If you have pets and love your plants then you’re probably already aware of the various health risks that certain species of flower and shrubbery can have on your beloved furry companion. If you have pets but don’t know much about the wonderful world of horticulture, then you might be wondering whether pets and plant walls are compatible. Either way, it is understandable that you would have some concerns about making sure both are safe from the other.
But, as plant experts, Walls of Plants know how to design and build plant walls that work for everyone in your home.
1. Position it out of reach
One of our first suggestions for creating a plant wall installation that is safe for and from your pets is to position it out of their reach. Whether internal or external, positioning it high up on a wall will stop them from accidentally ingesting the leaves, or climbing to get to them.
This can be a bit of a challenge if you have cats because they are notorious climbers and adventurers, but finding a surface they can’t jump up to will keep them safe.
If you want a plant wall installed but are concerned about it being within reach, we would recommend only choosing plants that are safe for your pet. This will differ depending on the animal, so it’s really important to do your research.
We will discuss this further below.
2. Keep on top of pruning and maintenance
It might not seem like the most obvious piece of advice, but keeping on top of maintenance and pruning can help keep your pets safe. Animals have excellent intuition and are unlikely to ingest plants that are harmful to them, but if a rogue leaf falls onto the floor, it’s only natural for them to show curiosity. In this instance, they may end up accidentally eating it, getting it stuck on their paws or dunking it in their water bowl.
This is rare, but if you do have a highly positioned plant wall with plants that could be toxic to pets, it’s really important to keep on top of pruning to prevent this.
Likewise, overgrowth can accidentally get in the path of swiping paws or grabby teeth, and if they manage to gain leverage and pull the plants from the structure, then your plant wall could become the unwitting victim.
For the sake of both your plant wall and your pets, it’s best to set up a regular pruning schedule.
3. Pest control
Some common pests like slugs and snails can be harmful to dogs and cats, as can methods of preventing them.
To keep your plants free from pests, preventative measures are always the best option, and there are plenty of natural forms of pest control that won’t harm any furry friends that live in your home or frequent your garden:
- Choosing healthy plants: Checking to make sure the plants you bring home or select for your plant wall are free from pests from the start is an excellent way of preventing them from accessing your home in the first place. Choose reputable shops.
- Water according to the plant’s needs: Overwatering creates damp soil that will attract pests. Plant walls with built in feeding and watering systems will ensure your plants are healthy and pest free.
- Push good circulation: Good air flow through the house helps deter pests.
- Keep them clean: Pruning and cleaning helps eliminate breeding grounds for pests and identify any eggs before they become a problem.
- Use natural pesticides: Organic and natural pest controls aren’t harmful to your pets and will help keep pests away.
4. Choose pet friendly plants
By far, the most effective way to create a plant wall that is safe for pets is to choose non toxic plants. That way, you won’t need to worry so much about positioning your plant wall, or excessively pruning if you want something low maintenance and easy. It is also always best to err on the side of caution and avoid toxic plants in your pet’s environment.
But this doesn’t mean you have to rule out a plant wall altogether. There are plenty of plants that are non toxic and still look beautiful.
Again, it is important to note that this differs depending on the animal, so we’ve listed a few plants below that are safe and definitely not safe for the most common indoor pets:
Safe plants for dogs
Indoor plants
| Non-Toxic Plants | Toxic Plants |
| Fatsia Japonica
Spider plants Boston fern Peperomia Prayer plants Polka dot (in small quantities) |
Monstera
Peace Lilies Anthurium Ivy Philodendron Epipremnum |
Outdoor plants
| Non-Toxic Plants | Toxic Plants |
| Heuchera
Hebe Carex Heather Festuce Lavender (small quantities) |
Ivy
Cineraria Fatsia Japonica Salvia Bergenia (fatal) Aubrieta (toxicity unknown) |
Safe plants for cats
Indoor plants
| Non-Toxic Plants | Toxic Plants |
| Fatsia Japonica
Spider plants Boston Fern Peperomia Prayer plants Polka dot (in small quantities) |
Monstera
Peace Lilies Anthurium Ivy Philodendron Epipremnum |
Outdoor plants
| Non-Toxic Plants | Toxic Plants |
| Heuchera
Carex Heather Festuce Salvia Lavender (small quantities) |
Hebe
Ivy Cineraria Fatsia Japonica Bergenia (fatal) Aubrieta (toxicity unknown) |
5. Turn it into a climbing space
This might take some clever design and engineering, but it is possible to turn your plant wall into a climbing frame for cats by scattering podiums and climbing frames around the installation. You could also buy multiple smaller plant walls and scatter them with climbing structures in between.
This can be a really great use of space, externally or internally, that keeps your cats entertained whilst also beautifying your property.
A plant wall climbing space goes beyond being pet friendly and diverts you into being pet centered.
We would recommend the following tips if you are considering doing this:
- Make sure every plant you use is pet safe
- Invest in a plant wall with a self feeding and watering system to avoid disturbing the structure
- Use wide ledges and shelves over the top of the plant walls
- Check your cat’s climbing habits and plan around them
6. Use natural fertilisers
If you have plants around your pets, regardless of where they are, it is crucial that you use natural, organic, and chemical free fertilisers. Chemicals can poison animals, and even in small quantities these can be very dangerous.
This may only apply if you have an external plant wall, and good quality installation teams will only install plants with well fertilised soil, for the health of your plants. This also contributes to the health of any pets who may have the occasional nibble.
If you have any concerns, speak with the suppliers or horticultural experts and they can give you all the information you need.
7. Use a secure wall
Regardless of whether or not you have pets, you should always choose a secure surface for your plant wall. Ideally, load bearing walls are the most sturdy, and if any cats decide to have a play, you can rest assured that they’re not going to disturb it or cause any issues with how it’s attached to the wall.
If you’re looking to spruce up your interior design with the addition of a living wall, but need it to be safe for your furry companions, then Walls of Plants are just who you’re looking for.
Our GreenWalls are designed for low-maintenance planting so that you can get the luxury look without the trouble. Our battery powered manual feed system is designed to automatically feed and water your plants, so you don’t have to, and our horticultural expert can advise you on the best low-maintenance plants and arrangements to keep both garden and gardener happy.
