Garden can become pets' paradise

Ryan Limpus shares his herb garden with Sunny.

WITH more than half of Australian households sharing their life with a cat or a dog, it is no wonder that many garden centres now include plants that are good for pets, such as edible grasses and herbs.

According to the Petcare Information and Advisory Service (PIAS), planning for a garden that looks great and is well suited to pets is easy as long as you think about what both you and your pet want from the garden.

Tivoli pet owner Ryan Limpus said his Labrador-cross-Staffy dog Sunny was safe in the yard, as most of the plants were pet friendly.

“We used to have rose bushes but got rid of them when Sunny was a pup because we didn't want him cutting himself,” Mr Limpus said.

“The vegetable garden is safe for him too, although now he's four years old, he knows he's not allowed in there.

“He's pretty good; when he was a pup I had to build a fence to stop him digging the vegies up but now he's quite content to sit there and watch me working away. He knows where he is and isn't allowed.”

PIAS spokeswoman Susie Willis said a well-presented, pet-friendly garden could be achieved with some planning at the outset and by selecting plants that are suitable for your pets and lifestyle.

“Of course, the other important aspect of planning a pet-friendly garden is making sure there are no risks to your four-legged friends,” Ms Willis said.

“Unfortunately, it is all too common for pets to chew on dangerous plants or to find a packet of something poisonous.

“You do need to make sure that your pet knows what the rules are and, for very active or larger dogs, provide plenty of stimulation and exercise so that the garden doesn't become a way of beating the boredom blues.”

PIAS has offered Ipswich residents some tips on creating harmony between your garden and your pet:

The first step is to make sure that the area where your pet will be allowed is properly enclosed. Set aside areas in your garden where your dog or cat can lie in the sun or toilet without destroying your precious plants.

Dogs love to run and, in particular, they love to run around the edges of “their” territory. Raised beds are a great way of keeping dogs off plants or hardier plants can be used to create borders that will keep dogs off ground-level beds.

Starting with instant lawn is a good option as it will mean you do not have to keep pets off while the grass is young and tender. You should also talk to your nursery or lawn supplier about the hardier types of lawn that can withstand pet urine.

Shade and water are vital to every pet that spends time outdoors. Be sure to provide a number of areas where your dog or cat can keep cool during the hottest part of the day as well as have access to water at all times.

Dogs and cats both love to eat certain grasses and they can provide nutritional and medicinal benefits. Talk to your nursery about the best grasses for pets and grow them in low pots with frequent re-planting to ensure the grass remains soft and palatable.

Many common plants should be avoided altogether. Daphne, asparagus fern, aloe vera, jasmine, chrysanthemums, azaleas and rhododendrons, most bulbs and even sweet peas and daffodil bulbs are dangerous to dogs.