There’s nothing quite like pottering around the garden with your dog at your heels, watching them relax in the shade of a tree as you tend your flower beds or plant up containers. Many gardeners are also dog lovers – including famous faces like Gardeners’ World veterans Monty Don and Alan Titchmarsh – and spending time outdoors with a four-legged companion can provide real joy for both of you. Dogs naturally love to sniff, dig and explore. With a little planning, you can enrich their garden experience and also ensure it’s a safe one.
A secure space
One of the first things to consider is whether your garden is secure. Dogs can be keen wanderers, especially if they catch a scent or hear an interesting noise, and many a pet has gone missing after slipping out of an open gate, squeezing through a hole in the hedge, digging beneath a fence or even making a jump for freedom.
Krista Grindley is a garden designer from London, and an RHS Silver Gilt Medal winner for her Hampton Court show garden. She’s also owner of a rescue dog from Romania called Fig, who loves following his nose and often accompanies her on her garden design jobs. ‘It sounds really obvious, but it’s so important to make sure your garden is secure,’ she says. ‘Wooden panel fencing about 6ft high, without a gap at the bottom, is best. You don’t have to leave it bare – you can plant a hedge in front of it or grow climbers up it to create a beautiful green boundary.’ If you already have hedging, reinforce the bottom with wire mesh to shore up any gaps. To keep this wildlife-friendly, think about cutting a few hedgehog-sized holes at the bottom to allow small animals through.
Krista points out that as well as preventing your dog from escaping, a secure boundary will stop other dogs from getting in. And make sure your gate is locked: it’s so easy for a visitor or delivery driver to accidentally leave them ajar.
‘If you adopt a dog, rescue centres often do a home-check first, and will want to make sure your garden is secure,’ adds Krista.
Avoid temptation
Unfortunately, there are plenty of plants and flowers that are toxic to dogs, as well as harmful to other pets like cats, rabbits and tortoises. Many pets aren’t particularly interested in eating plants, but puppies (and kittens) can be particularly vulnerable. Krista suggests it’s about knowing the personality of your dog and whether they are likely to chew, scratch or rub themselves against greenery. If in doubt, exercise caution.
Common plants that are toxic to dogs include daffodils, alliums, bluebells, lilies, foxgloves, lupins, euphorbia (spurge), rose laurel or oleander, hogweed, rhubarb leaves, gourds and plants from the onion family. This list is not exhaustive and it’s always best to do your homework before planting anything new.
Julia Morley is an emergency room doctor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the US, and loves to spend her spare time in her garden with her Cairn-chi-pom mix Simba and chihuahua Margot. She exclusively grows plants that are dog-friendly and ensures everything in her garden is non-toxic to her pets. ‘Pretty much everything that grows from a bulb is no good,’ she laughs. ‘I’m often stood in the garden centre looking at the internet before I buy anything.’ Websites such as the ASPCA (in the US) and the PDSA (in the UK) have lists of plants that are toxic to dogs.
And it’s not just plants and flowers that can pose a threat, trees can be tricky too. The berries and bark from yew trees are toxic, as are acorns from oak trees and the stones and pips from the fruit of apple and cherry trees. Again, this isn’t an exhaustive list. If you have a tree in your garden, it’s important to know what it is and what times of year it could be a danger to your dog from leaves, seeds or berries falling. Even the bark from some trees can cause poisoning, which is worth noting if your dog likes to chew sticks. Krista adds: ‘Avoid using chemicals in your garden too – weedkillers and slug pellets aren’t just terrible for wildlife, they’re dangerous for pets as well.’
The good life
Once you’ve ruled out the elements that could be harmful to your dog, it’s time to think about enrichment. There are lots of ways you can design a garden with your dog’s happiness in mind. Krista often advises clients to keep an area of lawn, because many dogs love to roll around on grass or eat it as a source of extra fibre. ‘Too much hard landscaping is a bit boring for dogs and can get really hot in the summer,’ she says. ‘Keeping a patch of long grass provides a soft place to lie on a warm day. Ryegrass is a good tough variety, and a clover lawn can be a good choice too.’
She also points out that dogs need a place to relieve themselves, adding: ‘You’re not going to have a perfectly pristine lawn if you own a dog.’ But she avoids fake grass, which contains chemicals that can leach into the soil along with microplastics and be toxic to pets and wildlife.
Consider providing varied textures for exploration, such as tall and short grasses, natural obstacles like logs and tree stumps, shrubs and shaded areas.
Dogs also love to dig. In fact, Krista has taught Fig to dig holes ready for her to plant in. ‘You could create a dig pit – a doggy sandpit for them to hide toys and treats,’ she says. ‘Having a dedicated space can help stop them digging up your flower beds.’
If you’re planning new design features, Krista advises taking note of how your dog already uses the garden. ‘Watch where your dog walks and plan around it,’ she suggests. ‘For example, Fig loves to patrol the perimeter. Leaving paths for them can help stop your borders getting trampled.’
Gardening together
Some gardeners choose to grow plants specifically with their pet in mind. Krista suggests herbs like rosemary and mint, which are safe for dogs, and they also enjoy the scent of lavender, although it can cause stomach upsets if eaten in large amounts. In Pittsburgh, Julia has gone a step further and planted a vegetable patch specifically for Simba and Margot to enjoy. ‘Everything I grow is with the expectation that the dogs are going to eat it,’ she says. ‘It’s brilliant enrichment for them – dogs are puzzle feeders and they love digging for the root vegetables like carrots and reaching up the vines for the sugar snap peas.’
Julia says she originally started her gardening journey growing flowers, and only began planting fruit and veg when she realised how good it was for her dogs. Now she grows peas on a low trellis so the dogs can reach and pull them down, cucumbers, sweet bell peppers – a real favourite – carrots and varieties of thornless raspberries and blueberries. She’d love to grow pumpkins, but her plot isn’t big enough.
‘I keep the vegetables fenced off so the dogs can’t eat them before they’re ripe, then when it’s harvest time I let them in and they absolutely love it,’ she smiles.
With a little bit of planning, keeping your dog entertained in the garden could help keep you entertained too!
Pet-friendly plants
UK charity The Dogs Trust suggests growing these dog-friendly options for your pooch.
- Great for cooking and dogs love its scent.
- Another herb dogs love to sniff.
- A cottage garden plant to brighten borders.
- Add a non-toxic pop of colour to flower beds.
- Fun for all the family to grow.
Find Krista Grindley at gardenseast11.com or @gardenseast
Follow Julia Morley at @lusealmanor