- Dahlia support stand.

YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS

Step 1

With a hammer and vice, shape a small piece of reinforcing mesh into a raised stand that will sit inside the plastic mould and hold the wooden brushes just above the level of the concrete pour.

Step 2

Apply petroleum jelly to the inside of the plastic container to help release the hard concrete.

Step 3

Thoroughly mix the concrete (following the instructions on the bag), then carefully pour into the plastic mould, filling up to just below the level of the brush. Be careful not to spill any on the bristles.

Cover the concrete in a plastic bag and set it in the shade to cure. This will help prevent it drying too quickly and cracking.

Step 4

After a few days, when the concrete has cured, carefully remove it from the mould.

Now, you can finally mask, prime and paint.

Video

To watch the video, search for “boot scrub” on play.stuff.co.nz.

Do dahlias harm dogs?

I was shocked to hear that dahlias are toxic to dogs. I love their blowsy blooms but I love my dog more. Should I rip out my collection of dahlias?

SANDRA JOHNSON, CHRISTCHURCH

There is a substance in dahlia foliage, flowers and tubers that may cause an unpleasant reaction in dogs and some humans too. Skin contact may cause irritation or dermatitis triggered by exposure to sunlight. Consuming any part of dahlia plants may cause stomach upsets. The symptoms are usually mild and clear up in 24 hours with treatment from a vet.

Before you get rid of your dahlias, consider all the dogs that coexist happily with potentially toxic plants in gardens, parks, streets and native bush. Hundreds of other plants can also cause distressing symptoms but most of the time, dogs don’t have a problem living life in nature.

So many everyday plants from tomatoes to daffodils (especially the bulbs) and even Christmas trees are potentially toxic, it is impossible to eradicate them all from your dog’s surroundings. Our vegetable gardens would need to be stripped of tomatoes, rhubarb, onions and garlic and the ornamental borders of foxgloves, gypsophila, tulips, lilies, ivy, aloe vera and bird of paradise. Weeds including tradescantia and black nightshade are a threat, and the fruit of native karaka trees are fatal. Keep your dog on a lead if walking near karaka trees when the orange fruit ripen and fall to the ground in summer and autumn.

Familiarise yourself with possible toxins (avocados, peach leaves, beans… the list goes on and on).

Learn to recognise poisoning symptoms. If your dog has a rash, blisters or patches of red skin or shows signs of abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea, the cause might be contact with plant material. Contact your vet and let them know which plants your pet might have touched or eaten.

Create a safe space for your dog to be left alone and supervise at other times. Lock away garden and other household chemicals. Keep rubbish bags, potting mix and compost bins out of reach.

There’s more information about toxic plants and symptoms to look for at spca.nz/advice-and-welfare. Barbara Smith