Pet-friendly plants for small balcony garden?

[Lettie]

Hi, we have a small balcony garden and I’d like to put some plants out there that are safe for a dog and hardy for a curious 2yo. 

Some options for miniature/dwarf trees, hedge plants and I’ll will also incorporate some herbs. Could input them in the same pot?

I live in Sydney city and we get the morning sun until about 11am. 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Lettie. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about creating a balcony garden.

Creating a pet-friendly balcony garden is a great idea. For miniature or dwarf trees, options include Dwarf Magnolia (Magnolia 'Little Gem'), which is a compact evergreen with glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers. For hedges, consider Lilly Pilly (Syzygium smithii), which grows quickly and provides dense foliage. Safe herbs to incorporate include Basil, Mint, Thyme, and Oregano, all of which are hardy, aromatic, and suitable for containers.

These plants can often be combined in the same pot as long as they share similar sunlight and water requirements. For example, a dwarf Magnolia can be paired with small herbs like basil or thyme in a larger container, ensuring they have enough room to grow. 

When arranging your balcony garden, it is important to consider safety, particularly with young children. Balcony railings have a regulated height, and placing pots or garden beds next to them can provide climbing opportunities, reducing the effective height of the railing and creating a fall hazard. Ensure that your greenery does not create access routes over the balcony, keeping your child safe while still enjoying a lush, pet-friendly garden.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[Petsafegarden]

While the majority of recommendations in this post are accurate and petsafe, three are not. For a comprehensive list of safe and toxic plants, the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants list is an excellent resource. 

The following plants in this article are considered toxic (toxic means that ingesting any part of the plant can cause a range of adverse health effects, from mild irritation to severe illness, organ failure, and in some cases, even death)or significant irritants for pets and should be avoided:
- Frangipani (Plumeria): This plant contains an irritating milky sap that can cause drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea if ingested.
- Japanese Box (Buxus microphylla): This plant contains toxic alkaloids throughout its structure. Ingestion can lead to severe vomiting and diarrhea, and in rare cases, more serious symptoms.
-Dwarf Pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum'): This plant has the potential to cause gastrointestinal upset if consumed by pets.

[EricL]

Hello @Petsafegarden 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's wonderful to have you join us.

Thank you for spotting those plants and updating our pet friendly plant list. I'll be updating the list as soon as possible.

Again, thank you for sharing your knowledge with the community.   

Eric

[Lettie]

Thank you so much for this. I was considering the Japanese box but ill

now take it off my list.