,308 --> 00:41:50,010
And speaking of the seeds,

948
00:41:50,077 --> 00:41:52,112
they can be sown indoors
in late spring,

949
00:41:52,179 --> 00:41:55,015
or you can just plant 'em
outside in the summer.

950
00:41:55,082 --> 00:41:56,483
And the seeds
can be overwintered

951
00:41:56,550 --> 00:41:59,720
in a cold frame or a greenhouse.

952
00:41:59,786 --> 00:42:02,256
Marigolds,
there are three types.

953
00:42:02,322 --> 00:42:05,559
The French ones are shorter,
with a single or double flower.

954
00:42:05,626 --> 00:42:07,828
African marigolds
can grow up to four feet tall

955
00:42:07,895 --> 00:42:09,429
and have large double flowers.

956
00:42:09,496 --> 00:42:12,799
And signet are the kind that I--
like, they always trip me up.

957
00:42:12,866 --> 00:42:14,201
I never think that's a marigold

958
00:42:14,268 --> 00:42:17,871
'cause it just
doesn't look like one.

959
00:42:17,938 --> 00:42:21,508
But plant in full sun,
moderate moisture.

960
00:42:21,575 --> 00:42:23,911
Nasturtiums, of course.

961
00:42:23,977 --> 00:42:25,612
Another easy-to-grow annual.

962
00:42:25,679 --> 00:42:28,282
It's got very distinctive leaves
that resemble lily pads

963
00:42:28,348 --> 00:42:30,384
and those bright flowers.

964
00:42:30,450 --> 00:42:33,187
They either form a low mound, or
they can trail up to three feet.

965
00:42:33,253 --> 00:42:36,023
They're great for hanging
baskets or window boxes.

966
00:42:36,089 --> 00:42:40,093
I read that Monet had
nasturtiums lining the walkway

967
00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:41,929
up to his house
in Giverny, France.

968
00:42:41,995 --> 00:42:43,330
So, if you're an art lover,

969
00:42:43,397 --> 00:42:47,201
maybe that's a nice,
fun touch there too.

970
00:42:47,267 --> 00:42:50,103
Fertilizing will encourage
leaf growth over flowering,

971
00:42:50,170 --> 00:42:51,772
so make sure you
don't fertilize them

972
00:42:51,839 --> 00:42:54,374
unless the soil is,
like, really bad.

973
00:42:54,441 --> 00:42:56,176
And both the flowers
and the young leaves

974
00:42:56,243 --> 00:42:58,045
are edible, with a slightly
peppery flavor.

975
00:42:58,111 --> 00:43:00,981
So, another one that you can
also put in your salads.

976
00:43:01,048 --> 00:43:04,918
Or, you know, if your dog
eats them, that's fine too.

977
00:43:04,985 --> 00:43:06,653
Petunias, right?

978
00:43:06,987 --> 00:43:09,923
The eponymous
garden flower here.

979
00:43:09,990 --> 00:43:13,427
Very dependable annual,
a million and six colors,

980
00:43:13,493 --> 00:43:16,029
you know, ground cover,
trailing plants,

981
00:43:16,096 --> 00:43:20,367
or tall plants with flowers
of all different sizes.

982
00:43:20,434 --> 00:43:22,769
You know, again,
very dependable.

983
00:43:22,836 --> 00:43:24,571
Use 'em for anything.

984
00:43:24,638 --> 00:43:26,406
Occasional pinching
late in the season

985
00:43:26,473 --> 00:43:29,443
will help to keep the plants
more compact and blooming well.

986
00:43:29,510 --> 00:43:31,645
And they tend not to bloom
very well in heavy soil,

987
00:43:31,712 --> 00:43:33,046
so, again,
before you plant those,

988
00:43:33,113 --> 00:43:36,316
make sure you amend the soils
if needed.

989
00:43:36,383 --> 00:43:38,552
Now, for rex begonias,
don't confuse these

990
00:43:38,619 --> 00:43:40,754
with the smaller leaf species
of begonias,

991
00:43:40,821 --> 00:43:42,356
like wax begonias or something,

992
00:43:42,422 --> 00:43:44,825
'cause those can be toxic
to dogs and cats,

993
00:43:44,892 --> 00:43:49,897
though the most toxic parts
are underground, but still.

994
00:43:49,963 --> 00:43:51,131
They're annuals here.

