It’s springtime and it’s time to figure out what, if anything, you’re going to do with your yard this year. You definitely want to make it enjoyable for every member of your family. That includes your pets, who may spend the most quality time investigating and relaxing on your property than anybody else.
Designing a yard that will let your dogs and cats thrive outside will involve some careful plant selection and some protective measures to separate your animals from your more tender plants, but you can still have a beguiling backyard to enjoy with your furry and comparatively hairless companions.
POTENTIAL PROBLEM PLANTS
Nearly all plants contain some substances that can become toxic to dogs and cats if they’re overconsumed, but there are some that you genuinely need to consider leaving out of your garden plan to keep pets safe in your yard:
Lilies
It’s pretty widely known these lovely plants are poisonous to cats, with small amounts of any part of the plant able to cause their kidneys to fail. Their toxicity to dogs may be less well known but needs to be kept in mind. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and even more severe poisoning.
A more pet-friendly alternative is catnip, which cats can go nuts over (individuals’ mileage may vary) and dogs will probably have no reaction to unless they get a little sleepy. Sunflowers and snapdragons are also pet-friendly and grow well in our Central Highlands climate.
Rhododendrons
Some varieties of this colorful plant can do well in Prescott, but they won’t do well by your pets, unfortunately. Grayanotoxins are chemical compounds found in their leaves, nectar and twigs that are highly toxic to dogs, cats and humans alike.
A better choice for pets and our local climate is spirea, which is drought-tolerant once established and grows well in most soils. Flowers come in mauve, pink or red and attract butterflies and other pollinators that will add entertainment value for animals and humans alike. Just be careful around bees!
Indian paintbrush
This beautiful red-blossomed plant is native to the Southwest and thrives in our mountain climate, so it’s usually a good choice. But most plants contain concentrated stores of selenium, which in these high doses can cause heart, lung and nerve damage, so keep it out of your yard if you can.
For a native, drought-tolerant plant that will add beauty without causing this kind of harm consider blanket flowers, which generate vivid flowers, many sporting more than one hue. They may cause skin irritation to animals that brush against it, particularly small animals, but it’s generally considered safe for pets.
Grasses
Most widely available grasses don’t pose much of a threat to pets, but there are a few commonly used ones out here that are more of a concern for cats than dogs, including Bermuda grass and fescue.
All pet owners should avoid foxtail barley, rye, wheat and similar varieties that have “awns,” or small seedheads with V-shaped bristles. They burrow deeply into fur, skin and even organs, leading to pain, infections or even death.
KEEP TOOLS, MULCHES, CHEMICALS SECURE
Sharp gardening tools like shears, trimmers, rakes and shovels can all be hazardous to unsuspecting pets, so don’t forget to gather them up and put them in a shed or somewhere else secure. Use pet-safe pest and weed control products for your yard, but make sure to keep those containers locked up.
Organic wood-chip mulch is fine for pets, but cocoa bean mulch is toxic to dogs and cats, along with mulches treated with chemicals and composted or moldy materials — keep your compost secured in a bin. Hemlock tree bark mulch is fine, but don’t get it confused with the poisonous hemlock plant.
LEARNING TO SHARE
As much as you and your furbabies love each other, your visions for your backyard aren’t always going to line up: you’re picturing a luxuriant lawn or a bed of vibrant, pet-safe flowers while your four-legged buds dig big dirty holes or deposit their waste.
You can come to a reasonable compromise by carving out “zones” in your yard for different activities that will keep everybody happy.
Areas on the edges of your yard can be set aside for digging in sand or loose dirt, playing around tunnels and other agility equipment, splashing around in shallow, safe kiddie pools — just make sure to provide some shade from trees or structures like canopies or pergolas. Choose another spot and train your dogs to use it for potty breaks, and consider placing a sandbox to draw your cats’ interest in leaving their deposits in that spot.
Dogs with strong inclinations to dig present a real challenge to homeowners maintaining lawns or gardens, but there are ways to at least contain if not eliminate the issue.
Tiring your pet out with other forms of play can reduce their interest, since digging is often done out of boredom. Remove any burrowing critters that are attracting their hunting instincts. If that doesn’t help, setting up a digging pit of sand or soil to divert their energy may be enough.
If you have a veggie garden that you need to particularly protect from predatory paws, you can sprinkle the soil with spices like red pepper flakes or powdered mustard, which will deter your pets without affecting the plants’ growth.
You can also spray the plants with white vinegar or apple bitter spray to repel animals from your garden bed. You can put gravel on top of the soil when you’re done planting or consider some type of fencing as a last resort.
In any case, you can consider adding a sensory garden with pet-safe herbs like mint and lavender to give your animals a pleasant-smelling refuge where they can explore and relax. If there’s room you can add textured pathways, beds of hay, tiered levels to climb and even a squirrel or bird feeder for entertainment — hung out of your canine’s reach so they can be enjoyed safely by the wildlife.
