How to Create a Pet-Friendly Garden

At first glance, this garden is lovely to behold; however, it contains one of the most deadly plants known to animals – the sago palm. In 2009, pet insurers Trupanion paid a claim for a dog that was poisoned by the sago palm.  “The sago palm is particularly toxic to pets causing vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and leads to liver failure,” Dr. Kerri Marshall, Chief Veterinary Officer for Trupanion told HGTV. “An estimated 75% of animals die from ingestion of any part of the plant despite medical treatment. That is why we are sounding the warning bell on this toxic plant again.”  For this garden to be pet-friendly, the sago palms at the right and left and all their debris would need to be completely removed. 

As you can see, this garden in Seattle was once a bit of a downer. Not only was our furry friend here tracking in mud, but also every time it rained, elements of the yard washed down this slope. The owners called in Northwest Botanicals to create a new space for the whole family.   “When we take on a project, we like to go out and meet the animals for which we are designing the garden,” says Pat Reh of Northwest. “And it seems like there are a lot of large dogs here in Seattle. They need special consideration when designing their domain.”  

Since it rains so much in Seattle, drainage is always a concern. Not only is standing water potentially dangerous for your pet, there’s also mud to consider. This after shot is of a garden created by Dennis Hopkins of Northwest Botanicals. “We advise creating dry streambeds, especially around downspouts, with natural rocks,” says Pat Reh. “We use a lot of mulch, woodchips and bark and especially cedar chips for drainage. Dogs seem to like the smell of the cedar chips.”  Rocks also can prevent your dog from digging.

Pet Reh says they pay careful attention to a dog’s personality and their needs before tackling a project. This Seattle pup enjoys the shade in her garden that was designed with her in mind by Dennis Hopkins of Northwest Botanicals.