Pet-Friendly Landscaping
Tips for Creating a Safe, Dog-Friendly Garden
Your plants may be pet-safe choices, but will your Labradoodle leap over the fence or get into the snail bait? Consider these rules for smart, sensible landscape design.
“Safety first” is the rule when it comes to introducing your rescue dog or wiggling bundle of puppy joy to the terrain that will become her domain. Ideally, you should assess your existing garden for obvious hazards and potential troubles prior to your pet’s arrival. Ensuring a protected environment beforehand will allow you to focus on your new addition to the household and the beginnings of a great relationship.
A Barrier for Your Terrier
At the top of your to-do list: fences and gates. If you don’t have them, get them. If you do, walk the perimeter of your property and scrutinize all areas. Things to consider:
- Do the gates latch properly?
- Is the hardware in working condition or are there rusty or missing pieces?
- Are the heights of your fences the standard six feet? If shorter, will your pooch be able to leap into your neighbor’s yard?
- At his adult size, could your dog easily jump a six-foot fence? If your big-footed pup is of a large breed (think Mastiff or Greyhound), consider an eight-footer. Or, if you have a six-foot fence in place, you can always add an attractive 2-foot top. Bamboo is an appealing and sturdy choice if you live in a non-freezing zone.
- Is there open space beneath your fence or gate? If so, could your dog dig a hole or squeeze under?
- If made of wood, are there any rotted areas (which happens if the wood isn’t treated and is in a plant-watering zone)?
- Any splintered areas?
- If the gates or fences are chain link, are there any cuts or stretched-out areas that your dog could work his way through?
- If your dog’s a digger, are there plants butted up to the fence? A shrub, plants close and tight together, or a bush that is woody might deter your clever canine.
Pave the Way
Dogs tend to patrol the perimeters of their properties, so you might as well make their pathways safe and easy on the paws. Be aware that they’ll track into the house whatever they’ve been running on outdoors, so if you have dirt paths, you’ll also have dirt carpets and floors. Good alternatives include:
- Grass—if mowed, it’s compact, contains the soil, and is cool on hot days.
- Decomposed granite or pea gravel.
- Traditional hardscape materials, like concrete and brick, either in solid, poured form or as pavers interspersed with gravel or groundcover.
- Groundcovers, instead of lawn.
- Bark (no pun intended). Soft cedar chips smell woodsy fresh and cushion Max’s paws. It’s also an excellent mulch.
Pesticides, Fertilizers and Other Toxins
Once you’ve modified your yard to prevent escapes, hazards, or accidents, analyze what’s in your yard. More specifically, the pesticides, fertilizers, and weed killers you apply to your plants. Make sure containers are tightly sealed and stored out of Missy’s reach. Follow instructions on the product’s label, and do not allow your pooch access to these treated areas until the times indicated on the packages, or until pplications have dried.
Also remove or make inaccessible not-so-obvious pet toxins like citronella candles, bug baits, flea products, pool and pond treatments, and rodent traps and toxins.
Grow Organic
Here’s a thought: go organic. By using organic fertilizers, you’ll be helping your household and the environment. Instead of pesticides, use plants that will attract beneficial insects (like ladybugs). On a summer evening, take a flashlight and your pal on a garden snail-and-slug hunt, collecting and disposing them in a container. Above all, it’s togetherness that will allow you to ensure your dog’s safety.
