Pet Friendly Gardening At Home

by Jenn Smith November 06, 2019

Generally, when we think about gardening, we think about what fruits and vegetables we like to eat. Make sense, right? However, we need to think beyond what is delicious and what looks good on our landscapes and think about the health and well-being of our family members. It's great to teach small children about gardening - where food comes from and how food is made - however, what about pets? Did you know that some plants are toxic and can be lethal? Here is a list of pet-safe plants to grow at home and others to keep away from pets:

The Good

Dogs and cats may be curious enough to sniff or eat plants. It's okay for them to take a bite of the following:

Spinach
Peas
Blueberries
Carrots
Sweet Potatoes

Some flowers are pet-safe, too and can even be used to rid deer from landscapes as they are deer-resistant flowers that deer hate eating and smelling:

Roses
Sunflowers
Marigolds*
Aster*
Hibiscus*
African Violets

The Bad

However, some flowers, fruits, trees and nuts can make dogs sick and can be fatal if ingested in large doses - especially fruits with high sugar contents:

Autumn Crocus
Lilies
Mums
Daisies
Apples
Peaches
Plum
Mushrooms
Oak trees
Maple trees

Keep close eye on pets that are sniffing around the bad plants. These are toxic plants that can harm dog health and should be planted away from pet fences. For hobby gardeners that aren't sure if a plant is okay for animal health, consult a veterinarian for a list of pet-safe plants to grow at home.