On the side of her Mill Valley, California house, Gardenista editor-in-chief Michelle Slatalla has a narrow, brick-lined patch that’s perfect for an edible garden. But Michelle’s two papillons have the run of the place, and they love the secluded spot.
Michelle’s finished, pet-friendly kitchen garden. For Michelle, the most important part of a dog-friendly garden is planting edibles that won’t harm the dogs if they take a bite.
First, Michelle chose dog-friendly edibles that fit within a color palette: green was a given, and she settled on purple to complement.
Next, Michelle chose her produce: purple basil, Japanese eggplant, and spicy globe basil from Bonnie Plants, which are sold in peat pots you can plant directly into the soil; $4.98 each at The Home Depot.
She decided to supplement the garden with seeds of chive, kale, curly parsley, Bibb lettuce, and cilantro.
For visual interest, Michelle found mixed purple and white alyssum seedlings at her Home Depot nursery.
To feed her plants, Michelle picked an all-natural plant food made of organic material: Alaska Fish Fertilizer adds nutrient-rich fish matter to the soil in a convenient, concentrated form—just mix with water and feed the plants; $7.98 for a 32-ounce bottle.
A compact Ames Hand Trowel ($4.27) and Ames Hoe/Cultivator Combo ($11.57) with attractive steel blades and wood handles were all the tools she needed.
Meet Sticky, Michelle’s 11-year-old papillon, who has a penchant for tasting whatever’s growing in her garden.
Larry, on the other hand, is better behaved.
Before planting, Michelle amended last year’s soil with Nature’s Care Organic Potting Mix; $4.99 for an 8-quart bag at The Home Depot.
At the very front of the garden patch, Michelle tucked in strawberries, followed by bamboo hoops to support the peas.
Michelle gently tied each snap pea vine to the base of a bamboo hoop, to get them “thinking” about climbing it.
One of several tiny pea plants, carefully tied to a hoop with twine, next to the patch of deep purple basil.
Chive plants were already established in Michelle’s garden, so she planted the lavender behind them (and the purple basil in front) so they’re bordered by contrasting color.
Naughty dog Sticky wasted no time taste-testing the garden.