Pet-Friendly Gardening: Safe Vs. Toxic Plants

Generally, when we think about backyard gardening, we tend to think about what we like to eat and what we would like to see when we look out the window. While we may think about gardening as a way to teach agriculture to children, we may not think about our pets and how gardening can affect their lives. Did you know that some plants are considered pet-safe while others are toxic to their health? Here are the list of safe and toxic plants to dogs and cats:

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

While some of the above plants may be bad for dog health, they should be considered for deer management in gardens as they are deer-resistant plants. These types of plants should grow away from outdoor pet enclosures to guarantee that dogs and cats do not sniff, lick or eat them.