Pets and backyards don`t usually go hand in hand as if your pet loves having fun around the garden, having it precisely manicured is usually just a dream. Your four-legged friend likes to dig, roll around and snack on some of your pretty herbs and flowers. In other words, in order to be both a happy pet parent and proud owner of appealing garden, you should consider a lot of things before you let your puppy play in the landscape. It`s not that hard – with a little bit of creativity, knowledge and help of the professionals when needed, you may easily make your backyard the perfect spot for your pet but along with that keep its splendid looks on point! Yes, maintaining a garden that you will both love can be achieved. Read on and check our tips out!
- Let`s start with the elements of a dog-friendly garden – no doubt that a naughty little pup can make your garden a mess in less than 10 minutes. Border control is of utmost importance. Use driftwood to border your planted areas – they will discourage your dog from jumping around on your produce and seeing such a “fence” will make them stay away from them. However, you should provide them enough place to play and run – a long winding path will be the perfect running track for an energetic puppy that needs a lot of exercise. As your dog has sensitive paws you should think about providing gentle ground underneath – place smooth flagstones and put some pebbles around planted areas. Consider making dry creek beds – your dog would love them! If you want to add a comfortable mulch, you can also get small cedar chips – they are gentle to the paws and yet big enough not to stick on furry coats.
- What about cats? They love their privacy and always look for a place that is cool so they can enjoy sleeping or hiding - bushy herbs are meant for this! Consider planting lavender or rosemary as they are perfect for hiding under. Another great advantage of these plants is that they are excellent flea repellents – all you have to do is chop them and boil them. When the solution cools down pour it in a spray bottle and you have safe repellent for your pet! Other herbs that are fleas hate are tansy, pennyroyal and catnip. Do you want to make your own kitty basket of catnip? The best way to preserve it is to make a hanging basket. You will need 2-3 plants, a wire basket, another wire hanging basket with chain and a coir inner (they should be the same size), potting soil, cable ties and organic fertilizer. Mix a tablespoon of the fertilizer with some soil and put it at the bottom of the wire basket with the chain. Place the plants and cover with soil. After you water them, put upside down the other basket and join them using the cable ties. Find a spot that will be out of reach and make sure that the plants get at least 4 hours of direct sunlight every day. You can lower the basket once the catnip begins to grow – this method will let the plants grow efficiently and your cat will still be able to enjoy it. Use fertilizer two times a month.
- Consider building raised beds for your sensitive plants or any produce you want to grow. Fencing and netting are important to prevent your pets from hopping up on them - this will also discourage your dogs from digging. If you have enough space you can make a special spot that digging is welcomed – if you are planning to take up to such a project you can always book professional gardening services that will comply with your individual requirement and turn your garden into a splendid place for you and your pets.
- Another important aspect is to know which fertilizers are safe for your pets. Fish emulsion is a great option but you should not use too much as it can burn your plants. Your pet can still find the smell appealing and may dig your plants so you can use it in the planted baskets that are hard to reach. Seaweed is very rich in nitrogen and is convenient as commonly it is a spray. Many eco-friendly gardeners recommend using your own compost – it is one of the best fertilizers and it's free!
- Of course, there are other little tricks that can make your furry friend enjoy the garden more. If there are some natural debris such as fallen branches and old logs, leave them as your cat would love to use them as scratching posts. Place water bowls around the garden so your pets have clean water to drink. You can also make little spots for cool nights if your pets like to snuggle outside – old cloths would do perfect job and your furry friends would appreciate it!