The theme for National Gardening Week 2024 (29 April–5 May) is ‘Knowledge is Flower.’ All week, experts at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) will be on hand myth-busting, debunking and demystifying the wonderful world of gardening.
Dr Elizabeth Ormerod BVMS discusses potential risks to be aware of and ways to ensure gardens are safe for our pets.
Garden safety
Our gardens are our havens for play and relaxation. However, we need to be aware of potential risks for pets and children and take steps to mitigate these. Many widely grown plants are poisonous to a varying extent. These include, for example, daffodils, tulips, crocus, iris, cyclamen, bluebells, lilies, aconitum, periwinkle, hellebores, nerium, lupins, geranium and periwinkles. Store bulbs where pets can’t access them. Poisonous trees and shrubs include pampas grass, yew, azalea/rhododendron, ivy, oak, rowan, hydrangea and laburnum. These lists are not comprehensive – we suggest identifying your garden plants. You may consider avoiding or removing any that are very poisonous.
Water features enhance our gardens and are very important for wildlife, but special care must be taken with their planning. A means of escape must be provided for pets and wild animals that may fall into ponds. Wildlife ponds should have shallow sides. Ponds can be fenced and covered with strong netting or metal frameworks. Even shallow water can be a risk to young children and weak animals.
Take extra care if using toxic chemicals and secure them safely. These include rodenticides, slug bait, insecticides, herbicides (NB paraquat was banned in UK in 2007, but still used in some countries), creosote, antifreeze, window wiper fluid, fertiliser. Check out and use safer alternatives. Antifreeze made from propylene glycol is safe – use this instead of ethylene glycol which is extremely toxic, small amounts can be lethal to pets and children. We do not advise ever using metaldehyde slug bait or rodenticides – these chemicals are too dangerous to use. Many pets are killed by these, and thankfully metaldehyde slug pellets were banned in UK in 2022.
Activities such as tree felling, chain sawing, log splitting, grass mowing, strimming, pruning etc pose risks to unwary pets and children – ensure they are kept safely indoors.
Gardens should be fenced securely to prevent pets straying. Building a catio to prevent pets straying brings peace of mind.
Indoor plants that are poisonous include the jade plant, philodendron species, aloe, peace lily, mother-in-law’s tongue, cacti, caladium, poinsettia and ivy. Provide pets with cat grass to divert them from eating your house plants.
If you suspect a pet has ingested a plant, or a chemical and you know, or are unsure if it’s poisonous, phone your veterinarian. Prompt treatment is important. If going to the surgery take a large sample of the entire plant with you to aid its identification, or the chemical container with its label. If necessary, your veterinarian can get advice form the Veterinary Poisons Information Centre (VPIS). This was established and has been collating information since 1992.