Pet-Friendly Garden
Gardeners love to fill their outside spaces with colourful, gorgeous plants and while most of these plants can be beneficial and nutritious, there are some that are highly toxic to pets. It’s great to see pets enjoying quality time in the garden, but gardeners need to be aware of a few popular varieties of plants to avoid.
Plants That Are Toxic to Pets
The leaves of Azaleas are very dangerous to both dogs and cats if eaten and can cause temporary blindness, also affecting the heart.
Dogs are attracted to the ripe berries of Syringas, which can damage their nervous system.
The sap from a broken stem of Euphorbia Tinacalli is a strong irritant to both dogs and humans.
Seed capsules of the Stinkblaar are extremely dangerous to dogs and cats and can prove fatal if consumed.
The Chinkerinchee is toxic to dogs and cats, causing diarrhoea and blindness.
The seeds of Oleander trees can cause heart problems.
Also, Spring bulbs of Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Tulips will cause mild vomiting and diarrhoea.
Pet-Friendly Plants for a Safe Garden
Fortunately, there are many plants that are very pet-friendly, like Ornamental grasses, especially Carex varieties. Dogs, cats, and rabbits love munching on them, and it’s a very nutritious grass for pets, providing fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
Strong-smelling plants like Lavender and Rosemary will attract dogs and are robust enough to withstand being trampled on. A plus factor is these are also plants that are flea-repellent herbs!
Catnip is a cat’s idea of heaven on earth, and the aromatic foliage will transport a cat into a delicious frenzy! Catnip is also a mild sedative for dogs and will help deter fleas on both cats and dogs.
Herbs like Dill, Fennel, and Basil will be a big hit for dogs and cats, who love the aromas, and these herbs can have a calming effect if your pets are anxious or nervous.
African Daisy, Lemongrass (Cymbopogon), Snapdragons (Antirrhinums Plumosa), and Celosia are all totally safe plants for pets.
