Gardeners love their plants and their pets. Knowing the basics about plants, design and safety can help make the garden a great space for humans and their nonhuman companions.
(Photos courtesy of Nicole Pinson)
To plant a dog-friendly yard, consider the places in your yard that your dog likes to visit. Does he use specific pathways? Does she like to patrol the fence line? Learning where your dog enjoys spending time in the garden can help you design a pet-friendly backyard. My 85-pound sheepdog, Pepper, loves to play in the garden. But on more than one occasion, Pepper has accidentally run over a newly planted shrub. Now, I notice where she likes to play, and I keep these parts of my garden plant-free, so we both can enjoy our backyard.
If you have favorite plants that are unique or fragile, consider locating them in the front yard to protect them from damage. You can also protect your plants by using raised beds. Keep in mind dogs are reluctant to push through vines and dense plantings. Sturdy plants, such as tough ornamental grasses, or plants with woody stems like viburnum, can help make your garden more resistant to dogs.
Some cats enjoy plants such as catnip. Many of us are familiar with catnip, also called catmint. Catnip is in the Lamiaceae family, which also includes many aromatic plants such as mint, rosemary, salvia and thyme. While being a favorite for cats, it also serves as an excellent garden plant for pollinators when blooming. Catnip is a perennial in Florida, and grows 3 feet to 5 feet tall. But if your catnip is anything like mine, the neighborhood cats will quickly find and roll around in it, which means you may need to replant it often. Catnip may be propagated from seed or cuttings.
Cats may also love to chew on grasses such as cat grass and lemongrass. Both cat grass and lemongrass are in the grass family, Poaceae. Lemongrass is an easy plant to grow, and it thrives in full sun. It is a perennial throughout most of Florida, and you can use the stalks to flavor teas, soups, curries and stir-fry.
However, any plant a pet eats could make them vomit, so it is usually a good idea to keep plants out of their reach.
According to Dr. Amber Meade, “Most veterinarians know common plant toxins, so if you suspect your pet is sick from eating a plant, always consult your veterinarian. It’s always better to have them evaluated as soon as possible, because sometimes waiting until they are showing signs of sickness is too late.”
The Pet Poison Helpline (PetPoisonHelpline.com/pet-owners/basics/top-10-plants-poisonous-to-pets/) is a good online resource that provides 24-7 support for pet owners. The American Society for Prevention and Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) maintains a list of toxic and nontoxic plants on their website at ASPCA.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control.
For questions about poisonous or toxic plants, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a poisonous plants webpage at FreshFromFlorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Plant-Industry/Bureaus-and-Services/Bureau-of-Entomology-Nematology-Plant-Pathology/Botany/Poisonous-Plants.
A pet-friendly yard also means using care when applying pesticides and other chemicals. Read pesticide labels carefully, and follow label directions with regard to application, timing and re-entry periods. Practice the basic steps of integrated pest management, and always properly identify the pest before selecting a control. When possible, use the least toxic pesticides, such as soaps, oils, spinosad or neem, if they are appropriate for your pest problem.
If your cat chews on houseplants, or your dog eats your shrubs, then do your research to develop a pet-friendly planting plan for your garden. Common landscape plants and houseplants may be toxic to our nonhuman companions. Doing some research can save you money and keep your pets safe!
For additional information, contact "> or (813) 744-5519, ext. 54145.
By Nicole Pinson
Nicole Pinson is Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County. The author gratefully acknowledges Dr. Amber Meade, MS, DVM, Broadway Veterinary Hospital, Durham, North Carolina, for her advice and input during preparation of this article.
