Pets and Plants - What should you know?

7 Things To Know When It Comes To Pets & Plants

Have you ever thinked about any negative effect that your plants might have on your pets? This is an important thing to consider when you are about to decorate your garden or backyard. Most plants do not fall under this category, but it's that 5% that we're gonna talk about today. I'll not cover all of them, but most commonly used ones. There are ways to protect your pets from these plants and still use them, but I will cover that in the end of article.

1. Philodendrons

Philodendron is a large genus of flowering plants in the Araceae family. There are many known species and you should make sure if some of them can harm your pets before you decide to plant them.

2. Chinese Evergreen

These are evergreen perennial herbs with stems growing erect or decumbent and creeping. It has a beautifull look but sometimes it  can turn deadly for your pets. Make sure to read more about them before including them in backyard decoration.

3. Lantana 

Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. Mostly found in tropical parts of the world, but with right care can be used worldwide. 

4. Rubber tree plants

Ficus elastica commonly called  rubber tree or rubber plant. These can harm your pets in many ways, make sure to read a lot before you purchase and plant them.

5. Succulents

Succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants that have some parts that are more than normally thickened and fleshy, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. Many popular succulents are poisonous to cats and dogs. 

6. Ivy

Most commonly used poisonous plant for gardens. Great look but with some bad ingridients for pets. Cats and dogs may feel sick after eating it.

7. Lilies

Lillies are one of the best plants to use in garden. However, they might come harmful to your pets, keep this in mind.

+3 Thing To Know - Protect Your Pets!

Now when I went through most commonly used poisonous plants for garden, it would make no sense to finish this article without providing a solution. Since these 7 plants can be great part of your backyard decoration, I've came up with 3, in my opinion, best solutions. These are all DIY type, and you can do each of them with very low budget. 

1. Plectranthus Caninus

Protect your pets from plants with - plants! This is my favourite one, since Plectranthus caninus (Coleus canina, Piss-off plant) is effective and still beautifull, and they fit perfectly in your garden. It's part of the mint family and it's used as a natural repellent to cats and dogs. It works in most cases, and I myself have been using this plant for more than 9 years. I encourage you to go with this method first. In case it doesn't go through, go on with next two methods. 

2. Coffee Grounds

Simple but effective way when it comes to protecting your cats. Just spread coffe grounds all over your garden and it will keep them away. Keep in mind that this is good solution for garden, for backyard purpouses go with my next tip. Makes no sense spreading coffe grounds all over your backyard.

3. Protect Plants Beds

To keep pets from lying down in flower beds, simply drive some short stakes into the ground throughout the bed. Don't worry, this will do no harm to your pets, and it will teach them to stay away from plants. 

This would be all for today posts, but make sure to tune-in for a few days where I'll be talking about some other usefull stuff. Make sure to bookmark - see you!