995
00:43:51,198 --> 00:43:52,966
They're perennial
in zone 10 to 12,

996
00:43:53,033 --> 00:43:54,701
so they're annuals here.

997
00:43:54,768 --> 00:43:57,337
Often sold as houseplants.

998
00:43:57,404 --> 00:43:59,573
So, again, can be
a good houseplant to have

999
00:43:59,640 --> 00:44:03,243
if you have maybe a cat
that likes nibbling on foliage.

1000
00:44:03,310 --> 00:44:06,547
The flowers are single,
small, relatively inconspicuous.

1001
00:44:06,613 --> 00:44:08,649
You don't get these
for the flowers.

1002
00:44:08,715 --> 00:44:10,384
But there's tons
of cultivars available

1003
00:44:10,450 --> 00:44:12,352
with interesting leaf patterns.

1004
00:44:12,419 --> 00:44:15,756
Patterns are best when they're
in bright but indirect light.

1005
00:44:15,822 --> 00:44:18,392
They do have a lot
of pest issues with them,

1006
00:44:18,458 --> 00:44:20,127
so just know that.

1007
00:44:20,460 --> 00:44:21,862
And avoid getting water
on the leaves

1008
00:44:21,929 --> 00:44:24,665
'cause that'll cause
leaf spotting.

1009
00:44:24,731 --> 00:44:27,267
Now, let's try some pet-friendly
native plants,

1010
00:44:27,334 --> 00:44:28,836
if you are looking
for native plants

1011
00:44:28,902 --> 00:44:31,471
to add to your yard
for your pets.

1012
00:44:31,538 --> 00:44:33,207
So, sunflowers.

1013
00:44:33,607 --> 00:44:35,175
Don't always think of these
as being native,

1014
00:44:35,242 --> 00:44:37,845
but there are some species
that are native to our prairies

1015
00:44:37,911 --> 00:44:40,047
and some that are native
more further west.

1016
00:44:40,113 --> 00:44:42,349
They were planted
by early Native Americans,

1017
00:44:42,416 --> 00:44:44,184
and there's evidence of them
that's been found

1018
00:44:44,251 --> 00:44:48,989
dating back over 5,000 years,
which I think is kind of cool.

1019
00:44:49,056 --> 00:44:51,124
Protect the young seedlings
because they may be munched

1020
00:44:51,191 --> 00:44:52,993
by rabbits and deer.

1021
00:44:53,060 --> 00:44:55,195
They are sometimes sold
as microgreens and stuff too,

1022
00:44:55,262 --> 00:44:57,497
so, like, they are very edible
as well.

1023
00:44:57,564 --> 00:44:59,633
If anybody gets into them,

1024
00:44:59,700 --> 00:45:01,134
staking the plants
as they get taller

1025
00:45:01,201 --> 00:45:02,736
can help 'em stay upright.

1026
00:45:02,803 --> 00:45:05,005
And then, after the flower
is spent,

1027
00:45:05,072 --> 00:45:07,641
hey, you got free bird seed.

1028
00:45:08,842 --> 00:45:11,645
Little bluestem
is one of my favorite grasses.

1029
00:45:11,712 --> 00:45:14,414
It makes a very nice
ornamental bunchgrass

1030
00:45:14,481 --> 00:45:16,083
that forms dense mounds.

1031
00:45:16,149 --> 00:45:18,151
Has great winter interest.

1032
00:45:18,218 --> 00:45:21,388
Does not like
wet or heavy clay soils,

1033
00:45:21,455 --> 00:45:23,156
but it is known
to be deer-resistant,

1034
00:45:23,223 --> 00:45:25,659
at least as deer-resistant
as something can be,

1035
00:45:25,726 --> 00:45:27,160
and is also drought-tolerant.

1036
00:45:27,227 --> 00:45:30,364
Bumblebee queens will overwinter
at the base of it,

1037
00:45:30,430 --> 00:45:34,301
and it is a host plant
for some skipper butterflies.

1038
00:45:34,368 --> 00:45:37,504
I just love the coppery red
color this gets in the winter.

1039
00:45:37,571 --> 00:45:41,241
Like, it is just,
it is a gorgeous grass.

1040
00:45:41,575 --> 00:45:46,547
Alumroot is a fun one, also
called <i>Heuchera</i> or coral bells.

