If there’s anything we love more than our yards, it’s our pets. They bring so much joy to our lives. But pets aren’t always easy on our landscapes. Pet activity, pee and poop can cause problems in our outdoor spaces. We also want to ensure our yards are safe and inviting for our furry friends. Fortunately, your landscaper can help you create a safe and fun environment while protecting your yard from dogs being dogs. From mindful fencing to choosing the right plants, many options exist for creating a pet-friendly landscape.
How Can I Keep My Yard Safe and Fun For My Pets?
We can take several steps to make our landscapes safe for pets, from choosing non-toxic plants to pet-safe lawn care products.
Keep your yard non-toxic. Avoid plants that are harmful to dogs, such as foxglove, lilies, azaleas and tulips. Avoid toxic chemicals on your lawn, and use pet-friendly fertilizers and weed killers. Your landscaper can help you choose the best plants and products for a worry-free environment.
- Choose pet-friendly plants like roses, marigolds, butterfly bushes, forsythia and many others, as well as herbs beneficial for pups, including rosemary, thyme and basil.
- Fencing your vegetable garden is always an excellent idea, even when it includes non-toxic plants. Just because your pets are safe doesn’t mean the plants are!
- Choose pet-safe mulch without artificial dyes.
- Consider adding a water feature for fun and hydration (your human family and friends will love it too)
- Keep your lawn neat and trim to avoid fleas and ticks, and consider flea-resistant plants like rosemary, sage and marigolds. Mulching with cedar chips can also help keep fleas at bay.
- Incorporate shade into your landscape design to keep people and pets comfortable in hot weather.
How Can I Prevent My Dogs From Damaging The Lawn?
As much as we love them, dogs can create havoc in outdoor spaces unless we take precautions. Running and digging can damage grass, and the nitrogen content in dog pee and poop can burn your grass. Dog poop also contains harmful bacteria that you don’t want lingering in your yard. With careful planning, you can protect your yard while creating fun spaces for your pets.
- If you have the space, a fenced mini dog park within your yard is the way to go. This allows your pups to exercise and play while protecting the rest of your lawn. You can even add an agility course and other fun elements.
- Talk with your landscaper about robust plants that will withstand the occasional leg lift. If you have more delicate plants, try hanging them or placing them in elevated planters.
- Consider ground covers instead of turf in some locations: Irish moss and creeping thyme are popular choices
- Design hardscaping to create paths. Patios and walkways are not just nice for family and friends; they also make your lawn easier for your dog and reduce wear and tear. Talk with your landscaper about choosing materials that are gentle on paws.
How Can I Keep My Dog From Peeing on My Plants?
Fencing is the best way to keep your dog away from gardens and flower beds. You can also use dog-friendly mulch, which isn’t affected by dog waste in the same way as grass.
Many homeowners successfully create a specific spot (gravel or dirt) for their dogs to go to and train them to use it. Finally, talk with your landscaper about urine-resistant plants, including ferns and decorative grasses.
Need Ideas For Pet-Friendly Landscaping? Epling Can Help
At Epling Landscaping and Lawn Service, we have many ideas for creating fun spaces for our pets while protecting your plants, trees, shrubs and lawn. With hardscaping, fencing and other proven strategies, we’ll find solutions that are not only pet-friendly but people-friendly too.
