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Tips on Dog-Safe Gardening
Garden organically, for the sake of both the planet and your dogs.

 

Raised beds protect plantings from scampering paws and swinging tails. Dogs can be taught where they’re permitted and where they are not.
Digging pit, preferably in shaded locations, give dogs places to practice their excavation skills without disrupting your garden beds. You might entice them to use it by lightly burying (as they watch you) a treat-filled Kong.
Leave a plant-free “patrolling” area around the perimeter of your yard; dogs instinctively (and repeatedly) cruise boundaries and fence lines.
Construct a barrier around plants of the nightshade family, including eggplant, tomato and potato; their foliage and stems contain dangerous alkaloids that can kill a dog. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna), Larkspur (Delphinium ajacis) have toxic effects on the heart and circulation. When dogs eat large amounts of onions, they may suffer red blood cell destruction. Rhubarb leaves (Rheum rhabarbaram) contain oxalic acid. In quantity, it damages kidneys.
Avoid cocoa bean mulches; their chocolaty smell makes them pup catnip, but they contain theobromine, which is toxic for dogs.
Cross almond or walnut trees off your list for areas used by dogs; tannin is a canine toxin, and almond and walnut hulls contain it; moldy walnuts are also a problem. Avoid trees with toxic bark, such as cherry (contains cyanide-like components). And, some stone fruit trees (apricots, plums) can provide raw material for obstruction by indigestible pits.
Do not use snail bait containing metaldehyde, which is highly poisonous to dogs and cats. Copper barrier tape is a good alternative; slugs and snails are deterred from crossing it by the tape’s tiny positive electric charge.
Protect young trees, especially if you have a male dog. Be sure to frequently rinse the trunk and soil with fresh water. Or, secure a copper or galvanized splash guard of appropriate height and circumference around the developing tree the first couple of years to divert unwelcome attention from your pup.

 

(BARK magazine article)

Views: 27

Replies to This Discussion

Thanks for posting Karen. I think most of this stuff we're safe on in our yard. I wasn't aware of the problem with some of the trees. I could see Sheba trying to eat walnuts etc. I'm still working on keeping them off the raised beds. They love to run full
speed and launch themselves from them. I hate to take their fun away but they trample my posies!!
The snail bait information makes sense and I haven't used any since I've had dogs but it's a good reminder. I do have digitalis, I Iove them. I also have monkshood, which is poisonous, and I'm sure some others, which don't come to mind. I think the dogs don't like any of these kinds of plants and can smell something about them. Deer for example won't go near these. But I need to do more research on this. Lots of luck with the plant free zone.That's where many of my flower borders are. The dogs do "fertilize" these areas often but usually don't do too much damage.
My poodle would have done the same, and I wouldn't have known, either! She was obsessed with small objects!
It's only mostly moldy walnuts that are a problem but I see the reference above says tannins too. There's info in the Danger Group.

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