Have you ever considered how you may have a lovely yard, flowers, and plants while also allowing your dog to roam and play? Many homeowners struggle to create an aesthetically pet safe garden outdoors without endangering their dogs.
It is general knowledge that a conventional garden contains several harmful elements that might harm your dog’s health. But don’t worry, with the right design, you can create a beautiful, safe, and pleasant environment in which the dog will enjoy playing and resting.
In this blog, we will let you know some important tips for planning attractive and pet safe gardens that you and your pet can enjoy.
Every dog owner should create a garden that is secure for their pets. Your pet can enjoy a worry-free, gorgeous outdoor area that you’ve created with careful planning and maintenance. Here are some vital pointers to assist you in designing a pet safe garden.
While designing your safe garden for pets, it is good to ensure that you use plants that are not hazardous to the well-being of dogs. A majority of plants that are grown in our gardens are poisonous and may lead to severe health complications in case ingested.
Certain flowers are toxic to dogs and include Azaleas, Lillies, and Daffodils among others. Some examples include azaleas which may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and even heart problems if they are ingested. Eliabilities of flowers: Lilies can cause kidney failure and daffodils cause severe gastrointestinal upset.
Not only are they beautiful, but it is also important to know that these products are completely safe for pets.
An everlasting, low-risk plant that can easily be integrated into most landscaping designs.
This option is safe for pets and also offers a natural way of getting rid of insects.
Take care and always test the plants to verify if they are safe for your dog from various information sources. You can also label the new plants to easily remember which plant is safe or not.
Dogs are curious creatures and they enjoy wandering and they may trample on your flowers and other plants in the garden. To prevent this and provide equal opportunities for both the plant growth and the pet, the homeowner should lay designated paths for the dog. These pathways help direct your dog and give the dog special areas to play without destroying the garden.
Perfect for providing good distinctions for cars as well as making paws smooth for animals. They also assist in avoiding the formation of mud particularly when it rains.
A naturally soft and cool material that can be comfortable for the dogs to walk on. They like to walk on it because it is mild on their paws and creates an appropriate atmosphere.
Make sure you do not use cocoa mulch as it poses a danger to your dog. However, it is recommended to use the type of mulch that will not pose a risk to the dog and this includes pine or cedar mulch.
This ensures your dog does not dirty the sensitive garden areas, plus cleaning up wet and paw prints after play becomes a lot easier.
It is very important to have a strong and stable barrier to prevent the dog from escaping the house when it is outside in the garden. Sometimes dogs may run away, chase other animals, or get into other people’s compounds, and they are likely to get into danger. Make sure the fence is high enough for your breed of dog and you should check if there are any holes that your dog can squeeze through.
These styles of fencing offer well-defined boundaries and are particularly suited to large or boisterous breeds. They prevent your dog from seeing objects outside the garden making it impossible for him/her to jump or bark non-stop.
If a fence installed around the premises of your house is not your preference, then invisible fencing might be a good idea. Although it does not discourage other animals from invading the garden, it helps to confine your dog.
Check on the fencing frequently to see if there are some gaps or holes through which your dog can escape. If you own a dog that has a habit of digging, it might be wise to bury a portion of the fence in the ground.
The chemicals that are present in normal fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are not safe for pets. Dogs are known to walk on paws and chew grass and rawhide and in so doing end up consuming these toxic chemicals.
Some of the changes include using organic and tender age-safe products rather than the ones that are chemically produced for use on lawns. Organic applications of compost, bone meal, or seaweed in your garden do not have the same adverse effects on your dog and still feed the plants.
Check out our guide: Organic Lawn Renovation: Best Practices for a Greener Yard.
Organic products do not include toxic chemicals; your dog is not at any risk of getting into contact with the chemicals even if he decides to dig on the grass or even play on it.
Organic treatment enhances the quality of soil and results in healthier and firmer plants.
Organic products are environmentally beneficial, and the ecological impact of their consumption by local fauna is negligible.
It is also possible to use natural pest control methods like neem oil or plants that repel insects but are safe for dogs and humans, including lavender and rosemary.
Digging is something that many dogs enjoy, thus it is important to guide this behavior so that canines do not destroy your garden. If you want to keep the dogs from digging, don’t try to completely stop them. Instead, create an area where they are allowed to dig. This helps to preserve your garden while also allowing the dog to exercise its instincts.
Pick a specific area in your yard and provide it with loose material such as soil or sand for your dog to play in and dig. You can hide toys or even small treats to ensure that they dig in that specific area only.
Train Your Dog: Teach your dog to use the digging zone by encouraging your dog to go to it when you note that he or she is digging elsewhere in the compound.
Owners do not always know that their dogs can also get fleas, especially when they are playing in the garden during the summer months. To achieve this, make sure your garden has adequate areas with shades to enable them to avoid the hot sun. You can determine the specific areas of sun exposure and introduce plants of significant sizes, hedges, or safe dog houses for shaded pergolas.
It is always advisable to ensure that fresh and clean water is available for the dog to drink from. For example, you just need to provide a water bowl and put it in a place where it will be protected from the sun.
If your dog is ever in a position to go for a plunge, a shallow water area like a small pond or a dog-safe water fountain may be ideal during the hot days.
Gardening accessories are sharp and thus are dangerous to the canine while the plants have thorns which are also dangerous to the dog, water sources are also unsafe to the dog because they attract mosquitoes. It will also be wise to ensure that any dangerous objects within the compound are kept away from Pets, especially Dogs.
It is wise to keep sharp tools, lawnmowers, and other related tools in a locked shed/ garage to avoid your pet dog getting into contact with them and getting injured.
If you have a pond or fountain, check if the water is shallow enough for the dog to drink or get into for a swim without being in danger of drowning.
When it comes to the choice of plants, there are plants that are poisonous to dogs, and one should not use cocoa mulch. However, if you using ground cover or mulch make sure that it has no harm to your pets. Some forms of mulch may cause some digestive upsets, or other health complications if consumed.
Pet-friendly and leaves your garden with a natural finish.
Cedar is safe for dogs and also acts as an insect repellent, especially the fleas and ticks.
When building an ideal pet safe garden, keep in mind that beauty and practicality do not have to be mutually exclusive. With a few changes, you can easily construct a comfortable lounging area that is also pet-safe. The above-mentioned recommendations will help you create a pet-friendly landscape, from using non-toxic plants to constructing a unique play area for your dog.
But if all of this becomes too hard or you don’t have the time, you can always hire a professional lawn care company to create the pet-friendly garden you desire.
At Eye Candy Lawn Care Service LLC, we specialize in the ultimate guide to seasonal lawn equipment maintenance. For more expert advice and professional services, visit Atlanta, Lawn Care or contact us to schedule a consultation. Don’t miss our next blog on “Seasonal Lawn Care Checklist: What to Do Each Month” for more helpful insights.
