HALF PRICE SALE ENDS MIDNIGHT MONDAY OCTOBER 7TH
ORDER ONLINE OR CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM ON 01580 765600
HALF PRICE SALE ENDS MIDNIGHT MONDAY OCTOBER 7TH
ORDER ONLINE OR CALL OUR FRIENDLY TEAM ON 01580 765600
You are here: Home »
We all want to keep our pets safe, so you may be concerned that some hedges can be poisonous to dogs, horses or livestock.
Rest at ease – not all hedging varieties are poisonous. The problem is that many gardeners do not know which to watch out for. Here we will discuss which hedges are poisonous to animals and the best pet-friendly and livestock-friendly alternatives you can buy.
Several hedging varieties contain toxic compounds which, if ingested, could make dogs very ill. Here’s a list of the most common hedging species that are toxic to dogs:
Laurel hedging is infamously very poisonous to dogs. All parts of the plant are toxic (the berries and leaves both contain hydrogen cyanide) and this is true across all varieties. You may have heard that bay laurel is the only edible variety of laurel hedging, but while it is safe for humans, it’s still extremely toxic to dogs. To learn more, visit our knowledge base page Are Laurel Hedges Poisonous?
All parts of box hedging contain toxins that are harmful to dogs if ingested – which may result in stomach irritation or worse.. Of course, judge this by case, and take your dog to the vet immediately if you’re concerned. Not only are box hedges toxic, but if you happen to have a box caterpillar infestation, these are also very poisonous for dogs to eat, as they absorb harmful compounds from the foliage they feast on.
Yew is one of the most poisonous hedging species for dogs and can be fatal if ingested. This is because every part of the plant contains taxine, an extremely toxic compound that is particularly potent in the berries (which could look appealing to dogs or small children). While yew hedging is a hardy and fast-growing hedging variety great for most gardens, it isn’t an appropriate choice if you keep pets. To learn more, visit our knowledge base page Are Yew Trees Poisonous?
While Privet hedges are far less poisonous than Yew hedging, they can still be harmful. The berries specifically are poisonous, and while birds can eat them with no consequences, dogs can get very sick from eating them.
Several of the hedging species that are poisonous to dogs can also severely affect horses and livestock. You shouldn’t plant yew, privet or laurel hedges if you have any animals grazing on your land.
Other hedging plants that are poisonous to livestock and horses include:
Several plants to be wary of that are not used for hedging include ragwort, rhododendron, buttercups, and oak (the acorns specifically).
You may hear that you should avoid Blackthorn (Hawthorn) hedging plants, because the thorns can be damaging to horses if they try to graze on them. While this is true, Blackthorn hedging should not be avoided.
We pair a lot of our native hedging species with 50% Blackthorn hedging, as it is crucial to helping the hedges knit together. Not to mention, it is completely safe for horses (and livestock) to graze on the young shoots. Learn more about this on our Horse Friendly Hedges page.
While a number of popular hedging species are not suitable for people with animals, this isn’t the norm! There are a number of hedging varieties that are not only safe for animals to ingest, but could supplement their diets (especially for livestock).
If you want to ensure you’re Choosing the Right Hedge, here are several of our favourite pet-friendly hedging varieties:
These species are all popular with nesting birds and other wildlife, and make attractive additions to any garden without posing any risk to your furry friends!
It is always important to research the hedges in your garden to ensure they’re appropriate for your lifestyle – this list was not exhaustive, and if you own horses or livestock, there are hedging species that may be very toxic to other animals but are safe for dogs.
Find the best hedging varieties for your garden at Hopes Grove Nurseries. We have 30 years of expertise at our disposal, and our dedicated team are always happy to share our knowledge. Contact us today to learn more about our range.
