Keeping the Garden Pet-Safe: A Grower's Guide

If you've got a dog who investigates every new smell on the patio, or a cat who treats the Farmstand like a personal salad bar, this one's for you. A few varieties are worth extra consideration when you're growing around pets. Here's what to know, based on the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant guidance, so you can plan your layout with curious paws in mind.

Keep these out of paw's reach

Alliums: Garlic Chives, Purly Chives, Bunching Onions

Plants in the allium family—including onions, garlic and chives—can be toxic to both dogs and cats if ingested. That doesn't necessarily mean skipping them. If your pet is prone to nibbling, consider placing them higher on your Farmstand or somewhere your pet can't access.

Tomato Plants

Tomato plants are also considered toxic to dogs and cats—but there's an important distinction: the ASPCA lists ripe tomato fruit as non-toxic. It's the plant itself, along with unripe tomatoes, that you don't want a curious pet chewing on.

In other words, a dog stealing a ripe cherry tomato is different from a dog snacking on the vine. Keep the plant itself out of reach and clean up leaves or trimmings as you prune.

Pet-friendly picks

Good news: the ASPCA lists both cucumber and alyssum as non-toxic to dogs and cats.

Of course, "non-toxic" doesn't mean "all-you-can-eat salad bar." Eating a large amount of any unfamiliar plant material can potentially upset a pet's stomach, so it's still a good idea to discourage garden grazing.

A few ways to garden with pets in mind

• Go vertical. Keep plants of concern higher up and out of reach.

• Group strategically. Place alliums and tomato plants in less accessible spots and save paw-height openings for pet-friendly varieties.

• Clean up as you go. Fallen leaves, pruned stems and other trimmings can be especially tempting to curious pets.

• Check before you plant. If you're growing something beyond this list, the ASPCA maintains a searchable database of toxic and non-toxic plants that's worth bookmarking.

If your pet gets into something

If you suspect your pet has eaten a potentially toxic plant, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Keep the plant or variety name handy so you can tell them exactly what your pet may have eaten.

This guide is intended as general educational information and isn't a substitute for veterinary advice. Individual pets can react differently, so consult your veterinarian with questions specific to your pet.