How to Childproof Houseplants (Pet-proof too!)

Last Updated on March 22, 2024

Do you have a problem childproofing your houseplants? I do. I have toddler twin girls who love to explore and get into everything.

And what do they really like?

Dirt. Playing in dirt. Maybe even eating a little dirt….. To my twins, there is nothing more fun than crawling over to our large indoor potted palm trees, pulling themselves up to standing position, and playing with the dirt. Which usually means taking the dirt out of the pot and throwing it all over the floor.

My toddlers love to play in dirt. My husband loves his indoor palm trees. And my dog likes to dig. So I had to come up with a solution. #childproof #houseplants

And guess who else likes to play in the dirt? Yup, our overgrown rescue mutt.

So let me re-phrase my first question. Do you have a problem with childproofing AND pet-proofing houseplants? If you answered yes, then you and I are in the same boat….

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The Backstory…

My husband owns two palm trees that he has owned longer than he’s known me (i.e. 10+ years). Apparently they started as little plants, but have morphed into small trees – narrow, but tall (about 5-6 feet). These trees have lived with my husband in 4 different states – as far south as Georgia, as north as Massachusetts.

DIY solution to childproofing and pet-proofing houseplants for under $10 #childproofing #indoorplants #burlap #pets #weedbarrierfabric — One of palm trees finished with weed barrier, burlap and Christmas decor

In the summer, we place them out on the deck with our patio set where they provide nice ambiance. We live in the Northeast, so in the winter we need to bring them inside. He loves these trees because they are a reminder of his favorite place in the entire world – Clemson, South Carolina. So as you can guess, he’s not giving up these trees.

My husband loves his indoor palm trees. My toddlers love to play in dirt. And my dog likes to dig. So I had to come up with a solution.

What were my options? While most childproofing houseplant websites recommend that you get rid of your floor houseplants when you have small children, that was a last resort.

Our old house is small, so unfortunately I can’t put the trees in rooms (like our bedroom) where we can limit access to the kids. There are only two locations where these larger trees can hibernate in our home for the winter, the living room and the dining room. No restricted access in these rooms!

How To Childproof Houseplants DIY #childproofDIY #petproofplants #houseplants #babyproof

So how would I do this?

I needed to find a way to cover the dirt in order to stop little hands from diving in. But water still needed to get the plants. Weed barrier fabric is perfect. But visually, this fabric leaves a bit to be desired. That’s where burlap comes into play – it provides a rustic, natural look. Isn’t burlap what trees are wrapped in at the garden center? Last, dress it up with a ribbon or dress down with string. Or use other decorations to match your interior decor – whatever you want to add.

Supplies

Landscape or Weed Barrier Fabric. I bought Home Depot’s Vigoro Weedblock (3 ft x 50 ft) but here’s two alternatives (Scotts Pro Fabric and American Home and Gardening, both also 3 ft x 50 ft) both through Amazon.
Burlap Landscape Fabric – I used Home Depot’s Vigoro Natural Burlap (3 ft x 24 ft) but here’s an great alternative at Amazon around the same price that is slightly wider but shorter (3.3 ft x 15 ft) that might work better with your pots.
Fabric & Garden Staples – pick staples that will nestle into the dirt that 1) won’t attract your child’s attention and 2) large enough that they cannot be swallowed. I bought a box of 75 garden staples (1″ wide by 3.5″ long) that I’ve since used for other garden projects. But if you are looking for just a handful of the staples try a smaller, cheaper box (note these are slightly longer staples at 4.5 inches).
Scissors that easily cut fabric
Nylon pull ties (note there are different colors and sizes to choose from). String or jute twine will work too, but I found the pull ties were easier to work with)
Ribbon (optional – for decoration). I used red since it’s what I had on hand and it matches our holiday decor.

Instructions

Measure the diameter of your pot. Roll out your weed fabric and cut the measured diameter. Cut a slit up to the middle to the fabric so it can go over the trunk. Wrap the fabric around the plant to cover all the dirt and secure with staples.
Measure the height of your pot and times by two (since you are going up both sides), and then add in twice the diameter of the pot. Roll out the burlap that plus several inches (better to have more that you can trim. For example, if your pot is 12 inches high and the diameter is 8 inches, then roll out (12 x 2) + (8 x 2) = 40 inches and cut
Lift up the pot and center the burlap under the pot (for a large pot like mine, you might need help lifting). Placing the pot back down, wrap the burlap under the pot, gather it up and wrap around the trunk.
Holding the burlap around the trunk with one hand, secure burlap up the stem with a pull-tie or string with the other hand.
Add decoration. Since it was December at the time, I added red bows for the holiday season – it makes it look like a gift! These bows are actually about 20-30 years old and made by my grandmother. My grandfather worked for a commercial nursery that would sell Christmas trees and wreaths and grandma would help by making the wreath bows. Like most people, I get sentimental during the holidays so it’s nice to be able to connect with family members no longer with us in some way. Just remember when you are picking your decor, make sure it is also childproof. So far the twins are not all that interested in the ribbon or burlap.

That’s it! You can childproof houseplants in about 10 minutes per plant.

Does your pet dig in your houseplants? DIY Pet-proof and Childproof Houseplants for around $10 #dogdigs #houseplants #petproofplants

Two things to note:

Now that you have burlap and weed fabric over the dirt you MUST take your time watering the plants. Otherwise you will have a watery mess in your floor….
Please consider your type of plant before doing this project. This project won’t work if the plant is toxic or the leaves are in reach of little hands. The leaves of my palm trees are well above my girls’ heads, so I don’t need to worry about trailing stems and vines hanging out of a pot that the girls can chew and either choke or get sick. For further information, out Carrie at Making Lemonade Blog for a similar solution to childproofing houseplants.

Interested in more childproofing tips? Check out Mom Loves Best’s Website.

Do you toddlers and pets dig in your houseplants? DIY solution to pet-proof and Childproof Houseplants for around $10 #toddlerproof #housesafetyfortoddler #protectdirtinhouseplant #childproofhouseplants

Are your children not mobile yet? Low on space? Check out my DIY project to create a space-saving wall-mounted Diaper Station using a pegboard!