1041
00:45:46,613 --> 00:45:48,982
There are two species that are
native to North America,

1042
00:45:49,049 --> 00:45:52,319
the woodland alumroot
and the prairie alumroot.

1043
00:45:52,386 --> 00:45:55,222
These grow from thick roots
in a rosette,

1044
00:45:55,289 --> 00:45:58,559
and, again,
flowers are kind of small

1045
00:45:58,625 --> 00:46:00,327
and held up on these big stalks.

1046
00:46:00,394 --> 00:46:02,496
Again, you don't generally
get these for the flowers.

1047
00:46:02,563 --> 00:46:04,531
It's that foliage
and that, you know,

1048
00:46:04,598 --> 00:46:08,068
nice groundcover greenery
that it makes.

1049
00:46:08,135 --> 00:46:10,537
Only gets to about
six to twelve inches in height,

1050
00:46:10,604 --> 00:46:12,773
twelve to twenty-four inches
in width.

1051
00:46:12,840 --> 00:46:15,742
And, you know,
there are different species

1052
00:46:15,809 --> 00:46:18,145
and a variety
of different habitats.

1053
00:46:18,212 --> 00:46:22,416
So, you can probably find one
that fits your habit.

1054
00:46:23,984 --> 00:46:26,920
Common blue violets,
some people consider it weedy.

1055
00:46:26,987 --> 00:46:30,791
But it is
the Illinois state wildflower.

1056
00:46:31,291 --> 00:46:32,392
And this tough little plant,

1057
00:46:32,459 --> 00:46:34,094
it's got those really cute
heart-shaped leaves,

1058
00:46:34,161 --> 00:46:35,996
that gorgeous flower
that ranges in color

1059
00:46:36,063 --> 00:46:37,664
from deep purple to white.

1060
00:46:37,731 --> 00:46:40,501
It's not only nontoxic,
it is also edible.

1061
00:46:40,567 --> 00:46:43,203
Anybody ever had
candied violets?

1062
00:46:43,270 --> 00:46:46,507
Yeah, they're a kind of tasty,
little delicate treat.

1063
00:46:46,573 --> 00:46:48,942
The young leaves
can also be eaten like lettuce.

1064
00:46:49,009 --> 00:46:51,178
In my yard,
it's a favorite of deer,

1065
00:46:51,245 --> 00:46:54,248
meaning, since this just
kind of grows wild in my lawn,

1066
00:46:54,314 --> 00:46:56,450
they leave my other stuff alone.

1067
00:46:56,517 --> 00:46:59,019
So, you know, there's that.

1068
00:46:59,086 --> 00:47:02,189
It can be difficult
to start from seed,

1069
00:47:02,256 --> 00:47:05,425
but in the wild--
I think this is so cool--

1070
00:47:05,492 --> 00:47:07,928
in the wild,
ants will take the seeds--

1071
00:47:07,995 --> 00:47:09,763
They have
this protein coating on them,

1072
00:47:09,830 --> 00:47:12,332
and they'll take these seeds
back to their colony

1073
00:47:12,399 --> 00:47:14,468
and they'll eat
that protein coat off

1074
00:47:14,535 --> 00:47:18,005
and pitch the rest of the seed
in their waste pile.

1075
00:47:18,071 --> 00:47:19,306
Well, their waste pile

1076
00:47:19,373 --> 00:47:21,608
is essentially, like,
organic matter,

1077
00:47:21,675 --> 00:47:23,510
which is great fertilizer,

1078
00:47:23,577 --> 00:47:26,713
and that will help them
to sprout.

1079
00:47:27,314 --> 00:47:31,218
And that process
is called myrmecochory,

1080
00:47:31,818 --> 00:47:35,656
which, you know,
it means, essentially,

1081
00:47:35,722 --> 00:47:38,959
ants and plants
working together.

1082
00:47:39,393 --> 00:47:42,963
But it comes from the Greek word
for "ants" and "dancing,"

1083
00:47:43,030 --> 00:47:46,667
which I just think
is a lovely image.

1084
00:47:46,733 --> 00:47:48,769
Anyway, it's a great
native ground cover.

1085
00:47:48,836 --> 00:47:51,004
It's not really picky
about where it grows,

1086
00:47:51,071 --> 00:47:55,142
and it'll grow pretty easily
just about anywhere.

