Hey everyone,
I'm new to gardening, but have a very unique little container garden planned that I really need help with!
I help out with sled dog and wolf hybrid rescue, and so to help foster animals (and for my own dogs to enjoy), I have a huge 16' x 20' "kennel" built into my back deck. I thought it could use some sprucing up, so DH and I spent the weekend building 3 wooden planting boxes to hang on the side of the kennel. They are each 30" long x 12" wide (front to back) x 8" tall.
I'd like to fill them with flowers and herbs, but I have a very specific set of needs:
-Must be NON-TOXIC - I know the dogs will reach out and try to munch on them through the fence from time to time. Here is a list of non-toxic plants for pets - http://www.sniksnak.com/plants.html
-Must be able to tolerate a hot, dry, sunny location (not necessarily dry soil, but a dry area - it's over my gravel driveway)
-Colorful - I want to add some color and interest to the kennel "wall"
-FRAGRANT - very important!
Sometimes the kennel can smell a bit "doggy", especially when we have a new arrival right from the shelter, and I'd like to counteract that a bit
-Under 12" tall or so, or able to be cut back - I do like plants that trail and cascade over the side of planters, though
I already know I'm going to plant some mint, lemon balm, and thyme in the planters as well. This is because these plants repel fleas and flies, plus they smell nice too. (Great for around the barn and chicken coop too!)
Any suggestions would be so greatly appreciated!! Once the planters are filled, I can't wait to come back and post updated photos. But in the meantime, here's a pic of the kennel wall so you can all help me plan! (I'm hanging the planters on the wooden "half-wall" portion in the pic.) The two huge plastic-terra-cotta containers are also gone.
I'm new to gardening, but have a very unique little container garden planned that I really need help with!
I help out with sled dog and wolf hybrid rescue, and so to help foster animals (and for my own dogs to enjoy), I have a huge 16' x 20' "kennel" built into my back deck. I thought it could use some sprucing up, so DH and I spent the weekend building 3 wooden planting boxes to hang on the side of the kennel. They are each 30" long x 12" wide (front to back) x 8" tall.
I'd like to fill them with flowers and herbs, but I have a very specific set of needs:
-Must be NON-TOXIC - I know the dogs will reach out and try to munch on them through the fence from time to time. Here is a list of non-toxic plants for pets - http://www.sniksnak.com/plants.html
-Must be able to tolerate a hot, dry, sunny location (not necessarily dry soil, but a dry area - it's over my gravel driveway)
-Colorful - I want to add some color and interest to the kennel "wall"
-FRAGRANT - very important!
Sometimes the kennel can smell a bit "doggy", especially when we have a new arrival right from the shelter, and I'd like to counteract that a bit-Under 12" tall or so, or able to be cut back - I do like plants that trail and cascade over the side of planters, though
I already know I'm going to plant some mint, lemon balm, and thyme in the planters as well. This is because these plants repel fleas and flies, plus they smell nice too. (Great for around the barn and chicken coop too!)
Any suggestions would be so greatly appreciated!! Once the planters are filled, I can't wait to come back and post updated photos. But in the meantime, here's a pic of the kennel wall so you can all help me plan!
(I'm hanging the planters on the wooden "half-wall" portion in the pic.) The two huge plastic-terra-cotta containers are also gone.
