With summer quickly approaching, you may be looking to add some color to your backyard. Planting a pet-friendly garden is one way you can spruce up your own outdoor space.
While you may be wanting to dive headfirst into beautifying, it’s important to remember that some plants and herbs that people love using can potentially be lethal for dogs.
If you’re looking to plant a pet-friendly garden this year read below some plants that you can add and some plants you should avoid.
Planting a Pet-Friendly Garden
If your dog likes to dig in the dirt, they’d probably love gardening with you. Spending time with their owner is something all dogs love, and sharing an activity makes it doubly good.
Just remember that while there are many plants that will make your garden look wonderful, some can harm your dog. With some careful planning though, you’ll be able to have a garden you’ll enjoy spending time in and be proud to show to friends and neighbors.
Flowers to Spruce Up Your Yard
There are many plants that you can put in your backyard to make it look and smell great. Here are a few that you can consider:
- African Violet
- Sunflowers
- Zinnias
- Roses
- Marigolds
- Snapdragon
- Aster
- Daylilies
On top of these beautiful flowers, you can consider planting specific herbs to create a kind of sensory garden. Here are some herbs that can benefit your dog:
- Lavender – This wonderful smelling flower can have a calming and soothing effect on dogs and humans alike.
- Rosemary – Rosemary has an energizing aroma. It also makes a great addition in rubs for chicken or pork.
- Barley Grass – Barley grass is simply ornamental, but it can be consumed by your dog to help calm upset stomach.
- Mint – Mint can come in a large variety. You’re probably familiar with spearmint and peppermint. There are also other mints, like chocolate mint, that taste like chocolate.
- Chamomile – This herb can have a calming effect on dogs. It is also a great addition to your teas and can be used to sooth colicky babies.
Plants to Avoid
While there are many plants that are a beauty to behold, they can potentially be dangerous to your pets. Here are some plants you should avoid if you plan to have your four-legged friends helping you in the garden.
- Chrysanthemum – These beautiful flowers come in many shapes, sizes and colors, but they can cause loss of coordination if consumed.
- Iris – This flower comes in every color of the rainbow. If your pet consumes it, they will likely experience vomiting, diarrhea, excessive drooling and lethargy.
- Monkshood – This flower is shaped like the cowl of a monk’s clothing, which is where it gets its name. It’s also known as wolfsbane, mouse bane, women’s bane, devil’s helmet, and queen of poisons. Be sure you keep this one away from your home garden.
- Begonia – These small subtropical flowers are beautiful and easy to propagate. But the tubers that form on its root system can cause irritation in the mouth and difficulty swallowing.
- Aloe Vera – While the juice of the aloe plant does wonders for skin that has been burned, it can burn up your dog from the inside out. Consuming this plant can cause vomiting, diarrhea and tremors.
- Rose of Sharon – This hardy bush produces beautiful, trumpet shaped flowers that will cause vomiting if consumed.
Tips to Keep Fido Safe
Remember that you can plant anything you want. But if your dog likes to poke their nose around, you’ll have to take precautions, so no harm comes to them. If you just love something that is on the avoid list, here are some tips to keep your dog safe:
- Plant the flowers in a separate section of your yard. They can go in the front of your home. They can even be covered with chicken wire so your dog can’t reach them.
- Place plants in a hanging basket where your dog cannot reach them. Or place them on a high shelf.
- Train your dog to avoid certain areas of the garden.
- Place your dog on a long leash while outside.
- Create a garden with many textures to help keep your dog out of more dangerous sections. Cedar chips, pea gravel, ornamental grasses are great choices to make the textures interesting. And if all else fails, make your dog a sandbox for them to dig in.
Following these tips will let you plant pretty much anything you like in your garden. Just remember that your dog will likely enjoy the time outside as well, so make it as friendly for them as you can.