I’m a gardening expert – dog owners should avoid growing these 7 plants in your garden

Gardens often reflect our personal tastes – favourite colours, flowers, and furniture. But if you have a dog, their needs should be factored in too. Here’s how to create a garden that’s beautiful and pet-friendly.

SHADY SPOTS
Gardens are great for dogs, but they also need a place to rest, especially in summer, out of the sun. A resting kennel is an excellent option, whether purchased or homemade, placed in a shaded spot to stay cool and dry. Add a comfy bed or cooling mat for extra comfort. If space is limited, trees or other shaded areas can offer relief from the sun. Alternatively, make sure there’s a tree offering shade as a resting spot.

SAFE SPACES
Ensuring your dog enjoys the garden is important but keeping them safe is essential. Regularly check fences and borders for gaps, and if your dog digs, consider installing dig barriers beneath the fence to prevent escape attempts.

PET-SAFE PLANTS FOR WORRY-FREE GARDENING
There are plenty of plants that have no issues for dogs, but there are also quite a few toxic ones to avoid. If your dog is snack-happy, eating anything and everything in the garden, you need to make sure there is nothing nasty out there. If they are toxic, it may be worth considering replacing them, or replanting them in containers or areas your dog can’t reach. Species like autumn crocus, azalea, bluebells, common poppy, crocuses, daffs and foxgloves are all toxic.

But don’t panic, as most dogs will avoid eating dangerous plants. There are many non-toxic alternatives you can grow. Check in with your vet if you’re not sure if a plant is safe, or if you suspect your dog has eaten something they shouldn’t have. You can visit my website daviddomoney.com for more details.

PAW-PROOF GROUND
Dogs love to run, and “zoomies”, as sudden bursts of energy are dubbed, can take a toll on your lawn. Opt for a hardy variety like perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne),which recovers quickly from wear and tear.It is sold as “play lawn” or “tuffgrass”. Dog urine contains high nitrogen levels, especially in females, which can cause brown patches. Ensure your dog stays hydrated to dilute urine naturally. Another simple fix is to pour waterover the spot immediately after they relieve themselves, reducing nitrogen build-up in the soil. By making a few thoughtful adjustments, you can create a garden that both you and your dog can enjoy.

1. Pricking out tomatoes ensures strong, healthy plants. Once seedlings develop their first true leaves, gently lift them by the leaves (not stems) using a dibber or spoon.

Transplant into individual pots with fresh compost, burying up to the first leaves. Water well and keep in a warm, bright spot. Find out some great tomato-growing advice at my YouTube channel@daviddomoney.

2. Sow celery seeds indoors in early spring. Scatter finely over moist, peat-free compost in seed trays, as they need light to germinate. Cover lightly with vermiculite, keep warm (15-18C), and maintain humidity. Once seedlings emerge, transplant them into individual pots.

3 Regularly check fruit netting for holes to protect crops from birds and pests. Inspect for damage, especially after storms or storage. Repair small tears with garden twine or netting clips, replacing larger sections if needed. Secure edges firmly to prevent access. Well-maintained netting ensures a successful, undisturbed harvest, and birds are less likely to get trapped. Keep nets off the ground by 22-30cm so hedgehogs don’t get tangled.

4. Hoeing garden borders controls weeds such as annual chickweed, speedwell and bittercress. Use an Ames Dutch hoe for slicing weeds at the soil surface or a draw hoe for deeper-rooted weeds.Hoe on dry days to prevent regrowth, keeping blades sharp. Regular hoeing prevents competition, keeping plants healthy and thriving.

5. Install bird boxes in early spring to provide nesting sites for birds. Position them two to four metres high on a tree or wall, in a sheltered site away from prevailing winds, facing north or east to avoid any strong sunshine and rain.

Ensure a clear flight path and minimal disturbance and also beware strong sunshine which can cause overheating.

Hardy evergreen shrub elaeagnus, or oleaster, is known for its glossy, variegated foliage andsweet-scented autumn flowers. Elaeagnus x submacrophylla ‘Maryline’ offers striking green leaves edged with bright gold, adding bold structure to borders and screens. In mild areas, April is still a good time to plant –especially with regular watering and a layer of mulch to help roots settle in. Elaeagnus thrives in sun or partial shade and handles wind, salt and dry conditions with ease, making it ideal for coastal or exposed gardens.

The real reward comes later. In autumn, ‘Maryline’ produces small, silvery flowers hidden among leaves, releasing a surprisingly rich, sweet scent. Its evergreen foliage stays vibrant in winter, bringing structure and colour when other plants have faded. Prune after flowering to maintain shape, and take semi-ripe cuttings in summer for easy propagation. Though subtle at first, Elaeagnus truly shines from autumn onwards, making spring planting a worthwhile investment.

A specific variety of aubergine, Solanum melongena, has quite an interesting meaning. Melongena comes from the Italian melanzane, which roughly translates to mean “mad apple”.

There are more than 60,000 different species of tree recorded worldwide. This seems like a particularly large number when compared to the 60 native species we have in the UK.

Throughout history, chard has been credited with helping several ailments. Among these, are dandruff, jaundice and even toothache. Now, however, we know a chard-rich diet canhelp with obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Lily of the valley is quite a romantic plant. It has long been thought to bring luck to people in love and as a result, it has been commonly featured in wedding bouquets, including Grace Kelly andKate Middleton.

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