Poisons in the Garden

You don't have to be an expert on gardening to know that your garden -- or rather what you plant or put in your garden -- can present a minefield of health problems for rambunctious pets or small children.

First and foremost for home gardeners, particularly this time of year in California, are snails and slugs. Just-emerging seedlings and new transplants are especially vulnerable to these slimy pests. But most snail baits contain metaldehyde, which can prove fatal to small pets or infants. Of course, telling an avid gardener not to use snail bait is tough to do. Consider, instead, other forms of snail bait besides pellets, which resemble dry dog food. I use powder, granular or liquid forms, all of which are less apt to attract my miniature dachshunds, Mugsy and Maggie.

There is also a new snail bait out that contains iron phosphate instead of metaldehyde. It's called Worryfree Slug and Snail bait. I haven't tried it myself, but anything you can use safely around pets and little ones can't be bad. Finally, consider natural deterrents. Have you heard of death by a thousand cuts? Sharp or caustic barriers -- everything from crushed eggshells to sawdust,horticultural lime, fireplace ash, juman hair or commercial copper barriers -- will deter snails and slugs. It seems their soft bodies do not take well to these deterrents.

It's always a good idea to be vigilant about what your pets or small children are getting into. Many common household items, such as mothballs, potpourri oils and even batteries, can be dangerous. The average household is filled with toxic temptations. These include some houseplants, pesticides, cleaners and human medications. The sweet scent of antifreeze or the yummy tastes of chocolate can be fatal to pets.

What you put on yur lawn can be hazardous, too. Whenever you spray your lawn with a fungicide or liquid fertilizer, or fertilize with a dry form, try to wait at least a day before allowing pets or small children back onto the grass. Make sure you water the applied material in also.

Some common plants are toxic, according to the American Animal Hospital Association, a Denver-based profesisonal organization for veterinarians. The organization suggests keeping your pets and small children away from several plants. And we're not justtalking poison oak/ivy here.

You may already know about oleander -- those huge bushes filled with red, pink or white flowers that often grow in the medians of freeways. Those colorful flowers can be fatal if ingested. However, many other common landscape plants are poisonous, too, including:

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