HERITAGE HAUNTS: Pet-Friendly Gardening by Linda Johnson

Presented by Cathy Tylka, for Let's Talk Plants! September 2026.

This article was written by Linda Johnson and first appeared in September 2011 edition of Let's Talk Plants!

If you are a gardener AND a pet-lover, see tips below to enhance your garden for the mutual enjoyment of pets and humans. It is easy to combine the love of gardening with the love of pets, and to create a fun and harmonious environment for both to enjoy!

Pet-Friendly Plants

Prior to adding any plants to your garden or home, do some research and learn which plants may be toxic or pose other dangers to your pets. For example, Azaleas can cause stomach and abdominal pain in pets, and wild mushrooms can produce fatal toxins. Plants with prickles, spines and thorns present unnecessary backyard dangers as well. To select safe and non-toxic plants, visit www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants for plant lists, plant photos and other information.

Pet Safety in the Garden

Watering: Keep potted plants out of pets’ reach; avoid using chemicals or pesticides in your water. If your pets drink from the flower pot/saucer, they may end up in the vet’s office – or

even worse!

Fencing

Keep pets safe by having a fence, which can protect them from exposure to neighbors’ yards and possibly chemicals, pesticides and toxic plants.

Pathways

Dogs need exercise. Paths provide designated spaces as well as a venue to perform their perceived job – to patrol your property and keep out intruders. Provide a few feet along fences for a perimeter path to satisfy both needs. If dogs have already created paths through the garden, turn these well-worn routes into proper pathways.

Room for Play

Grassy space is essential for pet play. Provide a swath of grass and they’ll be less likely to run laps through your vegetable garden. For cats, plant a “cat garden” using catnip and catmint, plus some grass to chew on

Shade and Shelter

Give pets a deck or a patch of lawn for sunbathing. Also, provide cooling retreats so they don’t get over-heated, such as arbors, pergolas, and other shade structures.

Pet Waste

Lawns and flowerbeds do not need to be pet toilets. Set aside a corner of the yard as a toilet area; train your pet to eliminate there and nowhere else. (Consult a dog-training manual for instructions.) Cover the area with materials such as flagstone, pea gravel, bricks, and cedar chips – all of which are easy to clean and maintain

Pesticides, Fertilizers and other Toxins

Tightly seal containers, and store out of pets’ reach. Carefully follow instructions on the product’s label. Be mindful of other not-so-obvious pet toxins (citronella candles, bug baits, flea products, pool and pond treatments, rodent traps, etc.) Consider your pets’ habits when deciding if to use cocoa mulch: chocolate is poisonous to cats and dogs, but most pets won’t eat enough cocoa mulch to get seriously ill.

Compost

While food and garden waste make excellent additions to garden soil, they can also pose problems for pets. Coffee, moldy food and certain types of fruits and vegetables are toxic to dogs and cats

Garden Tools

Rakes, tillers, hoes and trowels can be hazardous to pets and cause trauma to paws, noses or other parts of a curious pet’s body. Rusty, sharp tools caked in dirt may also pose a risk for tetanus if they puncture skin. Store all unused tools in a safe area not accessible to pets.

The San Diego Humane Society offers classes on Planting with Your Pooch. Contact: (619) 243-3424 or visit www.sdhumane.org.

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sdhort.org