Do you want to grow the garden of your dreams but worry about how your pets will interact with it? Are the plants you are choosing safe if they ingest them? And what about landscaping structures? Which ones are pet-friendly?
Striking a balance between an aesthetically pleasing and pet-friendly garden is possible. You only need to get a little creative and know a few tips.
In this article, Purple Care lawn care experts will share their knowledge in creating beautiful gardens that are safe (and fun) for pets. You’ll learn what toxic plants to avoid and a few landscaping ideas to make your garden more appealing to your pets.
Pet-Friendly Plants: Avoid Toxic and Spiky Plants
When choosing plants and shrubs to add to your garden, it’s crucial to avoid planting anything that can harm your furry friends.
Some plants can be highly toxic to pets, making them seriously sick.
You want to avoid anything that can harm your lovely pets.
Dangerous Plants to Avoid
These are the plants you want to avoid to keep your pets safe:
Carnation Flowers
When ingested in large quantities, Carnation flowers can be mildly toxic to pets.
This plant contains two components, saponins and glycosides, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues on pets.
Dumb Cane
Dieffenbachia, better known as Dumb Cane, is a low-maintenance plant present in many households. What many homeowners don’t know is that this common plant can be dangerous for their pets, especially cats and dogs, if ingested.
Dumb Cane contains calcium oxalate crystals, tiny needle-like structures that might cause irritation in the mouth and throat.
Hibiscus
Another plant that can be mildly toxic for cats and dogs when ingested.
Hibiscus contains organic acids like malic, hibiscus, and citric acids, which can cause gastrointestinal problems and irritation when ingested in large quantities.
Safe Plants for Pets
Here are a few safe plants you can grow in your garden:
Marigold
Marigold is not only a pet-friendly staple, but its blooms are also an excellent resource for bees and other pollinating insects during the growing seasons.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is considered safe for cats and dogs to eat. Actually, this grass is sometimes used in pets’ food and treats to add flavor.
Petunias
Petunias are popular home garden flowering plants that add a beautiful touch of color.
They are typically considered non-toxic, and they are safe if your pets ingest them in small quantities.
Basil
It’s safe for pets to eat basil in moderation.
As a nice plus, basil can be an excellent addition to your kitchen. This herb can give your meals a tasty flavor—you can find many recipes on the internet.
Keep Your Pets Safe: Select Natural Fertilizers
Another thing to consider is fertilizers. Many chemical fertilizers contain components that can be highly toxic to pets—sometimes even to humans.
Many green, lush lawns and gardens filled with colorful flowers owe their beauty to fertilizers.
So, how can homeowners balance growing a paradise yard and keeping their pets safe? The solution is using natural fertilizers.
Natural fertilizers might not work as fast as chemical ones, but they still shed great results.
By ditching harsh chemical fertilizers, you are caring for your family members, your beloved pets, and the environment.
Here are some tips for switching to natural fertilizers…
If you live in a grassy area, try mulching mowers to create fine grass clippings you can leave on your lawn, returning water and other essential nutrients back to the soil.
For landscaping beds, you can fertilize with compost.
Do you need help to grow a verdant garden with natural fertilizers? You can always call lawn care experts to lend you a hand!
Combine Lawn Care with Pet-Friendly Hard Landscaping
One of the most effective ways to create a pet-friendly garden is striking a balance between planting and hard landscaping.
What is hard landscaping?
Hard landscaping includes all the non-plant elements of your garden. We are talking about pathwalks, fences, decks, outdoor firepits, and other landscaping structures.
Incorporating landscape features, such as walkways, retaining walls, and raised beds, not only raises your garden’s visual appeal but also defines areas where your pets can safely explore.
Need some tips or ideas to spark your creativity? Here they go…
We advise using permeable paving products to create areas and walkways that encourage rainwater to soak into the ground. This will reduce runoff and decrease dirty paw prints—especially helpful for homeowners who like keeping their houses clean and tidy.
Do you have curious pets that like to “explore” your plants? Raised beds will help you protect your plants from your pets. As a nice pulse, this garden feature adds vertical interest to your landscaping design.
Creating A Safe and Fun Garden for Your Pets to Explore Safely
Having a healthy and aesthetically pleasing garden while creating a safe outdoor space for your pets to explore is possible!
By choosing the right (and non-toxic) plants and incorporating some creative and effective hard landscaping features, you can create a backyard paradise for you and your pets.
