Backyard BOUNTY
Swap pricey treats for ones in your garden
Doggy day d spas, kitty ki cafés, liver treats and toys – Kiwis love their pets and go to great lengths to keep them happy.
But horticulture consultant Angie Thomas encourages owners to look in their own backyard before spending hundreds to please their pets.
“From dogs and cats to bunnies and birds, there’s a bunch of easy-to-grow plants and veges that will save you money and make your pets happy,” she says.
With guidance from vet Nathan Harris, Angie delves into what plants are best for what pets and why.
FOR RABBITS
Have a little DIY fun with your kids and pop in a vege patch or make a herb garden that will have your rabbit hopping with joy. Their diets should consist mainly of hay and grass, but bunnies can have up to 10% of their diet in veges and fruit. Plant safe goodies like celery, capsicum, pumpkin, alfalfa sprouts, pears, apricots and strawberries. Add a little more flavour and grow herbs such as dill, coriander and basil.
FOR BIRDS
Our feathered friends enjoy foraging for seeds, which you can grow yourself. Mix some bird seed into the top centimetre of potting mix in a pot, keep it moist and the seeds will sprout. Let the plants grow and develop seed heads, then place the pot inside the cage for the birds to nibble on. Did you know that 10-20% of a bird’s diet should also consist of fresh veges? Plant leafy greens such as kale, spinach and silverbeet in your garden.
FOR DOGS
Humans need a balanced diet full of fruits and veges, so why not share some with your canine? Safe fruits and veges (in small quantities) include strawberries, cooked pumpkin, lettuce, blueberries and finely chopped carrots. Got a nervous pup? A great way to calm dogs of all ages is to plant some lemon balm in a pot – they will drool over its soothing fragrance.
FOR C ATS
The Th reaction ti is i so far f unexplainable, yet catnip – a member of the mint family – triggers a pleasant feeling for your feline friend. Whether it’s on a windowsill, or a sunny or partly shaded spot outside, why not place some potted plants in your cat’s favourite area? They love nibbling on wheat or oat grass, also known as cat grass, which can have many positive effects for your pet, including aiding digestion and helping to control pesky fur balls!