RED EARED SLIDERS

Question

Turtle pond   I have 2 sliders approx 8-10 inches in a pond outside. they have wintered well and are climbing out to sun themselves. I want to plant a border of bushes to contain them in their area, the lattice I have is unattractive..What type of bush is safe since they would probably take a bite? I will still use the lattice, I will just spray paint it to blend in.

Answer
Hi Kim,

First I would like to say how absolutely wonderful it is to get a question from someone who is giving their RES so much room!  Usually I'm fielding questions about sliders that are crammed into too-small tanks.  So, thank you for caring so much about your turtles!

As far as the bushes go, there are quite a few choices, but I'm not sure what would be best for your climate.  Let me list a few and maybe that will give you something to go on (I included a few succulents, too):

Rose
Hibiscus (all species; Rose of Sharon might work for your area)
Bush/tree mallow (malva species)
Abutilon
Grapes
Forsythia
Yucca
Prickly pear
Lavender
Lilac
Agave
Aloe
Currant
Blackberry

There may be more on this list that catch your eye:  http://africantortoise.com/edible_landscaping.htm.  If you look on that site, they also have a listing of toxic plants that may help you.  All of the plants I listed are safe, though not necessarily tasty.

Good luck with your planting--I'd love to see a picture when you have it all done!