Cooperative Living June 2020 - 32

Hit or Miss Pet-Friendly Gardening
PawPrints | by Jennifer Mathias, Contributing Writer
How to have a peaceful union
between plants and pets
W
e love our pets and we love
our plants. But we don't love
it when the family dog or
cat digs up a plant that we carefully put
into the ground. Here is some advice,
often hard-earned, that might come in
handy as you go about your gardening.
Train your dog (or cat): At the
very least, it is necessary to train your
dog in basic obedience. Find the training
method that works for you and your
pet. If your pooch knows the basic
commands of sit, stay and come, you
will have a head start in achieving that
peaceful union of flora and fauna.
Make use of barriers: Build a raised
wall. This is more ambitious but works
great, especially if you have a slope or hill.
Use edging materials. Plastic edging and
sturdy wrought iron are options. Bricks
and four-by-four beams can be used to
build a barrier as high as needed to hinder
your specific breed. Sturdy shrubs can
make good blockades. Think of
boxwoods, hollies, yews and junipers.
Utilize containers and raised beds:
Container gardening is awesome for
those who have small yards, balconies
and patios. If the containers are not too
large, you can perch them on a table to
help keep curious noses out of the soil.
We know that raised garden beds are
great for growing because of better soil
control and less weeding, but it will
also keep Fido from taking a bite of
your vegetables.
Put up a fence: Whether your animals
behave, sometimes you might want a
place that is solely for your planting
pleasure. The fenced area can be near
your house for your enjoyment or at a
distance. If the fence will be near your
house where family and pets congregate,
you can always use transparent
material, such as post and wire.
Remember that any plant can cause
gastrointestinal distress in your pet. Nearly
all plants in the family liliaceae are toxic to
cats. All parts of a lilium genus can be deadly
to cats, even if only a small amount is
ingested. Renal failure happens quickly and
death can occur within 72 hours or less.
Do not wait for symptoms to occur, but
call ASPCA animal poison control and contact
your local veterinarian if you know or suspect
that your cat has eaten any portion of the
lilium. Some lilies also can be toxic to dogs
and while some, such as the Easter lily
(Lilium longiflorum), are non-toxic to canines,
the plant can still cause GI upset.
Jennifer Mathias is a master gardener with
the Northern Shenandoah Valley Master
Gardeners Association.
For more information, visit nsvmga.org.
30 | Cooperative Living | June 2020
co-opliving.com
For more, go to ucanr.edu and search
" plants toxic to animals. "
These tips can prevent your pets from
doing damage to your garden. But if
you are like most pet owners, you want
to be positive and have your pets enjoy
their environment. It is possible -
in careful tandem with your training
skills - to create something that appeals
to your dogs and cats.
Give your critters a path: Cats and
dogs love to meander and sniff the air
and surrounding objects. Winding
pathways in your garden will slow down
your pets, provide them with interest
and a way to use their instincts; you
might even discover that barriers are
not needed.
Put in a water feature: A small
fountain can provide your pets with
fresh water and a place to bat their paws.
Dogs perspire through the pads of their
feet, so a small water area would help
them cool off in summer heat.
Furnish a digging area: Choose an
area of your yard entirely dedicated to
tunneling. You can use a sandbox or
create a digging spot from scratch. Give
your pet their favorite toys and redirect
their energy toward what they were
born to do. Always praise your dog for
being in this burrowing arena. 
Keep this
Lilium:
Perilous to Cats
number handy:
888-426-4435
- ASPCA
ANIMAL POISON
CONTROL
http://www.ucanr.edu http://www.nsvmga.org http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living June 2020

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