1087
00:47:55,209 --> 00:48:00,414
Purple coneflower, this is
another great native, very,

1088
00:48:00,480 --> 00:48:01,915
very well accepted.

1089
00:48:01,982 --> 00:48:05,018
If you're in an area
that's, you know, like,

1090
00:48:05,085 --> 00:48:07,020
"Ooh, native plants,
those are weeds,"

1091
00:48:07,087 --> 00:48:09,690
everybody knows
and loves coneflowers.

1092
00:48:09,756 --> 00:48:11,458
They are easy to grow,
long-lived.

1093
00:48:11,525 --> 00:48:12,693
Avoid fertilizing them

1094
00:48:12,759 --> 00:48:14,094
'cause that'll make 'em tall
and leggy,

1095
00:48:14,161 --> 00:48:15,562
and they'll flop.

1096
00:48:15,629 --> 00:48:17,364
They are reported
to be deer-resistant,

1097
00:48:17,431 --> 00:48:19,633
again, as much as anything
can be.

1098
00:48:19,700 --> 00:48:22,102
The seed heads
can attract birds.

1099
00:48:22,169 --> 00:48:24,605
It's a nectaring plant
for loads of butterflies,

1100
00:48:24,671 --> 00:48:26,240
bees, and even hummingbirds.

1101
00:48:26,306 --> 00:48:27,774
It also tends
to be salt-resistant,

1102
00:48:27,841 --> 00:48:29,409
making it a great choice
along driveways,

1103
00:48:29,476 --> 00:48:30,978
roadways, and sidewalks.

1104
00:48:31,044 --> 00:48:33,947
It will readily reseed,
but it doesn't get crazy.

1105
00:48:34,014 --> 00:48:36,550
You'll hear a lot about aster
yellows when it comes to this,

1106
00:48:36,617 --> 00:48:38,552
but a lot of times,
it's actually just a mite

1107
00:48:38,619 --> 00:48:40,354
that gets in there,
spread by leafhoppers.

1108
00:48:40,420 --> 00:48:43,190
It's-- Like, it's not
that big an issue.

1109
00:48:43,257 --> 00:48:45,092
They're also prone
to fasciation,

1110
00:48:45,158 --> 00:48:46,894
which I am gonna use this photo

1111
00:48:46,960 --> 00:48:50,697
in every presentation
I can because it's so weird.

1112
00:48:50,764 --> 00:48:53,600
Fasciation is just a little bit
of genetic weirdness

1113
00:48:53,667 --> 00:48:55,335
that happens to the plant

1114
00:48:55,402 --> 00:48:57,371
when it just kind of gets
some mixed signals

1115
00:48:57,437 --> 00:49:00,841
about how it's supposed to grow,
and that's all right.

1116
00:49:00,908 --> 00:49:02,809
They're fun to find.

1117
00:49:03,810 --> 00:49:07,781
Rose mallow is a great plant to
use around ponds and wetlands.

1118
00:49:07,848 --> 00:49:09,650
The flowers
are often white or pink,

1119
00:49:09,716 --> 00:49:12,619
with a darker reddish throat.

1120
00:49:12,686 --> 00:49:14,788
The really cool thing
about these

1121
00:49:14,855 --> 00:49:17,558
is these flowers are,
like, dinner plate-sized, okay?

1122
00:49:17,624 --> 00:49:20,294
We're talking,
like, eight inches across.

1123
00:49:20,360 --> 00:49:21,929
They are huge,
and so if you have

1124
00:49:21,995 --> 00:49:23,564
a particularly wet area,

1125
00:49:23,630 --> 00:49:25,699
this is a great plant
to put there.

1126
00:49:25,766 --> 00:49:27,301
You know, maybe you've got
a pond again,

1127
00:49:27,367 --> 00:49:29,903
like we had talked about
for the turtles or something.

1128
00:49:29,970 --> 00:49:33,106
And speaking of, turtles
can eat these flowers as well,

1129
00:49:33,173 --> 00:49:35,776
so it makes a nice
little treat for them.

1130
00:49:35,843 --> 00:49:38,445
And it's a host plant
for moth and butterfly species,

1131
00:49:38,512 --> 00:49:41,014
like the checkered skipper,

1132
00:49:41,081 --> 00:49:43,817
as well as visited frequently
by hummingbirds,

1133
00:49:43,884 --> 00:49:47,788
orioles, and a whole host
of pollinators.

