A border plan for homes with dogs and cats
Tell us you have dogs or cats and we'll leave out plants on our list that are known to be harmful if eaten, or harmful to cats. It's included in every plan at no extra cost.
What you'll get in this style
How we plan a border for homes with dogs and cats
We record safety information for every plant on our list. Tell us you have dogs or cats and we leave out plants on our list known to be harmful if eaten. If you have cats, we also leave out lilies and daylilies. If you have young children, we leave out thorny and spiny plants too. That still leaves plenty of choice, such as hebe, escallonia, hardy fuchsia, catmint, hardy geraniums, lady's mantle, scabious and many grasses, depending on your sun and soil.
Tips for a garden with pets
- Watch puppies and young dogs. They chew more than older dogs, so keep an eye on them in a new border.
- Check labels on anything you add later. Your plan covers the plants we choose, not plants bought separately.
- Use a low edge or path. It helps keep dogs off young plants while they settle in.
- Ask your vet if you're worried. If you think your pet has eaten something harmful, contact your vet straight away.
A real example
A 4 metre part-shade cottage border on loam soil, facing south-east.
- 1Wall bellflower
- 2Lungwort
- 3Masterwort
- 4Bergamot
- 5Purple loosestrife
- 6Border phlox
- 7Black-eyed Susan
- 8Christmas box
- 9Camassia
- 10Clematis
| Plant | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wall bellflower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 2. Lungwort | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 3. Masterwort | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 4. Bergamot | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 5. Purple loosestrife | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 6. Border phlox | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 7. Black-eyed Susan | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 8. Christmas box | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower |
| 9. Camassia | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
| 10. Clematis | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | In flower | In flower | In flower | Not in flower | Not in flower | Not in flower |
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