Ground Breaking Banter - Rick
Owning a pet and having a garden kind of go hand-in-hand – after all, both are home-based pursuits, and especially if you have a dog, they’re going to need to go outside and you might as well make the space more enjoyable for you both. But there are many concerns: the damage dogs can cause to plants just as they go about their daily business, never mind what can happen if you have a puppy or naturally curious dog who wants to sniff, nibble, or just plain scarf your plants. But it is possible to coexist happily, and safely, and that’s what this episode is dedicated to.
If there’s one thing that we want pet owners (and parents of human children, for that matter) to know, it’s how to find reliable, trustworthy information on whether a plant is toxic, and if it is, which parts are toxic and what effect they may have. The best way to find out if a plant is toxic is this: search for it by its scientific name, add the words “toxic,” and “dogs,” and at the end, type in these words: site:.edu. So, for example, a search to find out if today’s plant on trial is toxic would look liked this:
abelia toxic dogs site:.edu
The .edu limits your search results to just university websites, so they will come from veterinary programs. Not only do such results give you more confidence in their information, they include much more information about which parts of the plant may be toxic, the severity of any toxicity, and what organs may be affected and in what ways. Having this information if you suspect or witness your pet eating a plant can make a huge difference in getting proper treatment if your pet nibbles a plant.
Overall, however, it’s best to assume all plants are toxic and to discourage your pets from eating anything in the garden. Further, be careful to clean up sticks, branchlets, and leaves that you have pruned off – many dogs love to play with sticks, and it may be dangerous if the stick comes from a toxic plant, like a yew.
Join us on your favorite podcast platform or at the YouTube link above to hear our whole conversation on making a dog-friendly garden and yard.
You’ve got to be tough to live in New York City as a human, and you’ve got to be tough to live in New York City as a plant, too. Especially if you’re a plant in a public park or in one of the narrow borders planted just outside an apartment building and will be frequently visited by dogs. In my time as a rooftop gardener in NYC (where I also cared for those landscapes around the buildings) as well as a public gardener in Central Park, I have seen a LOT of plants die from overuse by dogs. The salts in dog urine are an issue, and what’s more is the temperature. Especially on a hot summer day in the city, when the plant is likely already stressed, getting sprayed with fresh urine is not exactly going to be a refreshing moment for a plant. But one shrub gets planted over and over again for its ability to tolerate the myriad challenges of city life while still looking pretty great is abelia.
Today’s plant on trial is Funshine abelia, a newer variety that, to my knowledge, has not yet been extensively planted in cities. But the genus is an old reliable. If you’re not familiar with this species, it may be because for many years, it was thought to not be very cold tolerant. But whether due to changing climates or people becoming a little more daring when it comes to trying new plants, abelia is being more widely planted, too. Funshine abelia is hardy down to USDA zone 6 and heat tolerant through USDA zone 9. It does just fine for us here in West Michigan and I wouldn’t be surprised if it could grow in USDA zone 5 if planted carefully in a protected spot.
What makes Funshine abelia distinctive is its bright gold and orange foliage. Its small, glossy, and very colorful, and it’s semi-evergreen. I think that its natural glossiness is part of what makes it resistant to dog urine: it helps protect the leaf. The leaves are also smooth, so have less surface area for urine to collect on. The foliage on this plant emerges orange and with a bright red stem, before going to yellow then eventually chartreuse. It’s a very colorful and dynamic display and is an excellent way to bring some color to the shade. In summer, it produces dozens of purple, bell-shaped blooms which are fragrant. It’s not exactly pass by it and it’ll knock your socks off fragrant, but strong enough to be worth mentioning and especially welcome in the city where summer can use all the good smells it can get.
Funshine abelia reaches 2-3’ tall and wide and naturally grows as a tidy mound. It’s ideal as a low hedge or edging plant, not least of all because it can withstand those immediate, “I’m finally out of the house!” reactions that dogs so often have. It’s also deer resistant and a favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds.