1134
00:49:48,956 --> 00:49:52,926
<i>Coreopsis</i> is another
great choice that's native

1135
00:49:52,993 --> 00:49:54,628
and doesn't need fertilizing.

1136
00:49:54,695 --> 00:49:56,263
There are many species
of <i>Coreopsis</i>

1137
00:49:56,330 --> 00:49:58,532
that'll fit a variety
of landscape types.

1138
00:49:58,599 --> 00:50:01,134
Some like it dry,
others not as much.

1139
00:50:01,201 --> 00:50:04,605
Some like sandy soils, while
others can handle heavier clay.

1140
00:50:04,671 --> 00:50:07,107
Just don't fertilize it
and don't overwater it or--

1141
00:50:07,174 --> 00:50:10,110
You know, most of the time, you
don't need to water it at all.

1142
00:50:10,177 --> 00:50:11,278
And they'll be fine.

1143
00:50:11,345 --> 00:50:12,880
All the species
I have experience with

1144
00:50:12,946 --> 00:50:15,682
bloom for a really long time,

1145
00:50:15,749 --> 00:50:18,585
and they just make these
really bright, showy mounds.

1146
00:50:18,652 --> 00:50:23,590
It's just really great to have
these big, gold-colored mounds.

1147
00:50:23,657 --> 00:50:26,426
And, this is cool,
research has shown

1148
00:50:26,493 --> 00:50:29,463
that <i>Coreopsis</i> is attractive
to the natural predators

1149
00:50:29,530 --> 00:50:32,165
of some of the more prolific
pests, like aphids.

1150
00:50:32,232 --> 00:50:34,168
So, if you have trouble
with aphids,

1151
00:50:34,234 --> 00:50:36,103
plant some <i>Coreopsis,</i>
and it will bring in

1152
00:50:36,170 --> 00:50:38,305
the minute pirate bug.

1153
00:50:38,372 --> 00:50:40,807
Now, I'm sure the minute
pirate bug does not look like

1154
00:50:40,874 --> 00:50:42,943
what I'm picturing in my head.
[audience laughs]

1155
00:50:43,010 --> 00:50:46,780
I'm sure it does not have
an eye patch and a peg leg.

1156
00:50:46,847 --> 00:50:48,582
But that is
how I'm going to picture it.

1157
00:50:48,649 --> 00:50:49,983
I have specifically
not looked it up

1158
00:50:50,050 --> 00:50:53,420
because that's what
I wanna picture.

1159
00:50:53,487 --> 00:50:57,424
Anyway, there are also many,
many more great native options,

1160
00:50:57,491 --> 00:50:58,992
including black-eyed Susans,
bee balms,

1161
00:50:59,059 --> 00:51:00,961
goldenrod, <i>Liatris,</i> wild rose,

1162
00:51:01,028 --> 00:51:02,963
though watch out for the thorns
with the wild rose.

1163
00:51:03,030 --> 00:51:04,431
They can be kind of nasty.

1164
00:51:04,498 --> 00:51:06,733
And I would like to thank

1165
00:51:07,367 --> 00:51:10,237
Dr. Amy Fischer-Brown, as I
mentioned earlier, the professor

1166
00:51:10,304 --> 00:51:12,806
of Companion Animal Biology
and Humane Education

1167
00:51:12,873 --> 00:51:14,708
at the University of Illinois.

1168
00:51:14,775 --> 00:51:16,810
Again, that ASPCA link is there.

1169
00:51:16,877 --> 00:51:18,679
It's got
that huge list of plants

1170
00:51:18,745 --> 00:51:21,748
that are toxic to dogs and cats,
as well as safe.

1171
00:51:21,815 --> 00:51:24,251
And not only does it have
the plant listed on there,

1172
00:51:24,318 --> 00:51:27,588
it'll tell you what the specific
compound that's bad is,

1173
00:51:27,654 --> 00:51:31,892
what effects to look out for,
and again, dogs, cats, horses.

1174
00:51:31,959 --> 00:51:35,529
You know, it's really
a great website.

1175
00:51:37,030 --> 00:51:38,732
And that's it.

1176
00:51:38,799 --> 00:51:40,267
With that,
I will take some questions.

1177
00:51:40,334 --> 00:51:42,302
[audience applauds]