Pets are a member of your family, so it is only natural to want them in the garden with you. The ultimate goal is keeping your animals safe while enjoying the beautiful yard together. Landscaping for your pets goes beyond choosing pet friendly plants.
One of the first ways to keep pets healthy in the garden is by reducing potential areas for ticks and mosquitos as these spread diseases. Ticks are found at ground level in thick grass or understory. Keeping the lawn well mowed and removing lawn debris diminishes their habitat and numbers. Mosquitos lay their eggs in standing water; reducing or eliminating standing water in areas such as pails, bird baths, ponds and pots can help limit their populations.
Limit use of pesticides and fertilizers and consider safer alternatives. Natural options for insect and pest control, along with fertilizer, may be more pet friendly than synthetics. Manually removing weeds by hoeing and hand pulling reduces the need for herbicides. If you do need to use a product; pesticides have a re-entry interval listed on the label, keep pets out of the garden during that time period. Always follow proper instructions for maximum safety when using these products for use and storage.
Guide pets where they are supposed to be by fencing off specific areas that are off limits. This can be a natural barrier of shrubs or with physical barriers such as plastic, wood or metal fencing. Provide zones where they can play and thrive, such as a “dig” area with loose soil or sand; offering shade and water in these designated places can help keep everyone comfortable and safe.
Gardeners love to use mulch for weed prevention, but some mulches, such as cocoa mulch, can be toxic to dogs. Finish off the garden with safe mulch options like cedar, pine, or hemlock wood mulch. If you are worried about splinters, look for a label with “finely shredded”, “double hammered”, “play ground grade” as these will be smaller pieces. If your pet likes to chew, avoid mulch with colorants that may not be safe for ingestion.
Plants choice is arguably one of the most important factors when keeping pets safe in the yard; choosing safe plants avoids accidental poisoning. There are several garden plants that are toxic to both dogs and cats including azalea, rhododendron, ivy, lilies, daffodils and tulips. Below is a list of plants that are typically safe to both cats and dogs:
Annuals:
