Pet Friendly Gardening

Article sourced from The Good Vet and Pet Guide   Our dogs tend to be curious animals, so you’ll usually find them roaming around outdoors come rain or shine. This makes it particularly important to dog-proof your garden, so you can open the patio doors and let them run free, without the worry. Nicky Roeber is the Online Horticultural Expert at Wyevale Garden Centres.  Here, he gives his top 5 tips for creating a pet-friendly garden, to keep both you and your furry friends happy!  

1)     Gardening With Care

Use Pet-Safe Chemical Pesticides and Fertilizers Having a pet isn’t a reason to let your weeds spiral out of control, but it’s worth noting that many pesticides and fertilisers can be harmful — and sometimes toxic — to animals. Watch out for ingredients like phosphorus, iron and nitrogen, which can be poisonous to them when swallowed in large volumes. Many gardening stores now offer pet-friendly and organic pesticides and fertilisers, so you don’t have to frantically chase your dog when you see it with a mouthful of the lawn!  

2)     Invest in Plants Your Dog Will Love

The garden flowers and herbs aren’t just there for you to admire. You could try rearing a few plants that will benefit your pet as well. Dogs are drawn to peppermint when they’re feeling sick or have indigestion. You could even try growing your own vegetables and leafy greens to feed your, to make sure you’ll always have fresh produce to hand.  

3)     Fence The Borders Off

One of the biggest pet-owner worries is to see your furry friend darting off into the horizon. Prevent this by regularly checking for any gaps or holes that might’ve appeared in your fencing. Additionally, make sure your fencing will be long-lasting, and that it will still be tall enough to contain them when they’re older, wiser and larger! Whatever precautions you decide to take, make sure the material you choose for these is weather-proof: metal gates and PVC chain link fencing are both durable options and can be bolted down, making them able to withstand even the grimmest weather conditions.  

4)     Protect your own plants

You didn’t spend time and money doing up your garden with new plants and a beautiful lawn, just for your pet to come and dig it all up. To prevent this from happening, try separating your plants from the rest of the garden in their own fenced-off area, or growing them in a shed or greenhouse. This will help to keep you happy — and your pet out of trouble! You could also take advantage of the scents that your pet doesn’t like by incorporating these into the surrounding areas of your favourite plants. Cats hate most plant smells including lavender and geranium, whereas dogs will be put off by citrus plants or ammonia.  

5)     Give Them Their Own Area

This can be more helpful for those with smaller animals (like bunnies, puppies and guinea pigs) but creating a designated area for your pet to explore and entertain themselves will keep your pet safe and your garden in great condition. Whatever area you choose to designate for your pet, just be sure it’s well-shaded and has water and snacks in reach to keep them as comfortable as possible. Once you've found a spot, you should add some fun toys to keep your pet entertained.  Making a toy corner packed with squeaky balls and chews for your dog to play with will help to preserve your lawn and flowers. 'If your pet will be spending plenty of time outdoors, it might be worth creating a kennel or hideaway for your dogs to shelter away from the sun and have some much-needed rest time where they can still catch a breeze. Wherever the designated area, be sure not to incorporate any features around it that will be attractive to other animals. Bird feeders should be kept well away and on high branches to reduce the likelihood of wildlife being harmed, and your furry friend from bringing you a gift every now and again! Your garden will be one of your pet’s favourite places to explore, so take precautionary measures and make it pet-friendly and accommodating for them. By swapping out potentially harmful chemicals for organic ones, and creating an area for your pet to play in, you can help to keep them safe and happy in the garden for years to come.  

Bulbs & Flowers

Daffodils are toxic to dogs (especially the bulb). They can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling and abdominal pain. If ingested seek veterinary advice. Here are some more common plants that are toxic to our pets:

• Azaleas
• Clematis
• Foxgloves
• Hyacinths
• Iris
• Lily of the Valley
• Rhododendrons
• Tulips