Suggestions for dog-friendly gardening | House and Backyard

Spring is in full swing and many people have planted and maintained their gardens. Plants and flowers are beautiful, but they can be deadly to our four-legged friends. With a little more planning, your yard can be fun for you and safe for your dog.

To help keep your dog safe, the American Kennel Club offers the following tips for dog-friendly gardening:

What you plant could be poisonous

There are many common flowers and plants that are unsafe for dogs, and some can even be fatal. The danger can lie in the flower, fruit, roots or leaves. Make sure you do your research before planting anything that could potentially harm your dog. Some plants to avoid include lily, sago palm, azalea, and rhododendron, among others.

Beware of a delicate problem

Look out for flowers and plants with thorns like roses. The thorns can seriously injure your dog. Either keep them out of your yard or try to block your dog’s access to them.

Plant food is not dog food

Fertilizer can keep your plants and grass healthy, but it can harm your dog. Ingesting large amounts of fertilizer can lead to serious digestive problems for your dog. Always follow the directions for using fertilizer carefully and wait the appropriate amount of time after using it before letting your dog run around.

Be careful with dangerous pesticides

Insect and weed control products in your yard can be harmful to your dog. Pesticides like snail bait with metaldehyde and fly bait with methomyl are particularly dangerous for your four-legged friend.

Make sure pesticides are stored in areas your dog cannot get into and follow directions for use.

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