If you’d like to add Funshine abelia – or any of the 320+ Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs – to your garden or landscape, you’ll find a list of local retailers here.
Gardening Mail Bag - Stacey
In this episode, our dog-owning listeners do the talking! Read on to meet their pups and discover how they manage to still have a garden they love (almost as much as they love their dogs!).
Elaine shares:
Fencing has been a true game-changer for me and my garden!
My sweet but clumsy 95lb Goldendoodle, Marigold, used to trample all over my plants without a care in the world! I tried stakes and twine and she still broke through. Early this spring I invested into sturdy metal fencing that’s about 3 feet tall, as a perimeter around my perennial beds in my back yard. This has been perfect for keeping Marigold from squashing my plants while still being able to play a game of fetch!
For my vegetable garden, as you can see in the picture, I went a step further and added a 4-foot picket fence. This barrier has proven to be incredibly effective in safeguarding my veggies from her playful paws.
Since installing the fencing, I can relax in my backyard and Miss Marigold can enjoy her outdoor time! It’s been a win-win for both of us!
If you’re dealing with a similar situation, I highly recommend investing in some quality fencing. It’s made a world of difference for us!
Briana writes:
My name is Bri and my husband is Marshal. We are zone 8b gardeners. Attached are pictures of our dog, Ellie, and she is the best gardening buddy. Anytime we are out gardening, she wants to be with us. Her favorite things while we garden are playing fetch with her FAVORITE ball, getting pets, or snoozing in a sunny spot.
We trained her not to go in the garden beds. To her, they are “off limits.” Early on, we did not even let her be outside alone to get into trouble. We used A LOT of positive reinforcement (boiled chicken is her favorite) and rewarded her for staying out of the garden beds. It took time, but now, even if her favorite ball rolls into the garden beds, or if she is chasing a squirrel, she doesn’t go into the garden. She is a very high-energy dog, so we always make sure that she gets enough exercise and mental stimulation.
We have some of the less toxic plants in our garden (tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, chrysanthemums) because the garden bed is “off limits” to her, so she doesn’t dig or eat the plants. However, we do make sure to keep any dead foliage or leaves picked up. If she had a problem with eating plants though, we would not have them.
However, some highly toxic plants we completely avoid (and my husband recommends others to do the same)
– sago palms: can cause liver failure and death
– oleander: ingesting small amounts can cause death
– lilies: This is actually for cats, but even the pollen can cause kidney failure and death. We don’t get lilies in flower bouquets because of how toxic they are for cats.
(Note from the Gardening Simplified crew: We plan to have Marshal on in a future show to talk about what pet owners should do if their pet eats a plant, and what information they should have handy to ensure they get the best care). Here’s Ellie:
And here’s some advice from Julie:
Hi, I’m sending what I do to keep my garden and lawn looking good with two dogs.
After seeing the damage my male dog was doing. I started training them both to go number one in a certain area before they get access to the yard. They are anxious to get out so they will hurry up and do their business with the verbal cue. Now sometimes they will go again a second time out in the yard, but it’s very rare. I don’t mind number two, just number one that does the damage.
I have included a picture of the little area behind our garage that I have playground wood chips on for them to go. And then also a picture of them out and about enjoying the yard.
I have also sent a third picture of my sons dog last year when I was dog sitting. He found a nice comfy spot on my annuals to lay down on. It always makes me laugh when I see that picture.
Do you have a question for us? We’re happy to help! E-mail us or use the contact tab above. Due to high volume, we may not get to your question, so if you need an answer quickly, please reach out via the Proven Winners website.
Branching News - Rick
Neither Rick nor Stacey are dog owners, but Adriana is! That’s why we turn the rest of the show over to her to share how she manages to have a garden – and a vegetable garden – despite sharing her backyard with her two dogs, Sage and Atlas. Join us on YouTube to see more of Adriana’s two adorable pups and to hear how she uses IPM – that’s Integrated Pup Management, in this case – to keep her dogs and plants safe.
