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Replacement for pieris japonica

emandmillieemandmillie Posts: 1
in Plants
I am about to pick up my new puppy&need to rid my garden of plants that are toxic as she's likely to chew everything.  I have a lovely mature pieris japonica and I love the white and pink colours you get off it but I'm going to have to get rid of it in case she eats it.  Anyone got any alternatives that are not toxic to dog but are colourful  and evergreen if possible.

I'm new to gardening so any help very much appreciated!  Cheers Emma

Posts

  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    edited September 2018
    I grow a lot of plants that have been said to be toxic in one way or another. I have also had several puppies, kittens and kids. There were never any problems. Maybe i was lucky. 

    My dog is now 9 and as a pup he liked to do 'reverse' gardening as he would pull out anything I planted! 

    I do understand that you are concerned but in my opinion the dangers are over rated. Queue someone to tell me their animal died from plant toxicity. I don't leave dogs unattended in the garden though. 

    But to answer your question, as you can grow a pieris then I would suggest considering an acer (Japanese maple). 


  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    My puppies were prodigious chewers (and still are) but they never paid any attention to plants in the garden. Sheep poo, lovely, sofa cushions great, but in the garden they only eat grass.
  • adrian_maidmentadrian_maidment Posts: 41
    My wife is a veterinary nurse and I've never heard her mention dogs (or cats) that have been made ill by plants in the owners garden. There are so many 'toxic' plants that are everywhere, if it was an issue it would happen regularly.

    I've heard of some taken ill when out on walks in woods from eating unknown things, or cats from lillies in flower bouquets, plus labradors eating all kinds of things inside the house.

    Maybe try to find a simple way to keep the puppy away from it in the short term and chances are it'll never find it that interesting!
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