Planting a Garden That’s Pet-Friendly: 5 Helpful Tips?

Photo: mashiki, depositphotos 

By Sara Sparrow

Ever wanted to have a beautiful garden? You can!

Want to have a great garden that’s great for you and your pet? You can!

While it’s nice to let your pet explore the garden, it’s still important to keep them safe at all times when letting them outside. You wouldn’t want to expose your pet to chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides), poisonous plants, dangerous structures or other hazards.

The good news is, you can have a great garden AND protect your pet when they venture outdoors. Here are 5 helpful tips on how to make your garden pet friendly! 

1. Plant Plants That Are Pet-Friendly

“Plants don’t have to be toxic to pets,” says Audrey Williams, a lifestyle writer at Top essay writing services and Essay roo. “However, some plants, when ingested, can cause health problems to pets. So, if you’re worried that your pet may try to eat some of the plants, then consider keeping them away from certain areas. Or you can plant pet-friendly plants in the garden. Either way, it’s important to practice supervision when exposing your pet to plants outside.”

Suppose you have a dog. Here are certain plants that are proven to be safe for dogs:    

• Asters
• Camellias
• Roses
• Snapdragons
• Sunflowers

2. Invest in a Secure Garden

Sometimes, pets will get curious to see what’s outside the garden. This is especially true for dogs; sometimes, they wander about to where they’re out on the street. Dogs might even try to dig under a fence and, possibly, escape from the garden. Or they can jump over the fence and out into the open.

That’s why it’s important to secure your garden with protective fencing, barriers, and walls. Make borders secure at the base of your garden. Plus, make your fences really high (at least 6 feet/180 cm high), so that your pet or dog won’t think to try and jump over it. And, make your gates secure at all times, whether you’re home or not.

3. Use Pet-Friendly Fertilizers and Garden Sprays

While you may find it necessary to use fertilizers and garden sprays in keeping your garden top-notch, these products might be doing more harm than good when it comes to your pet. In fact, when you read the labels of certain fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, they warn users not to apply them near pets like cats and dogs. 

Therefore, here are two ways to prevent your pet from being harmed by these garden products:

• Look for pet-friendly products that can not only treat your garden, but also be safe for your pet.
  OR
• If you can’t find any pet-friendly products for treating the garden, keep your pet away from treated areas, since regular fertilizers and related treatments can cause skin burns and irritation.

4. Say Goodbye to Fleas and Ticks

“Fleas and ticks are especially a problem for pets,” says Candice Belfry, a content writer at Academ advisor and Revieweal. “In fact, fleas and ticks will hide almost anywhere in the garden—tall grasses, plants, still water, unraked leaves, other debris, and so on. If they happen to land on your pet, the pet will start scratching and be prone to further health issues like heartworms. Plus, the pet might carry these pests into your home.”

So, how can gardeners stop the fleas and ticks from invading?

“Make sure that your garden is well kept,” adds Belfry. “That means mowing the lawn regularly, raking the leaves, throwing out still water, and keeping your woodpiles neat and dry in stacks. Also, where such is available, treat your garden with a pet-friendly plant oil-based pesticide that helps eradicate fleas and ticks.”

5. Secure Your Compost Pile

Finally, if you love to keep a compost pile, then it’s important to keep your pet away from it. If your pet ingests compost, it’ll make them sick. Compost is food for the garden, not the pet.

Therefore, make sure that you cover your compost pile. Or you can build or invest in a bin to keep your compost in. Plus, keep your compost away from where your pet would usually venture through in the garden. 

Conclusion

So, there you have it!

Having a garden can be a great thing. And, having a pet is a good thing too! If you love both, you can have both when you make sure that your pet is safe in the garden. By following these 5 helpful tips, your pet will be safe from any potential hazards in your yard.

Have fun!