Privacy hedge advice

11 years ago

I am in San Diego and I am trying to find something that would make a good privacy hedge. I have done hours of searching online, but have found so many different answers it has become hard to sort through them.

At one point I thought I was done when I came across the privet family, but then I found out that they are toxic to dogs (which I have 2 of).

Can anyone recommend a good privacy hedge plant that would do well in San Diego and is safe for dogs?

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

11 years ago

The vast majority of common landscape plants are toxic to some degree or another and not just to pets but also to humans. If you were to select only plantings that were completely nontoxic, you'd have a pretty boring garden :-)

Unless your dogs are still puppies and inclined to chew or dig anything, you don't really have much to be concerned about. Pets are a lot smarter than we tend to give them credit for and generally avoid things that are harmful unless driven by boredom to chew or dig. There are tens of thousands of gardeners with pets - myself included - that plant whatever they like and without any pet issues ever.

FWIW, pittosporum is a good hedge plant and is completely nontoxic.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
11 years ago
Your dogs eat plants? I have a ligustrum hedge. My dogs have no interest in it beyond peeing on it.
mgm05e28
Original Author
11 years ago
Unfortunately, my dogs will eat about anything they find laying around.
Related Professionals
Branson Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tulsa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Morgantown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Rockford Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lewiston Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Elizabethtown Landscape Contractors · Orangeburg Landscape Contractors · College Station Landscape Contractors · Virginia Beach Landscape Contractors · Plainfield Landscape Contractors · San Bernardino Landscape Contractors · Coeur d'Alene Landscape Contractors · North Adams Architects & Building Designers · Keene Architects & Building Designers · Reno Architects & Building Designers
billiame
11 years ago
A lot of bamboos can be used as hedges and I don't think they're toxic (they are just grass, after all). Just make sure that if you use a running bamboo (vs clumping) to use an in ground barrier.
sfbaysteph
10 years ago
I planted a bunch of xylosma hedges around the front yard -- they filled in quickly and stay green year round. The new growth is lighter and is quite pretty. Lots of compliments from the neighbors, too.
definitely urine resistant from dogs -- -never seen one take a nibble though. ;-)
Jim Hill
10 years ago
I planted 14 Eugenia (Surinam Cherry) plants that were appx. 2 feet tall when I purchased them 3 years ago as a privacy hedge. They are now 12 feet tall and grow quite well. My dog has developed a love for digging around the trunk of the plants it does not seem to bother neither the plants or the dog and the plants once established for about 9 months grew extremely well against a south facing wall. I live in the Claremont area of LA county.