61 – Fun with Fido in the Garden

While working the checkout table of a recent Friends of the Cookeville/Putnam County Animals fundraising event for the new Pet Care Campus (shameless plug – more donations still needed), Carolyn Whitson and I began to discuss gardening. It’s Spring and, for those of us who love the outdoors, it’s our chance to dig in the dirt with the hopes of producing flowers and vegetables that will fill our senses and our stomachs within the next few months. As animal lovers, we also discussed what we might plant that would also benefit our furry companions. Later in the week, Terry Acheson and I had a very similar discussion which also included brainstorming about problem behaviors, like digging, our dogs present when out in the yard. The final indication that this week’s column should involve pets and gardens and yards came from Mary Jo Gregson in an email warning pet owners to avoid cocoa mulch.

Tthis month’s issue of The Bark magazine contains articles on dogs and nature, assuring me Cookevillians who enjoy both pets and the garden are in good company nationwide. Indeed, a few years back, one of the bestselling books at Dogwise.com was Dog Friendly Gardens – Garden Friendly Dogs by Cheryl Smith, a dog trainer and master gardener (the book is still in publication). It is possible to have both a pet and a garden without losing your mind.

What should you plant in an area that will also be accessed by your dogs? Let’s start with the lawn, after all, dogs were designed to run and explore and roll in the grass. Let the dog yard be the one you don’t expect to look like the lawns at Biltmore. Clover provides a nice ground cover, doesn’t require a lot of water, and is soft on dogs’ feet. You won’t need to worry about weed killers or fertilizers, which may be harmful to your pet’s health. The site www.lawngrasses.com suggests Bermuda grass and perennial ryes as the best for yards that will experience high dog traffic. Be prepared for some wear and tear and don’t hesitate to turn a heavily traveled dog path into a mulched walkway if the grass gets beaten down in spite of your best efforts.

If you decide to put in a garden and that garden must share space with your pet, fencing can provide protection. Consider something temporary such as chicken wire. A more attractive alternative can be found at www.bestfriendfence.com, a company that produces an almost invisible fence for dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, and deer. It is also humane as it does not shock or cause pain.

What to plant in your garden? Plants that are reportedly non-toxic (should your pet decide to snack) include beets, cucumbers, carrots, corn, and okra. Be aware that some foods we eat routinely – tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, rhubarb – are produced on plants whose leaves or stems can be toxic for pets. The ASPCA Poison Control Center has a website - http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/ - that lists toxic and non-toxic plants. It’s also a good idea to jot down the phone number ((888) 426-4435) and post it in an obvious place as a precaution while you are at the site.

Another great idea would be to plant an herb garden in your pet’s area. Rosemary can be used to aid in repelling fleas. Peppermint smells great and can freshen your dog’s breath instantly. Fresh catnip will please most cats. The 2007 Herb of the Year was lemon balm. This easy to grow plant has a variety of uses including soothing upset stomachs, mosquito repellant, and arthritis aid. You can refer to the website http://www.heavenscentoils.net/lemon_balm.htm for an excellent article on this herb.

As always, pet owners do well to remember that our four-legged companions are much more susceptible to chemicals than are we. That makes it imperative for us to look for pet friendly solutions to problems in areas where our pets play. Search for specific remedies: diatomaceous earth (food grade only) for crawling insects, boiling water to kill weeds, tobacco teas or diluted dishwashing soap for plant pests. Jerry Baker (http://www.jerrybaker.net/garden/homepage.aspx) is a well-known master gardener whose books offer safe, homemade solutions to garden problems. Solutions are out there, just look!

Pets can present problems in the garden as well. For dogs who love to dig, build them their own sandbox. Bury a few toys, then teach them to dig on cue in this area. Bury chicken wire just under the surface of your garden to keep cats from turning it into their own personal litter boxes. Urine spots created by dogs are unsightly, so teach your dog to go in a specific spot to reduce the number of brown patches in your lawn. Plant large bushes next to a fence to keep your dog from wearing a path along the side of it. Raised garden beds can keep smaller dogs out of your vegetables and flowers.

Having a pet is not a reason to avoid gardening. Sharing a piece of the yard with your furry companion can be fun. Grow plants that will benefit both of you. There’s nothing quite as nice as spending time in the garden with your best four-footed friend!