a garden that's great for everyone
We hope you've been as obsessed with Monty Don's debut garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden as we are. After all, what could be better than a joyous, tail-wagging celebration of outdoor space designed with our four-legged friends in mind?
The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden is the perfect reminder that gardening with dogs doesn’t mean compromising on style or planting ambition. With a few smart choices, you can create a thriving, pet-friendly space that’s packed with beauty, biodiversity and room to roam
inspired by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and the BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden
Inspired by this relaxed, cottage-style planting, we've pulled together our top tips for creating the perfect dog-friendly garden: think soft, sensory grasses, tough yet charming groundcover, and blooms that will bounce back from the occasional paw print. These are our and Sarah's favourite ways to make your garden great for your dog...
1) stimulate their senses
A scented corner of the garden is a wonderful way to delight you and your dog’s senses — while gently keeping their mind engaged and boredom at bay.
Our canine companions explore the world through their noses, and there’s real joy in creating a space for them to sniff and investigate. Think fragrant herbs like rosemary, basil, thyme and lemon balm — all fabulously aromatic, easy to grow, and entirely dog-friendly
2) opt for playtime proof picks
If you’ve got a boisterous pup in the garden, it’s wise to plant with that in mind. Young or delicate plants can easily be damaged by a playful dash or a spontaneous dig. Go for tough, established perennials that can hold their own — think nepeta with its frothy lavender-blue flowers, feathery astilbe, or ever-dependable hardy geraniums (but steer clear of pelargonium species, which can be toxic to dogs, despite sharing the same common name).
For structure and resilience, anchor your borders with sturdy shrubs like viburnum or old-fashioned shrub roses — beautiful, bone-strong choices that create a lush, dog-friendly garden and provide shady spots in hot weather
3) choose canine-friendly colour
While dogs experience the world largely through scent, colour still plays a subtle role in how they interact with their surroundings.
Though their colour vision is more limited than ours (they mainly see in blues and yellows), planting with colour in mind can benefit both gardener and pup. Blue and yellow blooms, such as cornflowers, pansies, asters, and sunflowers, can stand out more clearly to dogs and offer gentle visual stimulation as they explore.
These colours create joyful, uplifting spaces — especially in areas where your dog likes to roam, rest or play. And of course, while your dog might not fully appreciate the richer tones of deep magenta, plum or fiery orange, you certainly will. So don’t be afraid to blend practical choices with a painterly palette — you’re creating a space for both of you, after all. A garden planted with beauty, scent and movement in mind will delight all senses — human and canine alike
what else can you do?
think secure and shady
A dog-friendly garden starts with two key essentials: security and shade. Make sure your garden is fully enclosed, with secure fencing or natural boundaries to prevent adventurous pups from wandering. Gaps in hedges or loose panels can be tempting escape routes — a quick check (and a bit of reinforcement where needed) can be invaluable.
Just as important, provide plenty of shade, especially during the warmer months. Shrubs, climbers, and larger perennials can create natural dappled cover, while trees, pergolas or even a simple sun sail can give dogs a cool, sheltered spot to relax in when the sun is high. A secure, shaded garden lets your dog roam, rest and play freely — while you enjoy the beauty of your planting, knowing they’re safe and content
avoid toxic varieties
Think about your four-legged friend when adding new plants to your space as many can be toxic. Common ones to be wary of and to supervise your pets around include: pelargoniums, foxgloves, euphorbia, oleander and yew.
If you simply cannot live without these varieties, it's perfectly possible to enjoy some of your favourite plants — even those that are potentially toxic — while still creating a safe space for your dog. It just takes a little planning and thoughtful placement. Secure grow houses, greenhouses, raised beds and well-placed pots are brilliant tools for gardeners with curious canines. They help keep tender young plants safe from digging paws and ensure that any varieties best kept out of reach are grown with peace of mind
welcome more wildlife
Planting for your four-legged friends doesn’t mean forgetting about the fluttering, buzzing, and burrowing wildlife we all love to welcome into our gardens. With thoughtful choices, you can create a space that’s as enriching for your dog as it is for local pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects
